Jesus told us himself we should ask, seek and knock. He wants to be our Provider. He will be our Provider. In Him, and only Him, will we be able to achieve His goals. But he wants to use us in the process so that we would glorify Him! That is how big He really is!


Questions for further thought:
1. How has God provided for you in the past?

2. What do you need God to provide for you now?


​Challenge: God is waiting to show us that he is the God of the impossible. Go ahead and ask, seek and knock (and believe) for God to provide the miracle you identified yesterday.

God made a promise to Abraham and Sarah that they would have a son. This son would be the father of many nations. Abraham and Sarah doubted God would provide in their old age. It was an impossible task… for anyone except God. God was faithful with his promise; Sarah miraculously gave birth to Isaac, who became the second of the forefathers to the nation of Israel!


Questions for further thought:
1. What is a miracle you have seen God perform?

2. What made that a miracle? How was it possible only with God?


​Challenge: Identify a miracle (big or small) where you could use God’s power to overcome. Think big and outside the box!

Gideon doubted God would be able to use him to rescue Israel. He dared God to prove His power. God rose to the challenge and completed the test. Gideon still had his doubts, so he double-dared God with another challenge. God, as usual, also met that challenge and showed his power. Gideon was used by God to rescue Israel.


Questions for further thought:
1. When have you ever dared God to show you His mighty power because of doubt?

2. Have you ever asked God for a second time to show His strength because you still doubted?


​Challenge: In chapter 7, Gideon accepted the physical challenge and rescued Israel. But God showed his strength by weakening Gideon’s army. Praise God today for shining in your own weakness.

The apostle Thomas (T-Diddy as Pastor Doug calls him) doubted his fellow apostles when they told him about the Resurrection. Thomas required physical proof to believe; word of mouth was not enough. There are circumstances when we must see the evidence to overcome our doubt.


Questions for further thought:
1. When have you required physical evidence?

2. How have you reconciled your doubts when there was no physical evidence?


​Challenge: John 20:29 says we will have a blessing without seeing Jesus. Thank God today for the blessing we received from Him despite not being able to see His wounds.

Read the scripture again. We are told that the book of Proverbs is full of wisdom for us to follow. Here are adjacent proverbs that contradict each other. Which one do we follow? When we are not sure what advice to follow; it causes us to have doubts about what we should do. In the next three days, we will look at some Bible characters who struggled with doubt.


Questions for further thought:
1. When have you received conflicting advice?

2. Where do you turn to for discernment in this scenario?


​Challenge: Our three pillars of wisdom are the Bible, prayer and our faith-believing peers. Jesus promised we would have the Holy Spirit that would intercede in our life after His resurrection. The Holy Spirit uses each of these to direct us on our path. Let the Holy Spirit guide you when you are not sure which direction you should go.

God showed us love by creating us with full knowledge we would reject Him, and He would have to send His only Son to die for us on the cross so we could have a relationship with Him.  That kind of love is incomprehensible.  He only asks that we show Him love and show that love to others.  Is that too much to ask?


Questions for further thought:
1. How has God shown His Love to you lately?

2. How have you shown His Love to others lately?


​Challenge: Ask God to show you who you can show love to today.

These verses give basic instructions on how Christians should live.  Live peacefully with others, focus on gratitude, and avoid every kind of evil.  He knows we will not do this perfectly every day.  So, He only asks that we try and look to Him for every need.


Questions for further thought:
1. What part of these verses is the easiest for you?

2. What part of these verses is the hardest for you?


​Challenge: Pick one of the to dos from the verses and practice it actively for a day.

Peter cut off a soldier’s ear and denied Christ three times.  Yet, Jesus built the early church from all of Peter’s efforts.  Just goes to show that Jesus can take someone we think is undeserving of second or more chances and still produce good in order to further His kingdom.


Questions for further thought:
1. When were you given a second chance and how did you feel and respond?

2. Who in your life do you need to give a second chance to?  


​Challenge: Take the necessary steps to give someone a second chance.

Talk about changing for the better as a result of an encounter with Jesus—Saul persecuted Christians but after meeting Jesus on his way to Damascus, he became Paul, a follower and a leader of the early church.  Paul went on to lead many to Jesus through his many missionary travels and letters.  


Questions for further thought:
1. Think about what your life would have been like without Christ.

2. Who might God be leading you to that needs to experience a change as well?   


​Challenge: Pray for God to lead you to that someone.

Imagine walking that morning to the tomb of the teacher you followed and loved only to find the stone rolled away and angel of the Lord telling you Jesus had risen.  You felt the earth shake, saw the guards run away and saw Jesus on your way to the disciples.  First reaction may be to hide in fear or keep it a secret.  Not these women.  They left and told everyone what they saw.  This is what we should be doing even today—telling everyone of our risen Lord and Savior.


Questions for further thought:
1. Think back to the first time you heard the Good News.  Do you recall the excitement?

2. Who in your life might need to hear the Good News and experience the same thing?  


​Challenge: Pray for God to lead you to someone to share the Good News.