Episode 121

Today’s declaration is appropriate for the first episode of Believe & Speak since Easter, and it comes from two different scriptures. One contains a promise Jesus gave to Martha after her brother died, and the other contains a reminder Paul gave the Corinthians after his encounter with the resurrected Jesus changed the course of his life. I love how Martha said in John 11:22, “But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” Even now—now, after her brother had been dead four days. Even in those trying circumstances, Martha knew that God would give Jesus whatever he asked for. A few chapters later, in John 15:16, Jesus told his disciples they could have the same expectation. He said, “I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.” Jesus promised abundant life as well as eternal life. We can ask God to resurrect our dead hopes, dead relationships, dead dreams and more, even now. Especially now! Because we know that God raised Jesus from the dead. I’m reminded of a song on my Easter Worship 2022 playlist with these lyrics. “The resurrected King is resurrecting me.” I’m so thankful that we not only have the hope of eternal life, but also of an abundant life. May the resurrected King fill your life to overflowing as you trust him and believe that—even now, in the midst of whatever challenges you face—God will give you whatever you ask for in Jesus’s name. The first ten episodes of my video podcast, “Find Joy” walk you through my book, Longing to Belong, and the entire series is now available for viewing. Learn more on my website at shawnamariebryant.com. This week's scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 and John 11:17-27