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    God is Able
    God is Able
    God is Able
    Ebook129 pages2 hours

    God is Able

    By Priscilla Shirer

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    Got an IMPOSSIBLE situation? The anxiety it brings can wake you in the middle of a needed night’s sleep and then stalk you in the middle of broad daylight. It can sneak up on you and cast a cloak of fear and concern over your shoulders that you can’t seem to shake no matter how hard you try. It can take you down. Squash all hope. Stop you in your tracks. 
    IMPOSSIBLE. IMPENETRABLE. UNCHANGEABLE. Maybe so . . . until God gets involved. No matter the details of your circumstance, His raw power potential and immeasurable ability refuse to cower in the face of any challenge. Nothing is impossible with God. Nothing. Not even that thing. This is the uplifting, well-reasoned answer from New York Times best-selling author Priscilla Shirer—not a denial of life’s adversities and troubles, but a biblical reminder that God is always up to great things, even when His great things are greater than instant remedies and visible change. He is a God who cares . . . and a God who CAN. Believe it. Experience it. God Is Able.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBH Publishing Group
    Release dateOct 1, 2013
    ISBN9781433681929
    Author

    Priscilla Shirer

    Priscilla Shirer is a Bible teacher and conference speaker with a Master’s degree in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. Also a popular author, her books include One in a Million and Life Interrupted. Priscilla is married to Jerry with whom she founded Going Beyond Ministries. They have three sons and live in Dallas, Texas.

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    Reviews for God is Able

    4.5/5

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    • 4/5
      God is Able studies Ephesians 3:20-21:Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.Paul wrote Ephesians 3:20-21 when he was imprisoned, it seems more likely that he would write a liturgy to his suffering as David did in many Psalms. Instead, Paul found hope in God apart from his circumstances.I reviewed a book by author Priscilla Shirer several years ago, published by Moody Press--publisher of learned treatises on Christian truth. I found that book, though valuable and useful, a little dry.But Moody editors must have removed her personality. God Is Able gives a glimpse of an attractive woman who lives her faith. She writes as she probably speaks.The reader will find no dryness here.She understands discouragement and trouble, but has come through it more in love with Christ than in all her life as a preacher‘s daughter. God is Able is not self-help. If you follow these five steps it will all be fixed. There isn’t a single step to follow (unless you count turning your life completely over to God).I came away from God Is Able encouraged, and determined to pray bigger to a bigger God than any of us can imagine.One point of disagreement; it has become fashionable to stick the title in the middle of the page with no other decoration and call it a cover. I miss the days of beautiful covers. There is no reason to choose this book in a bookstore.Priscilla Shirer is the daughter of Dr. Tony Evans and a busy writer and speaker in her own right. I received this book from the author's representative. I have not met the author and I receive no pay for any review. This is my opinion.
    • 4/5
      God is able was a great easy read but oh so powerful.

      It reminded me of a lot of things I knew but have forgotten and how if I would use these simple facts in my every day life how much more blessed I would feel by God.

      This book reminds me of How God is everywhere, wanting the best for us (sometimes more than we think we deserve),

      Just a few of the things I was reminded:
      Quit staring at my problems, God has me covered.
      Focusing on the right person, the right think can change everything.
      His love is eternal - way bigger than right now.
      I can not out ask, out pray, out dream, or out believe the willingness of the ability of God.
      If we think what we're asking is beyond what He can do, we're not thinking big enough.

      And so many more but I want you to take the time to experience this book by reading it - you will be blessed by it.

      The other cool thing God has done for me through this book is met me where I am at while I go through Priscilla's Bible Study Gideon. There are so many things that are matching compleltly up that I know God is working in my life.

    • 4/5
      The simple red cover, three-word title, and conversational style of God is Able belie the depth of the author’s message. In God is Able, Priscilla Shirer picks apart two powerful verses in Ephesians: Chapter 3 (20-21) Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.If you are a Believer, then chances are you know intellectually that God is able. But, like me, you may have difficulty actually applying this knowledge to your prayer life and overall outlook. Yes, God made the mountains and the oceans. But, there are wars, poverty and pain in this world, so why on Earth would God apply his ability to my problems. How dare I even ask? Shirer addresses this question and others as she takes apart these verses.At first, I was taken aback by the conversational tone of the book. The way she addresses the reader directly feels almost too personal. But, I began to realize that the direct address was deliberate. It was meant to be personal. She didn’t write this book to the public in general, but to you and to me. Unnerving? Yes. Effective? Absolutely. Do I recommend this book? Definitely. It’s a quick, simple read, but with the kind of perception and depth that will make you want to read it again. This time with a highlighter handy.Quotes:“As long as the problem was somebody else’s, I could believe in God’s big-time ability with a big old sense of gusto” (p. 4).“When was the last time you just told your stuff to shut up and go to sleep, and then gave your full attention-deliberately and intentionally-to the living Lord” (p. 46).“To limit His work to the range of our mind’s capacity to plan and comprehend is to limit our own experience of the extravagant capacity of God’s miracle-working potential, which spans all the way to eternity and back” (p. 90).“I’ll take His transcendence over my intelligence any day” (p. 91).Ideas to consider:How may you be keeping God in a box?What might change in your prayer life and outlook if stopped focusing on your problems, turned 180 degrees, and focused on God instead?In accordance with FTC guidelines, please note that I received a free copy for review from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      Loved it!!! Would recommend to anyone who struggles with understanding just how BIG God is and what He can do in our lives.
    • 5/5
      This book was such a blessing for me! I was looking for something to read that would encourage me through a difficult season in my life. Priscilla breaks down the verses and reminds us of God’s faithfulness and that He cares for us.
    • 5/5
      A wonderful boon to the spirit, reminding us that God is bigger than our pain and bigger than our fears. It made me take a fresh look at the circumstances in my own life with two little verses in the book of Ephesians and now I walk with a boldness that I'd lost long ago.

    Book preview

    God is Able - Priscilla Shirer

    God is Able, Digital Edition

    Based on Print Edition

    Copyright © 2013 by Priscilla Shirer

    All Rights Reserved

    Printed in the United States of America

    978-1-4336-8191-2

    Published by B&H Publishing Group

    Nashville, Tennessee

    Dewey Decimal Classification: 248.843

    Subject Heading: GOD \ ANXIETY \ WOMEN

    Unless otherwise stated, Scripture is taken from the New American Standard Bible (nasb), © the Lockman Foundation, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977; used by permission.

    Also used: The Holy Bible, New International Version (niv), copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society.

    Also used: The New Living Translation (nlt), copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

    Also used: The Message, the New Testament in Contemporary English, © 1993 by Eugene H. Peterson, published by NavPress, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

    Also used: English Standard Version® (esv®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

    Also used: Holman Christian Standard Bible (hcsb), Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

    Dedication

    I was only a teenager when a young preacher stood behind the pulpit in my church and taught a message on Ephesians 3:20–21. I was riveted. Every word was like a match striking a fire in the depths of my soul—a fire that has never dwindled in the two decades since.

    This book is dedicated to that preacher.

    Richard Allen Farmer, thank you for being a faithful student of God’s Word, declarer of God’s truth, and servant to the body of Christ. You are a trustworthy friend and loving pastor to Jerry and me, and . . . we are grateful.

    First

    Tell Me

    What is it?

    Come on, you can tell me.

    I know there’s something specific that brought you to this book or brought this book to you.

    Because everybody’s got something.

    No matter who you are, however old or young, there’s always at least one thing. That thing in your life you can’t seem to—you know, escape or fix or solve. It’s just . . . it’s . . .

    (Sigh.)

    It’s always there. Just when you think you’ve maybe figured out a little piece of it—how you might be able to handle it better, manage it, work around it, or get out ahead of it—it always seems to end up beating you, or at least keeping you awake in the wee hours of the night.

    You’ve tried. (Oh, Lord, how you’ve tried.) You’ve prayed. You’ve asked. You’ve begged. You’ve fretted. You’ve calculated. You’ve eaten better. You’ve exercised more.

    You’ve tried being gentler, then firmer. Louder, then quieter. More assertive, then more submissive. You’ve admitted where you went wrong and refused to gloat when you were right. You feel like you’ve done everything you can think of. And honestly, you’re starting to seriously wonder now if God can do this, if He can do . . . It.

    You’d still like to think He can. And if you were to spout all your churchy rhetoric, it’d sure sound like you believe He can. But deep down—down where your soul pulses with doubt and uneasiness—you wonder about that circumstance, that life issue, that dilemma you’re facing. God may be able to keep the stars in the sky, the earth tilted on its axis, and the heavens hung in glorious array. But can He do this?

    It?

    What is it? It’s okay. Be honest. Name it.

    Might make it easier on you, I guess, if I go first, huh? So I’ll start . . . ’cause, you know, I’ve got a few Its myself.

    Surprised? You shouldn’t be.

    Here, hold my purse while I climb down from whatever pedestal you may have placed me on so we can talk eye to eye.

    I know how it happens: you see a speaker on stage, you listen to a teacher on the radio, you read the words of an author, and somehow you think they’ve got it all together. I’ve done the same thing. Catapulted that mere human to superhuman status, as if someone so obviously godly couldn’t possibly struggle with the same problems the rest of us face. They’re just a little too special for life to treat them that way.

    But I’ve found it’s just not true. Nobody is exempt from these things. Like you, I’ve seen my share of situations that have been so difficult or have caught me so off guard, they’ve carved out a deep foothold where doubt could settle in. And yet God loves me far too much—same as He loves you—to keep me from confronting them. Because if you and I didn’t turn to face these things, we’d never come face to face with Him. And our God’s not having any of that.

    So, yes, I’ll start:

    ✣ Fifteen years ago, I didn’t believe He could heal my broken heart.

    ✣ Twelve years ago, I wasn’t certain He’d be able to save my marriage.

    ✣ Ten years ago, I wondered if He was able to let me safely bear a child.

    ✣ Eight years ago, I questioned if He could ease a heavy cloak of guilt and regret I was harboring.

    ✣ Five years ago, I had only a thin shred of hope that He could salvage a cherished friendship.

    ✣ Four years ago, I didn’t see any way we could purchase a key piece of property we needed.

    ✣ Three years ago, I had little faith He could heal my son of some troubling emotional issues.

    ✣ Two years ago, I doubted He could free me from a paralyzing sense of fear and anxiety.

    ✣ And even as recently as last year, I seriously questioned if I was suited for the ministry God had entrusted to me. In fact, I questioned it enough that in my darkest moments, I considered throwing in the towel.

    And listen, that’s just the past fifteen years. I’ll spare you my whole life story in hopes you won’t check me off your reading list.

    (All right, I’m finished now. You can hand me back my purse.)

    The fact is, I have never had much trouble believing in the power of God when it was theoretical, when all the action my faith required of me was saying Amen during a sermon. As long as the problem was somebody else’s, I could believe in God’s big-time ability with a big old sense of gusto.

    Like when I was a kid, for instance. I remember testimony service at my childhood church like it was yesterday. A couple of Sunday evenings a month, folks would come forward to declare the work of God in their lives. No doubt one of the ladies would be sporting her coordinating suit and fancy church hat (with a feather or some other décor hanging off of it) as she stood in front of the congregation and filled the microphone with all the things God had been up to. Everything from the foreclosure notice on her house, the repossession order for her car, her unfaithful husband, or her rebellious child being miraculously transformed by God’s miracle-working power. As children, my siblings and I would sit in the pews during this stirring part of the service, listening to the lady’s voice grow deeper and more forceful with each new revelation. That feather on top of her velvet hat would dance a little jig, which would always capture our attention. We tried to listen—promise we did—but sometimes we couldn’t help but nudge each other and giggle. We were hoping beyond hope that her hat—or at least the bouncy feather on it—would come flying off her head into the front pew, just to make things really exciting. But Mommy wasn’t having any of that. She’d tell us to quiet down and sit up straight—and listen. So we did. Then we applauded with the rest of the congregation in celebration of what God could do . . . and was actually doing.

    Yup, faith seemed easier then.

    But not anymore. When I’m staring now at my own dilemmas, trying to keep the hat of sanity on my own head, a little seed of doubt surprises me by taking root and often blossoming into a whole forest of questions about His ability and/or willingness to take care of them.

    Somehow, I think you can relate.

    In the midst of these various challenges and struggles that come together to threaten my sense of security, stability, and balance, I’ve found my worst fears confirmed. I am insufficient, outmatched, and incapable of fixing everything. Sometimes I don’t know how I’m going to make it through the day. But I’ve also learned something else—something that has changed my entire life.

    God is able.

    Time and again, He has proven very plainly to me that He is not held down by what holds us. He has bowled me over with His capacity and inclination to do the unthinkable, both in my own life as well as in the lives of others. As surely as He’s tested me, He has also given me testimony. And it would be a grand cover-up on my part not to tell His part of the story in the same big, bold colors.

    For instance . . .

    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    A nine-year-old boy in my church was diagnosed with a brain tumor that stunned us all.

    Nine years old.

    Doctors said if the cancer didn’t claim

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