Devotions for Moms » Fearing God

Faith

CSAHM — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:37:54 +0000

Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:4

What does it take to walk by faith? This is a question I have been pondering for a couple of months now and with the New Year here I feel God strongly impressing on my heart that the word FAITH is my word for this year.

Last year my word was healing, and 2011 definitely brought healing in every area of my life. It seems a bit strange to go from healing to faith because in my mind it takes faith to bring healing. However seeing God’s faithfulness in bringing healing to my life will definitely be fresh in my mind as I learn to walk in faith this year.

Part of me is afraid. The fear that comes with walking in faith is there because of the unknown. Faith means I won’t have all the answers, and right now I would LOVE some answers. Or maybe I will think I have the answers only to have everything fall out of place again only to leave me with more questions than answers.

Faith means trusting God when you can’t see past two feet in front of you. It means walking down a winding road in the fog with confidence and boldness only because you KNOW that you’re here because that’s where God has brought you.

Walking in faith is not easy for me, especially since I am pretty comfortable worrying and being afraid of everything. I like to have control and I like to plan and set goals. But lately my plans and goals seem to be falling through the cracks and all I’m left with is my faith in God and His promises – which really seems to be enough.

So in 2012 I plan to walk by faith so I can also walk in His grace.

Faith brings us grace because when we walk by faith we find our self in a vulnerable place where we let go of control and surrender to Him. We can’t walk by faith if we have a heart of pride. Faith brings us to a place of humility because we finally find our strength in Him instead of what we can accomplish on our own.

Faith is enough. God is enough. His promises are enough, and He always keeps His promises.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for another hour, day, week, year. It is a wonderful blessing to be alive and well. Thank you for your provision and healing. So much has happened last year, and I look back on it with gratitude in my heart. Right now it’s difficult to find that gratitude, joy, and confidence simply because things aren’t going the way I had planned, and I have no clue where things are going really. I am grateful for the rainbows You send me, they remind me that You always keep Your promises. I think I can walk down the path You lead me with confidence and boldness this year if I can get a little glimpse of Your promises and a rainbow every once in awhile. Lord, even though it’s not easy to walk by faith, I also know it is a blessing because it keeps me focused on YOU and YOUR strength and provision in my life. And for that I am grateful. I pray this in your might son Jesus’ name. – AMEN!

Today I am linking up with “What is Your Word for 2012?“

Download TODAY! ==> Faith - A Four Week Mini Bible Study

Confidence in God

CSAHM — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 03:20:49 +0000

It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in man. Psalm 118:8 (NKJV)

Confidence in a leader: faith or belief that one will act in a right, proper, or effective way.

Why should we have confidence in God?

Asking this question seems a bit silly, but in all reality the answer is ultimately not only life changing but also very convicting.

You see we say we have faith in God, but yet when we are afraid we doubt Him. On Sunday’s while at Church we pray to Him, listen to teachings about Him, and praise His holy name. Yet when we get home, or when we begin our week, we begin to doubt, worry, and feel overwhelmed.

We know we SHOULD have confidence in God, but do we know why?

God is in control of everything (except us!)

We should have confidence in God because He is in control of everything.

In the Bible it is clearly outlined that God is sovereign over everything. Even Satan needs to have permission to enter into our lives and attack us. God is in control of everything, except for the choices that we make, including nature!

I believe that the greatest faith in God comes from those who believe that He is sovereign, and can still trust, love, and respect Him.

Knowing that God is in control of all things can give you the confidence to do what you never thought you could do. It will give you the power to fulfill God’s will in ways you never thought possible. When you finally believe God in in control of all things, that is when you truly begin to experience God’s miraculous healing and call for your life.

However knowing God is in control of all things will also require us to continually be in God’s word. You see the truth is, bad things happen, and since God is in control of everything, we will need to turn to the Lord often so that we can understand Him more.

When the reality of this world comes charging at us, our personal relationship with the Lord is the only thing that will keep us grounded.

There will be people who will tell you that God is not in control of nature, among other things. But the reality is God is in control of everything, except us. You see we have what the enemy doesn’t have, choice.

We can either choose to have confidence in the Lord, or not. We can choose whether or not to have the Lord be in control of our life. We can choose whether or not we will surrender to His will, or continue to pursue our own will.

Either way, God has a plan and we can choose to be apart of it, or we can choose to turn out backs on it.

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

Forgive me for not having the confidence to be who you made me to be out of fear. Lord through my fear I have turned my back on You, and today I choose to turn my back on fear. Lord help me to grow into the fearless creation You made many years ago. I long to be in your presence and to serve You completely. I give you my heart, my will, and my life. Lord have mercy on me. I pray this in Jesus’ name – amen!

Download TODAY! ==> Faith - A Four Week Mini Bible Study

Satan’s Dare

CSAHM — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:31:05 +0000

So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. Job 1:9-12 (NKJV)

Too often when a Christian is tested, we often lose our confidence in the Lord. Or we deny Him, curse Him, lose hope in Him.

Job use to be a very difficult book for me to read, but I recently started to work my way through the pages in order to understand why certain things happen. The fact of the matter is this: Life is filled with trials.

Some trials may hurt more than others, but the fact remains we ALL have trials. We all have moments where our faith is shaken. Our confidence in God may dwindle down to nothing. The hope we once had may disappear when the trials keep coming.

You see in Job, Satan puts out his dare: “Does Job fear God for nothing?”

Do we fear God?

Do we really know who is in control. If we really feared God then nothing in this life would remove our confidence in Him. We would never stop hoping, and trusting in the Lord.

Sure there may be times when we don’t understand what is happening, but that doesn’t mean God has lost all control. If you read further in Job, God remains in control over the entire situation. Satan had to request permission to do anything first.

Who or what do you fear?

Job is all about fearing God – trusting Him. Fearing God is about having a strong reverence and respect for WHO HE IS! He is of course the creator – the One who is always in control, even when it may seem like He is far away.

What can we do during our trials?

Like I had mentioned before, everyone has trials in there life. This has been made so clear to me during my own recent trials. Some trials may never go away, and others may be temporary.

But the one thing I have learned, live through and endure the trials. If not for you, then for those who love you. Live and endure your trials for everyone else who is going through a bigger trial than you. We need to endure the trials in order to show the world what God is really, truly, made of.

Giving Up is Not an Option

There are so many people out there who need to know that there is hope. That whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

There is no time to be angry with God. No time to run away from the pain! Yes, there will be pain. It will hurt, and you will cry. Your faith will be shaken. But that is when it’s time to endure.

Jesus endured. God knows all pain – even the pain of losing a child – the absolute worst pain (I think) anyone could ever endure! But He HAS endured.

You think this has all been “easy” on God – think again. God knows pain, and I’m sure He knows all about the tears we cry. God knows it all too well.

We need to endure because God endured. Through our endurance the world will see who God really IS.

Prayer:

Dear Father God,
Forgive me Daddy. Forgive me for losing my confidence and faith in You. It has been painful, confusing, and at times too much to bear. There have been moments where the enemy wispers into my ear “He’s not real.” But my love and experience with You IS REAL! I may not understand what is happening, but I do KNOW You are there. I know that YOU are my provider. I know that YOU are my protector. I know that YOU are in control of everything that happens in my life. Thank You for your mercy. Thank You for your grace. Thank You for enduring through everything in order to show me how to live. Where would my life be without You Daddy God? Not here, that’s for sure. Thank You Lord! I praise You today and always. I pray this all in Your Might Son Jesus’ name – amen!

Download TODAY! ==> Faith - A Four Week Mini Bible Study