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Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Don't Laugh

I’m one of those people that believe everything in the Bible. In one way or another, I know it is trustworthy. I don’t need to know how, or if it is literal in every way or not, but I know that I can believe the promises. So When Jesus says that we can do the things that he did and more, I believe him! In my journal and in my prayer time, I am all in. Very serious about it all! “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. John 14:12 (NLT) My question is, why is this not happening in my life? I prayed for my friend in chronic pain and she did not get better. I even prayed in Jesus name, I mean I said in Jesus name after I prayed. I’m beginning to think that praying in Jesus name is not a “houcus poucus-get whatever you want” spell that we chant at the end of a prayer. No, living is Jesus name means so much more. It means following him and doing the things that he would have done or is doing in you. Anyway, I’ll keep you updated on the healing ministry, but for now, I’ve decided to learn how to abide in the Father so that I can find unity in the relationship of the trinity in my own life. How can Jesus live out his life through me? Jesus said, I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. John 17:21 (NLT) So I believe! BUT when I find myself in conversation with friends proclaiming this truth! I giggle or follow my statements with an uncomfortable laugh. We all know what God thinks about people who laugh at his promises. In Genesis 18, the Lord appeared to Abraham and told him that his wife, Sarah would have a son. “So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?” “Then the Lord said the Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son. “Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh.” “But the Lord said, “No you did laugh.” Did Sarah laugh because she was amused at the Lord’s promise? Or did she laugh because he felt silly believing that something so incredible could happen to her? Did she laugh because she felt like a fool believing that at her age, she would bear a child? I laugh because I’m afraid of the response. I’m afraid what people will think about the kind of person that believes impossible things. Her laughing did not cancel the Lord’s promise. It did still happen. But who likes to be laughed at. I know I don’t. May we all believe in the impossible things that Jesus proclaimed about his followers. May we learn to truly follow Him so that his promises will manifest in our life. More than the miracles, how I would love to just rest in knowing that I’m doing what the Father does and doing what pleases Him. “I do nothing on my own, but say only what the Father taught me. And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.” John 8: 28- 29 (NLT) May these incredible words from Jesus be what we seek. To be so intimate with the Father, Son, and the Holy Sprit, that we can be confident that we always do what pleases the Father.

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Faith is a Shield

I had in my head that faith is like a muscle that I am to strengthen and grow. If it can be too small, then it must be able to grow. I set to believing in impossible things. Healings and projects beyond my physical means. How else would one grow faith? Push-ups to grow arms, believing in the impossible to grow faith. I knew that push-ups were a physical act, so must my faith be, I should walk forward. Pray for people knowing that I had no control over the healing, or planning a million-dollar project in Angola, where others had to show up in order for this to work. I walk forward. Asking the Lord to do the rest. But when it dawned on me that the spiritual armor recorded in Ephesians 6:10-18 (NLT) 10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we[a] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.[b] 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.[c] 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Although I think shields are heavy, so it might take work to hold one up, faith doesn’t seem to be a muscle. Maybe growing in ones faith means a bigger and bigger shield. If we were to have spiritual eyes watching Peter walk out on the water to Jesus, how would that have looked? I cannot say the answer, because I’ve not seen this with my own eyes, I’m only trying to piece my understanding of Scripture and God together. Say Peter walks out holding his faith shield. He puts the first food down and an arrow of darkness, full of doubt, flies his way, but the shield stops it. The arrow falls into the ocean. Another arrow flies his way telling him to look, it is not possible to walk on water. That arrow hits the shield and falls into the ocean. After a couple of steps towards Jesus, another arrow of darkness flies at Peter telling him that a wave is coming his way and it might knock him over! The arrow flies just above his shield and hits Peter in the head, and fear sets in. He starts sinking. What does Jesus say? “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” Matt. 14:31 Little faith? Little shield? Could it be that faith is simply blocking the arrows of darkness that want to enter our thought life? That want to discourage us from believing the impossible? Okay if I don’t have to strong will my self to having faith, but hold up a shield, how do I get that shield? How do I get a huge Jesus sized shield? In Roman’s 10:17 it says, “So faith comes from hearing , that is , hearing the Good News about Christ.” Galatians 2:20, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, bur Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. By believing in Jesus’ sacrifice and believing that our sinfulness died along with Christ. We step into faith that we are now in Jesus, so in believing that, is Jesus holding the shield or are we?