SEPTEMBER 2, 2026 Psalm 149:6-7 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples. Over the centuries, mankind has developed rules of war to which most every nation conforms. Weapon systems may differ from army to army, organizational standards may […]
SEPTEMBER 1, 2026 Psalm 149:5 Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud on their beds. Each day when we awaken, before we consider what chores must be accomplished, we should give thanks to God for gifting us another day of life. As it is written, “I lay down and slept; I […]
Ben Haden, a beloved radio and television minister, told this story which was handed down by a friend’s grandmother.
A couple were in England to celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. Both appreciated antiques. In Sussex, they passed a china shop and a single little teacup caught their eyes. They went inside.
“May I see that?” the lady asked. “I’ve never seen a teacup like it. It’s beautiful!”
But suddenly the teacup spoke! “I haven’t always been a teacup. There was a time when I was clay. My master took me and rolled me and patted me. I yelled out,‘Leave me alone!’ But he only smiled and said,‘Not yet.’”
The teacup continued the story:Then I was placed on a spinning wheel. I was spun around and around and around. “Stop it! I’m getting dizzy,” I yelled. The master only nodded and said,“Not yet!”
Then he put me in an oven. I’ve never felt so much heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening, and I could read his lips as he shook his head and said, “Not yet!”
Finally, the door opened. He put me on a shelf and I began to cool. “There, that’s better,” I said. He brushed me and painted me. The fumes were horrible and I thought I would gag. “Stop it!” I cried.
He only nodded. Not yet.
Then he put me back into another oven, not the first one, but one twice as hot. I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening, nodding his head and saying, “Not yet.”
Then I knew there was no hope and I would never make it. I was ready to give up. But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on a shelf. An hour later he handed me a mirror and said: “Look at yourself.”
I did and I said, “That’s not me, it couldn’t be me! I’m beautiful!”
“I want you to remember,” he said, “I knew it hurt to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you, you would have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I know it hurt, and it was hot in the oven, but if I hadn’t put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed you and painted you, but if I hadn’t done that, there would have been no color in your life. And if I hadn’t put you back in that second oven, you would not have survived for very long and the color would not have held. Now, you’re a finished product. Now, you’re what I had in mind when I first began creating you!”
This article was printed in a VOE magazine in 1985.
GOD CAN!
King David, the psalmist of Israel, meditated both day and night on the law of the Lord (Psalm 1:2) David had great double vision: he could view the victories of the past, yet foresee God’s provision for tomorrow.
In Psalm 78, David gives a powerful review of Israel’s supernatural blessings from Jehovah and their lack of trust in God’s promises. David takes you through God’s miracles of opening a path through the sea (v. 13) and of Godleading them with a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night (v. 14). He speaks of God’s food supply, angel food from Heaven’s bakery, in verse 24. God brought forth sparkling clear water from a flint rock (v. 16). Yet, with all these supernatural provisions and abundant blessings, Israel tempted God by limiting the Holy one. They doubted His ability by asking, “Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?”
This nation of three million people limited God who demonstrated before their eyes His unlimited power. David tells us that they forgot His works! It doesn’t take long for humans to forget. Israel departed Egyptian soil and, in a few weeks, stood at the border of Canaan. God had told Abraham that his seed would be under slavery to another nation for four hundred years then He would bring them out of bondage with plenty of gold and silver for their inheritance. Israel forgot this covenant promise given to their father, Abraham, in Genesis 15:13. Because they forgot this promise, they wandered in the desert wilderness for forty years.
The Israelites made many mistakes that we can learn from. These mistakes and victories were written as an example so that we may learn as well. Here is a short list of guidelines for believing God for whatever you need.
1. Know that what you are believing God for is part of God’s will for you. When you walk with God, He will plant desires within your spirit. Suddenly His desire becomes your desire. David declared that “God would give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm37:4). If you are obeying God’s revealed will in His Word, your desires come from God who drops them in your spirit. Therefore, God becomes your partner in helping bring to pass those plans in your heart, for His glory. Your desires must be God’s will.
