I'm excited... Forward Motion!

So i was doing my devotional tonight and this is what it said:

"I have begun to deliver... Now begin to conquer and possess". Deut 2:31

The Bible has a great deal to say about waiting for God, and the teaching cannot be too strongly emphasized. We so easily become impatient with God's delays. Yet much of our trouble in life is the result of our restless, and sometimes reckless, haste. We cannot wait for the fruit to ripen, but insist on picking it while it is still green. We cannot wait for the answers to our prayers, although it may take many years for the things we pray for to be prepared for us. We are encouraged to walk with God, but often God walks very slowly. Yet there is also another side to this teaching God often waits for us.

Quite often we fail to receive the blessing He has ready for us because we are not moving forward with Him. While it is true we miss many blessings by not waiting for God, we also lose numerous blessings by overwaiting. There are times when we are to move forward with a confident step.

Many of God's promises are conditional, requiring some initial action on our part. Once we begin to obey, He will begin to bless us. Great things were promised to Abraham, but not one of them could have been obtained had he waited in Chaldea. He had to leave his home, friends, and country, travel unfamiliar paths, and press on in unwavering obedience in order to receive the promises. The ten lepers Jesus healed were told to show themselves to the priest, and "as they went, they were cleansed" (Luke 17:14). If they had waited to see the cleansing come to their bodies before leaving, they would never have seen it. God was waiting to heal them, and the moment their faith began to work, the blessing came.

When the Israelites were entrapped by Pharaoh's pursuing army at the Red Sea, they were commanded to "go forward" (Ex 14:15). No longer was it their duty to wait, but to rise up from bended knees and "go forward" with heroic faith. Years later the Israelites were commanded to show their faith again by beginning to march over the Jordan while the river was at its highest point. They held the key to unlock the gate in the Land of Promise in their own hands, and the gate would not begin to turn on its hinges until they had approached and unlocked it. The key was faith.

We are destined to fight certain battles, and we think we can never be victorious and conquer our enemies. Yet as we enter the conflict, One comes who fights by our side. Through Him we are "more than conquerors" (Romans 8:37). If we had waited in fear and trembling for our Helper to come before we would enter the battle, we would have waited in vain. This would have been overwaiting of unbelief. God is waiting to pour out His richest blessing on you. "Go forward" with bold confidence and take what is yours. "I have begun to deliver... Now begin to conquer and possess." J. R. Miller

Stop Giving Your Opinion!!!!

UGH!!!!

Why do people think they have the right to butt into other peoples business? Why do they believe they have the right to give their opinion on matters that first of all don't concern them but secondly that they themselves haven't prayed about.

Today I had coffee with a friend who was telling me that God was calling her to go to this certain place at this certain time. I of course was like great! What's the problem. She proceded to tell me of other peoples opinions on what she should do. I then asked her what did God tell you?Obedience is better than sacrifice.

I then got a phone call tonight from another friend tonight who has a history of being kinda a gossip. I love her but i never know how to say stop... but tonight, she began to tell me what i had to do and how I had to handle a situation, that didn't even pertain to me. I couldn't figure out how she even got this information, but it was clearly none of her business! I felt so frustrated! I still feel frustrated. So this blog is completely written out of emotion and i am aware of that...lol

I did learn something.... we as Christians give our opinions too freely without prayer. Why don't we pray instead of talk. Why do we fail to pray for one another... I mean real faithfilled prayer. If we did that, wouldn't our advice be so much more holy and right. Full of truth and grace! I am going to do my best to take my own advice and really be a woman and friend of prayer!

Pressing on "One Step at a Time"

It just amazes me that when we really want to know something from God or there is a pressing concern our prayer lives improve dramatically. It makes sense, i know, the concern is constantly on our mind or the question, and both those things drive us to our knees frequently. However, what about the day to day struggles, thoughts, or realities. Why don't we view these things as a driving point to our knees. I am prone to sin, its my nature, I am one who unfortunately sins everyday, even if it isn't visible to the human eye. My thoughts and my heart are wicked and deceitful and only by God's mercy and grace do I even have the option to take my thoughts captive.
My daily prayer life never fully disappears. In fact, it doesn't lessen, it is just faithless. I mean i will pray for things and hope that they are answered but i tend to lack the same faith i have when i am praying for something specific. I want to be that woman of God who is known as a true woman of prayer and faith. And lets me honest prayers are pointless without faith. I know that i am still learning, or as i was reminded tonight, "not finished baking".
I am continually being reminded of God's faithfulness in my life. Why do i doubt Him? I have always had trust issues, I am fully aware of that. All of the men in my life have hurt or let me down in some way. However, He has remained faithful!! How do I not fully trust Him by now? Again, i am not perfect and i am learning. God is good and I know that the more i trust in Him the more peace I will have to continually be pressing on.

