Friends,
Let’s talk about faith. When you ask God to help strengthen your faith, He’s going to stretch you paper-thin. It’s just the way He works. Ever try praying for patience?
I really needed break-through and miracles this week. I didn’t receive them. I know this is not how I usually start my blogs, but it’s because I’ve gone so much deeper this week. Allow me to explain.
… Yet you do not have because you do not ask. James 4:2 (NKJV)
The Bible clearly states that we have not because we ask not. However, no matter how much you believe in your blessing or how successful you are at casting out your fears and doubts, you don’t always experience the “believe and receive” fruits of your faith. This can immediately cause you to wonder if you had “enough” faith to begin with. In more extreme circumstances, one might believe that God is mad at them. This is clearly a lie from the enemy. Sometimes God has other things in mind – no matter how “for-God” your plans might be.
I cleared my schedule this weekend to do something really radical for God. Of course, whenever you’re doing something for the Lord, the enemy starts to interfere. Even as I type this on a Friday afternoon, the enemy is attacking me with feelings of fatigue and illness.
Events totally out of my control drastically changed my schedule. I prayed, fasted and had other brothers and sisters in Christ standing in faith (and agreement) with me. I trusted the Lord and did everything I could in the natural to receive my blessing.
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:17 (NKJV)
After spending a moment with God, I realized that sometimes your gift of faith is still having your faith when you’ve endured your trial. It’s protecting and maintaining your faith when things don’t go your way. I was really prepared to receive the Holy Spirit this weekend, but perhaps this weekend is more about what I can pour into others. There are people in my life that really need prayer right now. What if someone reads this and makes their way closer to the Lord? What better way to fulfill God’s purpose than to advance His kingdom – especially when the enemy does everything to stop the blessing? Besides, God is much more powerful than the enemy’s work and could have intervened at any time – but He didn’t. At first I thought God was going to strengthen my faith by making me sweat a little. Who knew He would solidify my faith by giving me the exact opposite of what I asked of Him?
One of my favorite events in the Bible takes place in the book of Daniel. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego have been captured by King Nebuchadnezzar. The king tells the three men they are about to be thrown into a fiery furnace for proclaiming their love for God and refusing to bow down to an image of gold.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18 (NIV)
Wow! Listen to what they say! They clearly have the faith that God will deliver them from the fire but state, “but even if he does not,” acknowledging that their faith would not be any less no matter what happened! Perhaps God doesn’t give us the immediate blessing so he can see how we act afterwards. Do we still put all of our trust in Him? Do we have the fruits to back up our faith? Faith is the fruit of the Spirit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22 (NIV)
Jeremy Camp wrote a beautiful song entitled, “I Still Believe.” I’ll list the lyrics below before I continue this entry.
I Still Believe – Jeremy Camp
Scattered words and empty thoughts
Seem to pour from my heart
I've never felt so torn before
Seems I don't know where to start
But it's now that I feel
Your grace falls like rain
From every fingertip, washing away my pain
[Chorus:]
I still believe in Your faithfulness
I still believe in Your truth
I still believe in Your holy word
Even when I don't see, I still believe
Though the questions still fog up my mind
With promises I still seem to bear
Even when answers slowly unwind
It's my heart I see You prepare
But its now that I feel Your grace fall like rain
From every finger tip, washing away my pain
[Chorus]
The only place I can go is into your arms
Where I throw to you my feeble prayers
In brokeness I can see that this was your will for me
Help me to know You are near
Jeremy wrote this after his wife, Melissa Lynn Camp, died of cancer.
…The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16 (NKJV)
Do you really think that Jeremy sat idly by as he watched his wife die? I can only imagine the prayer and fasting that took place when he found out she was ill. How many brothers and sisters in Christ must have prayed with him for his wife healing? Do you think Jeremy Camp lacked the faith to save her? Did he not have enough faith? No! God’s plan is uncertain, but he still told the Lord that his trust was in Him.
Yes, I was really disappointed about the outcome of my weekend, but my faith is still in the Lord. My blessing is still on its way – and it’s bigger and better than I could have imagined.