2. Never say “I can’t” as long as there is a small ray of hope. Jesus said, “All things are possible to them that will believe” (Mark 9:23) Did you know that “can’t” and “impossible” are not in God’s vocabulary? We can tie or untie God’s hands by our faith or our unbelief. God can perform the impossible, “according to the power (ability of God) that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20). When we confess and believe that something can’t be done, then our minds become set and cease to function with positive faith. When we say, “I can’t,” we quit trying.
A doctor may pronounce your situation hopeless, but as long as you have a ray of hope in your spirit, your belief can lengthen your life span. Hope causes your mind, body, and spirit to produce positive faith that there is a remedy.
People often have a desire to work for God or accomplish something that requires quite a bit of finances. Most Christians can believe God for their salvation, sanctification, eternal life, and even healing, but they do not have belief over their finances. Here is a Christian who sets their heart to fulfill a desire that involves finances. Suddenly they hit a snare and begin to say, “It can’t be done, we can’t do it after all!” They are jumping ahead and hindering the flow that God could be sending. They are limiting God with their negative attitude. GOD WILL ONLY DO WHAT YOU BELIVE HIM FOR!
Some want to wait until they have enough to accomplish something for God’s kingdom. If I waited to print books, records tapes, buy equipment, or print this publication until I had the money to do it, then I would never take the manuscripts to the printers. I do it, then pay for it as it comes in. For example, I had to buy a $1,295.00 duplicator for our tape ministry the other day and only had $300.00 in our fund. I picked it up and told the fellows I’d pay for it in a month. The business folks we do business with know that we will pay our bills. I don’t wait until I have it. God plants the desire and the plan in my spirit, and I know He will provide for us. Don’t say I can’t… try and try again!
3. Hindrances and roadblocks are not a sign of defeat. Usually, Christians continue the fight of faith as long as things look great. (When things are great, there is nothing to fight!) But the first sign of roadblock causes us to lock our brakes and put up our guard. Don’t treat hindrances as a signal of defeat. Hindrances are an opportunity for God to move on the scene and break down the roadblocks. When you accept hindrances as a sign of defeat, you sit at the end of a dead-end street without finding a way to connect to another open road.
4.Look for solutions instead of focusing on the problems. When you believe you can overcome, your mind, body and spirit begin to arise and be strong in the Lord. Your attention is focused on finding a solution to the problem. Jesus Christ is a master atgiving solutions to troublesome problems, He can feed the hungry with a lad’s lunch, stop a typhoon from capsizing a small fishing vessel, and bring healing from an incurable disease that no physician can help.
5. God is a provider and He determines how to meet your needs. God never changes, for in Him there is no shadow of turning. Although God’s ability, power, and nature remain unchanging, the methods by which God works often change. For instance, God used a brazen serpent ONCE to heal a nation, but the serpent never healed again. Hundreds of years later, God “sent forth His word and healed them” (Psalm 107:20). David used his bare hands to slay a bear and a lion, but he used a slingshot to topple a giant! God’s power is the same; His methods vary.
God asked Moses, “What is that in your hand?” Use what you have and allow God to multiply it and bring life to it.
Keep the word of faith in your heart. Remember God’s great works; remember that God can!
AUGUST 31, 2026 Psalm 149:4 The Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. Think of Israel’s history and the many times the people fell far short of the standards God had imposed upon them. In fact, there were a couple of times when their rebellion provoked the Lord in such a way […]
AUGUST 29, 2026 Psalm 149:2 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. The Creator has made all of mankind in His image and likeness, endowing us all with unique skills, gifts and calling. That said, there is only one nation that He refers to as His prized […]
AUGUST 28, 2026 Psalm 149:1 Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise in the assembly of saints. As the Book of Psalms nears its end, this next-to-last composition reminds us that singing praises to God is the perpetual destiny of God’s people. If life continues, every generation will be presented with opportunities to compose […]
AUGUST 27, 2026 Psalm 148:13-14 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven. And He has exalted the horn of His people, the praise of all His saints— of the children of Israel, a people near to Him. When the Messiah returns, all forms of royalty as we […]
AUGUST 26, 2026 Psalm 148:7, 11-13 Praise the Lord from the earth … kings of the earth and all peoples; princes and all judges of the earth; both young men and maidens; old men and children. Let them praise the name of the Lord. When it comes to honoring the Almighty, it is important to acknowledge a universal […]