"Then Jesus told his disciples... that they should always pray and not give up." Luke 18:1

Prayer that uses previously unanswered prayers as an excuse for laziness has already ceased to be a prayer of faith. To someone who prays in faith, unanswered prayers are simply the evidence that the answer is much closer. From beginning to end, our Lord's lessons and examples teach us that prayer that is not steadfast and persistent, nor revived and refreshed, and does not gather strength from previous prayers is not the prayer that will triumph. - William Arthur

He Goes Ahead

Recently i have been overwhelmed with a lot of fear. Fear that i haven't shared with ANYONE... fear that the things that God has asked me to do i will not be able to do them. That I will be too weak and ultimately let everyone, including the Lord, down. So tonight at church the Lord reminded me that His name is a strong shelter and tower. That He wont let me fail. Then i got home and was doing my devotions. Some of the verse and quotes the Lord gave me were:

1 Peter 5:7- Give all of your worries to God, for He cares about you.

John 10:4- When He has brought out all His own, He goes ahead of them.

Streams in the Desert Devotion (SD)- So whatever awaits us is encountered first by Him, and the eye of faith can always discern His majestic presence. When His presence cannot be seen, it is dangerous to move ahead. Comfort your heart with the fact that the Savior has Himself experienced all the trials He asks you to endure; He would not ask you to pass through them unless He was sure the paths were not too strenuous for you.
This is the blessed life- not anxious to see far down the road, nor overly concerned with the next step, not eager to choose the path nor weighted down with heavy responsibilities of the future, but quietly following the Shepherd, one step at a time.

Faith

Today all God has been teaching me about is truly having faith in His word. Having faith that what i heard from the Lord is true and that God is going to bring to pass those things. I have not a doubt in my mind that, "He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it". We as Christians are always so scared of being wrong and being made out to be a fool. But God is gracious and sovereign and if you are truly seeking Him with your whole heart His word is foolproof. These are some verses and quotes that i read today that really challenged me to have extreme faith... the type that moves mountains and allows you to walk on water...


Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe. Mark 11:24

When you are confronted with a matter that requires immediate prayer, pray until you believe God- until with whole hearted sincerity you can thank Him for the answer.

Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God. Romans 4:20

Faith is not a sense, nor sight, nor reason, but simply taking God at His word- Christmas Evans

The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety- George Muller

I have faith in God that is will happen just as he told me. Acts 27:25

And it will!!

Wholly Follow the Lord my God

Ok so Pastor Fedel taught tonight and even though he isn't my favorite speaker the area of scripture he chose God really used to speak to me.

Joshua 14:7b- "and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart"

Joshua 14:8b "but I wholly followed the Lord my God. "

Joshua 14:9b "because you have wholly followed the Lord my God."

Joshua 14:14b "because he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel."

These verse are talking about Caleb. If you remember, Caleb was one of the 12 spies sent into the promise land to scope it out and bring back a report. So back in Numbers 13 & 14 we see Caleb and Joshua standing before the children of Israel and saying basically God has told us we get this land, so lets take it.

Joshua 13:30- "Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, 'Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to over come it.'"

The people of Israel of course did not believe that God was really going to give them the land and they were afraid the those who dwelled in the promise land. But Caleb believed God fully with his whole heart (Num 14:24) and God promised that he would not only enter into the promise land but he would be given part of the land. Then Caleb had to wander in the desert for 40 years. What?!?!?!? I mean he believed God fully... there was no doubt at all in his mind. He stood and spoke for what he believed in his heart God was calling him to do; but he still had to wander in the desert for 40 years with all of the other stupid Israelites.

How mad would you be? I mean you were right. You truly believed God with your whole heart and you still had to wander in the wilderness for 40 years with the idiots who didn't believe God. I mean God was pleased with you and you were given a promise that you could hold on to, but did you know you had to wait 40 years to redeem it. I can't even imagine how Caleb would feel. Every year, "Is this the year? Is this the year? I am supposed to go into the promise land, God said so. Is this the year?"

But no matter what or how long, Caleb "wholly followed" the Lord. Even while walking through the desert. As a young man he stood up for what he knew God was placing in his heart to do. He believed God. I love that he not only stood but spoke.

Are we fully, wholly following God the way Caleb did? Are we standing and speaking for what we know in our hearts to be right? Are we holding onto the promises God has given us, even through the desert for longer than thought?

I pray I am like Caleb in wholly and fully following the Lord my God. And holding onto the promises He has given me; no matter how long I may have to wait to see them fulfilled.

Tomorrow!

Let me just say i can't wait for tomorrow!!! If you know anything about my life you will know why..lol!!!

Also, Superstars of Dance also begins... as well as i get to go to the ascent... I can't wait!!