In Christ,
James
Let’s talk about faith. When you ask God to help strengthen your faith, He’s going to stretch you paper-thin. It’s just the way He works. Ever try praying for patience?
I really needed break-through and miracles this week. I didn’t receive them. I know this is not how I usually start my blogs, but it’s because I’ve gone so much deeper this week. Allow me to explain.
… Yet you do not have because you do not ask. James 4:2 (NKJV)
The Bible clearly states that we have not because we ask not. However, no matter how much you believe in your blessing or how successful you are at casting out your fears and doubts, you don’t always experience the “believe and receive” fruits of your faith. This can immediately cause you to wonder if you had “enough” faith to begin with. In more extreme circumstances, one might believe that God is mad at them. This is clearly a lie from the enemy. Sometimes God has other things in mind – no matter how “for-God” your plans might be.
I cleared my schedule this weekend to do something really radical for God. Of course, whenever you’re doing something for the Lord, the enemy starts to interfere. Even as I type this on a Friday afternoon, the enemy is attacking me with feelings of fatigue and illness.
Events totally out of my control drastically changed my schedule. I prayed, fasted and had other brothers and sisters in Christ standing in faith (and agreement) with me. I trusted the Lord and did everything I could in the natural to receive my blessing.
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:17 (NKJV)
After spending a moment with God, I realized that sometimes your gift of faith is still having your faith when you’ve endured your trial. It’s protecting and maintaining your faith when things don’t go your way. I was really prepared to receive the Holy Spirit this weekend, but perhaps this weekend is more about what I can pour into others. There are people in my life that really need prayer right now. What if someone reads this and makes their way closer to the Lord? What better way to fulfill God’s purpose than to advance His kingdom – especially when the enemy does everything to stop the blessing? Besides, God is much more powerful than the enemy’s work and could have intervened at any time – but He didn’t. At first I thought God was going to strengthen my faith by making me sweat a little. Who knew He would solidify my faith by giving me the exact opposite of what I asked of Him?
One of my favorite events in the Bible takes place in the book of Daniel. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego have been captured by King Nebuchadnezzar. The king tells the three men they are about to be thrown into a fiery furnace for proclaiming their love for God and refusing to bow down to an image of gold.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18 (NIV)
Wow! Listen to what they say! They clearly have the faith that God will deliver them from the fire but state, “but even if he does not,” acknowledging that their faith would not be any less no matter what happened! Perhaps God doesn’t give us the immediate blessing so he can see how we act afterwards. Do we still put all of our trust in Him? Do we have the fruits to back up our faith? Faith is the fruit of the Spirit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22 (NIV)
Jeremy Camp wrote a beautiful song entitled, “I Still Believe.” I’ll list the lyrics below before I continue this entry.
I Still Believe – Jeremy Camp
Scattered words and empty thoughts
Seem to pour from my heart
I've never felt so torn before
Seems I don't know where to start
But it's now that I feel
Your grace falls like rain
From every fingertip, washing away my pain
[Chorus:]
I still believe in Your faithfulness
I still believe in Your truth
I still believe in Your holy word
Even when I don't see, I still believe
Though the questions still fog up my mind
With promises I still seem to bear
Even when answers slowly unwind
It's my heart I see You prepare
But its now that I feel Your grace fall like rain
From every finger tip, washing away my pain
[Chorus]
The only place I can go is into your arms
Where I throw to you my feeble prayers
In brokeness I can see that this was your will for me
Help me to know You are near
Jeremy wrote this after his wife, Melissa Lynn Camp, died of cancer.
…The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16 (NKJV)
Do you really think that Jeremy sat idly by as he watched his wife die? I can only imagine the prayer and fasting that took place when he found out she was ill. How many brothers and sisters in Christ must have prayed with him for his wife healing? Do you think Jeremy Camp lacked the faith to save her? Did he not have enough faith? No! God’s plan is uncertain, but he still told the Lord that his trust was in Him.
Yes, I was really disappointed about the outcome of my weekend, but my faith is still in the Lord. My blessing is still on its way – and it’s bigger and better than I could have imagined.
In Christ,
James
Photo Credit:
