God Will Stir Up Fresh Hope

I started with soup cans. The weight-lifting exercises were not difficult but I could only complete them with 10.5 ounces. After a few weeks, I moved up to 2 lb. weights.

I realized I was rushing through the movements and needed heavier weights. David offered to pick up 5 lb. weights.

Then my future daughter-in-law left her glasses here. My son asked me to take them to her. She works across the road from Wal-Mart. I decided to shop while on that side of town.

I leisurely strolled through the aisles picking up items as I went. The last thing I picked up was the weights. I tried some and found – 5 pounds are heavy! I put them back and bought 3 lb. weights.

Ezekiel 30:24, “I’ll make the arms…strong…” The Message

God knew I could not handle 5 lb. weights. He knew I could hurt myself. He made arrangements for me to buy the weights, not David. I will increase the weights at a steady pace.

“Once we learn to wait for the Lord’s leading in everything, we will know the strength that finds its highest point in an even and steady walk. Many of us are lacking the strength we so desire, but God gives complete power for every task he calls us to perform. Waiting – this is the secret of strength. And anything that does not align with obedience to Him is a waste of time and energy. Watch and wait for His leading.” Samuel Dickey Gordon, “Streams in the Desert,” August 16

Yes, God is my trainer! He knows how much I can handle.

Matthew 11:30, “I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” The Message

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“It’s not about who you are, but Whose you are! That day God revealed His name to Moses as ‘I am.’ His name is the solution to every problem and the answer to every question.” “All In,” Mark Batterson, The Word for You Today, August 16

God wants to take care of you, too. Eight times today we read the phrase, “(They’ll) realize that I am God.” (See Ezekiel 29:5, 9, 16, 21; 30:8, 19, 25, and 26.) He wants to give us a future and a hope, (See Jeremiah 29:11).