GOD Morning! March 8 Boot Camp Day 4 / I Think I Can, I Think I Can!

GOD Morning!  March 8

Boot Camp Day 4

I Think I Can, I Think I Can!

Matthew 8:1-17 AMP

Jesus Cleanses a Leper; The Centurion’s Faith

8 When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. ² And a leper came up to Him and bowed down before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You are able to make me clean (well).” ³ Jesus reached out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.”Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. ⁴ And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one [about this]; but go, show yourself to the priest [for inspection] and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony (evidence) to them [of your healing].”

⁵ As Jesus went into Capernaum, a centurion came up to Him, begging Him [for help], ⁶ and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, with intense and terrible, tormenting pain.”⁷ Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” ⁸ But the centurion replied to Him, “Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.⁹ For I also am a man subject to authority [of a higher rank], with soldiers subject to me; and I say to one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” ¹⁰ When Jesus heard this, He was amazed and said to those who were following Him, “I tell you truthfully, I have not found such great faith [as this] with anyone in Israel. ¹¹ I say to you that many [Gentiles] will come from east and west, and will sit down [to feast at the table, and enjoy God’s promises] with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven [because they accepted Me as Savior], ¹² while the sons and heirs of the kingdom [the descendants of Abraham who will not recognize Me as Messiah] will be thrown out into the outer darkness; in that place [which is farthest removed from the kingdom] there will be weeping [in sorrow and pain]and grinding of teeth [in distress and anger].” ¹³ Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; it will be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was restored to health at that very hour.

Peter’s Mother-in-law and Many Others Healed

¹⁴ When Jesus went into Peter’s house [in Capernaum], He saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever. ¹⁵ He touched her hand and the fever left her; and she got up and served Him.¹⁶ When evening came, they brought to Him many who were under the power of demons; and He cast out the evil spirits with a word, and restored to health all who were sick [exhibiting His authority as Messiah], ¹⁷ so that He fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He Himself took our infirmities [upon Himself] and carried away our diseases.”

I never grow tired of reading about Jesus’ miracles. I study these passages over and over and they are more exciting every time I read them. I firmly believe that Jesus wants to do these same types of miracles through every one of us. All we have to do is fast, pray, and study His word like never before.

Think about it. When you admire someone, you study everything you can find about them. I know I do. A gospel artist, for instance. I hear a beautiful song, then I listen to all of the artist’s other songs, and then I read all about how they wrote the songs, and how they started singing, and how they grew up… Everything! Sometimes, I even write a song that is similar to their hit song. Just to see if I can.

I admire Jesus! I admire His amazing miracles! I want to see if I can do miracles too! Well, then, I need to pattern my life after Him. I feel His presence right now as I type.

Okay, switching gears now.

So a bit about my boot camp journey.

Years ago, I read “The Nautical Hour” by Tony Bailey. It’s an amazing, life changing book. God started nudging me to get up every morning at the magical hour of 4AM. Hahaha. It has been the hardest struggle of my life.

Sometimes I sailed along, and sometimes my ship sank! And I was dead in the water!

One day, a couple of weeks ago, I was at a low point. I felt that I was miserably failing at this hard thing that God was asking of me (mind you, He doesn’t ask this of everyone, but I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that He was asking me. He kept telling me that EVERYTHING that I was longing for would begin to fall into place If I simply obeyed Him in this matter).

Anyway, I texted my friend. I started telling her that I felt like I had taken a flying leap backwards lately with the self discipline of prayer and Bible study. She suggested that we meet for coffee.

Well, then the idea of 4AM4HIM Boot Camp was born. (Hey, I believe I will ask my other friend to make a cool logo for me. Because I would like to start a facebook page.)

I told her that I would text her every morning when I get up. I have tried this once before with others, but this time, for some reason, I had a new determination.

I asked her how long boot camp was (she was in the army). She said 8 weeks, and suggested that 8 weeks could be my first goal. Then we could have a time of evaluation. So we agreed that for 8 weeks, I would rise at 4AM and commune with God through prayer and Bible Study.

So here I am! I have already experienced 2 miracles. These miracles came directly from my commitment to 4AM4HIM Boot Camp.

Something else cool has happened. A couple of weeks prior to 4AM4HIM, I had started a more aggressive work out plan. I belong to a health club and had previously been going one to two times per week, and sometimes not at all. I decided to go to two classes back to back two days a week (bodystep and bodypump), and one longer, more intense class on Saturdays. So I am attending 5 classes per week faithfully as well! God is giving me determination in all areas of my life. He is so cool like that!

“Dear God, I am so excited right now. After these 4 short days, I feel like You are changing me already. I am shocked that You continue to believe in me after I fail over and over. But every time I fall, You pick me up! And we start again. You are simply amazing. I can do ALL things through You. How I love You, dear Jesus. AMEN.”