I have been sitting at my desk all day trying to figure out something that God had revealed to me a long time ago. Even though I was so sure that He was the one speaking to me a few months ago I began to doubt His promise because of circumstances beyond my control.

I fasted and prayed this morning and I could hear the Lord tell me that I am the one who is causing His promise to be put on hold. You see without faith it is impossible to please God. I immediately thought about the passage of scripture that I read in the 1st Chapter of James:
2 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. 3 You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. 4 So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. 5 If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. 6 Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. 7 Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, 8 adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

I felt a need to share this with you all because I am sure that I am not the only one "worrying my prayers". I pray that each of us will learn to really turn it over to the Lord because He will answer in His time.

Please continue to pray for my strength in the Lord and I will do the same for each person in this family.

All my love,
Praise Him

Praise Him,


Dear Lord, thank you for showing us we need to have faith and trust in your guide. We are so quick in trusting our own minds and hearts that we forget to listen to you Lord.

The bible says to trust and delight in the Lord; wait patiently for him.
1. Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.

3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD ;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Psalm 37:1-7.

The Just live by faith!!!!

Thank you for sharing! It led me to Psalm 37.

Wow, guys~I really needed this today. I feel like I am trusting; but, my heart is burdened. Then, I read a post like Jenn's and realize my focus needs to be on those who's needs are so much greater. God is answering my prayers today! No matter what it looks like, my God is in control! He is able and He will deliver me! He is mighty to save and He is not slack. I am blessed with everything I need for life and godliness; and, sufficient unto today are the troubles thereof. So...all that to say, I'm grateful for the reminders of how to deal with these circumstances. I will put my faith and trust in the One who judges justly. Praise be to His Wonderful Name~!

Soteria,

I mentioned a little while ago that when God blesses me I have to pass that blessing on. When I wrote the post I wrote it with the hopes that someone would be blessed by my testimony. I am glad to know that my hope came true.

I really had (still having) an awesome day in the Lord because I decided to follow Him with my whole heart wherever He leads me. I have followed a lot of other people in my life and I sometimes ended up on a dead end street so at least I know that I am now following the One who knows the plan that HE has for me.

This is an awesome thing because we serve an awesome God!

All my love,
Praise Him

Praise Him,

What a great testimony!

Isn't God awesome. I was discussing the James passage with some friends this week when we gather together for a time of fellowship and study.

Once thing that I am learning about myself is that there are times when I can't control everything or I cannot fix everything. It is difficult for me as that is what I do for a living. I go into various departments, access the issues, work toward solutions that improve both the efficiency and effectiveness of the department. For a long time, I operated my life that way.

But sometimes trials do come in and we cannot control the circumstances. I love what James says in the NIV in the latter part of verse 3 and then into verse 4. "...the testing of your faith develops perserverence. Perserverence must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing."

There are two wonderful promises for those who choose to walk in faith through the tough times in our lives. First is spiritual maturity and second is completeness to the point that we lack nothing (or no good thing).

There is another passage that God has taken me to for study on this very subject as well. Believe it or not it is John 11 and the story of Lazarus. It is an awesome story.

I am finding more and more that when the hard situations of life come in on us, especially those times when it seems our situations move from bad to impossible, that is the time when Jesus clearly speaks.

Remember when Lazarus has died and Martha runs to Jesus sobbing and says, "Lord, if you would have been here my brother would not have died." Another way of looking at it is, Lord, if you really cared about me, you would take care of my hard situations, find me the right job, repair my broken relationship, fix my problem!!! But Jesus, had a better gift for Martha, Mary, Lazarus and all of the people who were there with them mourning for Lazarus. And He has a better gift for us too. I believe after Martha made her desparate cry for help, Jesus looked her straight in the eye and with a tremendous amount of love and compassion spoke a word into her life. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in Me will live even thought he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Martha, do you believe this?" And with tear stained cheeks and an enlightened heart Martha replied, "Yes, Lord, I believe!". Praise Him, what I am realizing is that it isn't Jesus and a great job, Jesus and a mate, Jesus and financial stability, Jesus and anything. HE IS ALL I NEED! He is the resurrection and the life!!! And sometimes we will be placed into situations where things go from bad to impossible so that we can realize and our faith is stretched until all that is left is Jesus Himself alone. It is when we are most desparate and broken, when nothing is any longer in our control that Jesus is there to meet us, looking lovingly with eyes full of compassion asking you, asking me.....Praise Him, do you believe this? Howard, do you believe this? He is waiting for our answer. And if we choose to say, "Yes, Lord, I believe!" Our lives will never be the same again.

Thanks again for your post. May God continue to bless His family as we all keep walking in the light of His truth and love.

Howard

Dear Friends, I am speechless. I asked for prayer yesterday because a situation has become worse and worse. I have tried to stand in faith; yet feel like I'm watching a sinking ship. Yet, now I realize that it's okay if all my ships sink. I have Jesus and He will work His perfect will in me if I am willing to let him. Everything "I" tried to do to make this job go right is not enough. Only if He chooses to bless it can it prosper. If He chooses not to bless it, it is still the right thing to have happen. He knows what is best for me. Thank you for your thoughts and sharing of the Scriptures. May God continue to bless you all as you seek to know Him and to be transformed into His likeness. Ter

Howard,

Amen, what an encouragement. Thanks for sharing that. I agree, and all you said about Jesus in our life, I have come to find out, needs to be a daily reminder. Its so easy to subconsciously forget what we really need.

Ter,

Its awesome to see you stand on Jesus in this situation and not let this trail overcome you. On a much smaller scale I have felt some of those same felling you have with my job. Hearing your response to trails has lifted me up.

Shawn -

Thanks for the kind words. I've been truly blessed by this site and starting to get to know all of you a bit better. It is truly encouraging to me to see so many like hearts.

Ter -

I agree with Shawn, it is an awesome thing to have the priviledge of hearing how you are choosing to believe the promises unseen dispite what you may physically see in front of you. What a boost to my faith!

God is so great at bringing His people together for the purpose of edifying, encouraging each other and most importantly bringing glory to His name!

Be blessed!
Howard

Howard, Ter and Shawn,

I am so blessed by the words you wrote. I know that each morning that we wake up on this side we are going to face some trials and testing. I also know that if we put ALL of our trust and faith in God everything will be alright no matter what the outcome or circumstances might bring.

I received a call from a man from my church early this morning asking me if we can pray together and I knew then that the Lord was getting me ready for battle today so I put on the full amour and decided to step out on faith.

Just a few hours ago, I felt myself getting a little weary but I just called upon the name of Jesus and before I knew it I was doing fine. My faith in Him keeps me going on a daily basis. I have no reason to be sad or down and out because of any human circumstance. I know that God can do anything if we just believe that He can.

I am so excited about my future because I know whose hands my future is in. I will continue to pray for each of you and I hope that you will do the same for me.

All my love,
Praise Him

Praise Him
Your message is very profound, thank you. I think we just have to make the time to "" be still and know that I am God." Then we should listen in quietness."