Archive for doubts
God Wants Us to Cling to Him!
Posted by: | Comments“As a loincloth clings to a man’s waist, so I created Judah and Israel to cling to me, says the Lord. They were to be my people, my pride, my glory–an honor to my name. But they would not listen to me.” Jeremiah 13:11 (NLT)
When I think of clinging, I am reminded of my kids when they were toddlers and would cling to my legs. Never before have I thought of this as something God would want. The picture that comes to my mind is “weak, frail, & needy”. Yet that is the word picture we are given in this scripture. He wants us to cling to him… like a little toddler would to his mother.
Are you clinging to God or something or “someone” else? Have you been clinging to a relationship or a person so tightly that you have lost your self in the process? We are to cling to God and love others.
Are you clinging to God for your protection, security, and love? If not, maybe that is why you are feeling unloved, insecure, and unprotected. When the storms of life pour down on your relationships; CLING to God!
How? Read his word everyday. Pray constantly. Get support from others who can pray with you.
Having Faith Means Taking Risks
Posted by: | Comments“Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.)” Mark 15:43 (NLT)
Have you ever been tempted to hide your faith because you thought it might hinder you from getting that job you wanted or promotion at work? Recently, I was faced with this very temptation. I was suddenly unemployed and needing to begin an active search for work in a highly competitive job market. I quickly landed a temporary contract assignment with a company which was a huge blessing! However, in the back of my mind, I knew I needed to keep looking and get up to speed on all the latest techniques for gaining permanent employment.
I learned that its a whole new ball game when it comes to landing a job theses days. Recruiters are relying on social media sites like LinkedIn and Facebook to locate qualified candidates. I had a LinkedIn profile but used it to promote my speaking and writing ministry. My tagline under my name said “Writer, Speaker & Ministry Leader” or something like that. I also had links to all my websites and twitter profiles listed.
After learning how LinkedIn is a valuable tool to find a job; I decided to update my LinkedIn profile to include my previous jobs and list all of the types of responsibilities I had with each. I also promptly removed all my links to my ministry sites and changed my tagline to reflect what my current title was at the brand new job I had just started.
I thought if I had recruiters looking at my LinkedIn profile and saw my ministry links and tagline, they might not want to contact me for an interview…
I CAN’T BELIEVE THE HYPOCRISY OF THIS THOUGHT!
I look back now and am so embarrassed and hate to admit that I did that. It goes against everything I claim to be. I understand now in a very real and personal way, how it was so easy for Peter to quickly deny his involvement with Jesus even after their close friendship. I did the very same thing. I thought that I needed to hide who I am if I was going to get a job.
After all the miracles Jesus has done in my life; I so quickly erased any reference to him on my profile. But of course I was praying to him the whole time, asking him to help me find a permanent position. How quickly I adopted the world’s wisdom. I bought a lie that if I was going to be successful in my employment search, I should remove any reference to my faith in Christ. Really? Wow, now there’s a strong faith!
When I read about how Joseph took a risk by asking Pilate for Jesus’ body; a light bulb went on in my head. I can not live in faith without taking those same risks. If I am going to claim to fully trust in God; I must not worry that a company might see my LinkedIn profile and decide not to consider me for a job because of my faith.
I have since changed my profile back and will trust in God’s ability to provide for my needs the same way He has faithfully done over and over in my life.
How about you? Have you suddenly stopped trusting in God to provide for you in some area in your life? Have you taken matters into your own hands? Have you bought into a lie the world has adopted as truth?
Pray for God’s help today to see where He is wanting you to take a risk.
Though Peter denied Jesus, later he became bold in his ministry. Acts 4:13 “The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. The also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.”
-Kristy
God Is With You Right Now
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If you feel alone or discouraged; I have good news for you today. God is with you right now wherever you are. He can hear you. He can see what you’re going through. He wants to help you!
“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Warn your brother, Aaron, not to enter the Most Holy Place behind the inner curtain whenever he chooses; if he does, he will die. For the Ark’s cover–the place of atonement–is there, and I myself am present in the cloud above the atonement cover.’ ”
Leviticus 16:2 (NLT)
Sometimes we forget that God is with us. If God was that close then– just on the other side of a couple of curtains; think for a minute where He is now! Because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, we are able to have the Holy Spirit living in us today! STOP…think about this. Do you understand what I am talking about? I think this is great news!
He’s hearing your prayers, He’s seeing your tears. He cares about your busy schedule today. He desires to let you know…HE…knows your every thought…yes, everything. He wants you to trust He can help you no matter what the challenge or frustration you might be facing today.
“For he who avenges murder cares for the helpless. He does not ignore the cries of those who suffer.”
Psalm 9:12 (NLT)
God Works in Our Marriages Even if We Have Doubts!
Posted by: | Comments“The father instantly replied, ‘I do believe, but help me not to doubt!’” Mark 9:24
We can be honest with God when we have doubts. He knows we have them. The father in this story is replying to Jesus’ 
statement in verse 23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” Jesus went ahead and healed the man’s son even though he admitted to having doubts.
Everyday I weigh the statements and comments my husband makes and then with my own understanding make judgments whether or not He is moving toward Christ or away from him. This is a trap because Satan also put thoughts into my head and they are always negative. So when I constantly analyze my husband’s spiritual condition on a daily basis I find myself constantly feeling doubtful.
Thankfully, I am able to use my daily quiet time to refocus and refill with God’s promises and this verse in Mark chapter 9 gives me hope that even if I have doubts He will still work His miracles. Memorizing scripture has also been an enormous help when those doubtful thoughts come into my head throughout the day!
-Kristy
God Loves You Inspite of Your Big Mistakes!
Posted by: | Comments“After looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand.” Exodus 2:12 (NLT)
Doubting that God can use you to make a difference in this world? Feel like you won’t amount to anything? Plagued with guilt from past choices? This verse should wipe out any of those nagging doubts. God knew Moses’ past and still chose to use him to perform amazing miracles in Egypt eventually persuading Pharaoh to set the Israelites free.
Maybe you’re in a heap of trouble because you’ve just done a really dumb thing like buy that car you can’t afford or yelled at your kids for no reason, or used the Visa card one too many times and now you’re drowning in debt. My point here is that even if you are the cause of the trouble you’re in, God can still use you in great ways, too!
Will you decide to let God use your mistakes to make miracles today? If you’re thinking well Moses was probably a confident guy. Nope, wrong again. When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush calling him to be the one to lead the people out of Egypt; Moses protested over and over fearing the people wouldn’t believe him and complained he wasn’t good with words.
God already knows your big mistakes, your fears, and your doubts and He still loves you and has a plan and purpose for your future. Hope this encourages you today!
DO NOT GIVE UP!
Posted by: | Comments“Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance”
1 Corinthians 13:7 (NLT)
Marriages are the school God uses to teach us how to love no matter what. There’s no better environment for God to use than your relationship with your husband. When you go through seasons of pain and incompatibility, DON’T GIVE UP!
Remember God only gives you circumstances He knows you can handle. You may not think so, but He does and that is all that matters. Do not depend on what you feel today, what you see today, or what you know today…today is temporary. Keep your eyes on God; He can see tomorrow.
Read “Hope for real relationships when disappointed” by Pastor Tom at Saddleback Church!