God is faithful, believe His promises

Believing God for His promises is sometimes a difficult thing to do.

In Dec 2010 I felt like God was starting to prepare me for a spouse. Didn’t know how, when or who, but I felt like he was strategically placing people in my life to prepare me for that. He was showing me that there ARE Godly men worth waiting for. He was placing Godly relationships & marriages around me that I could watch & learn from. I didn’t know then, and still don’t know now, who that person is. Those are not details I wish to be hung up on.

But since then, God has asked me to give up certain relationships…. which at the time seemed really hard. Now that I look back on it, it wasn’t too bad & it was the best thing for me. (who woulda thought, God knows what He’s doing!?)

God won’t bring the RIGHT person in your life while you are hung up on the WRONG person.

Sometimes I get discouraged and think

“Did God really promise me this?”

“Was it just my own desire?”

“When will be MY time?”

“Am I going to be one of those that he has called to be single?”

“Do I REALLY want a husband?”

“I am happy & very content on my own, why let go of that?”

So when I start to doubt & get discouraged I tell myself…

Yes, He did promise me this.

Yes it is my desire, but I run after God & my heart desires what He desires for me. A Godly man that when partnered with me, we’ll be a team unstoppable for Christ.

No, God has not called me to be single.

Who knows when my time is, stop asking & let God work.

 Yes, I do want a husband.

And the reason I should let go of something good (being on my own) when the time comes, for something better (a husband) is because it’s worth it…even though it may be more work, it will grow me, strengthen me, push me closer to God, get me out of my comfort zone, test my faith, make me lean on Him & will teach me how to be selfless…AND I will make a bigger impact for Christ when partnered with the right person.

That’s the last thing satan wants, so of course he is going to try to discourage me… he uses the same tactic every time, I know when he does it but don’t always know how to fight it… today, that changes!

Writing about Gods promises & past faithfulness will help me trust Him in my future.

There is always a waiting period between the promise & the payoff… what are you gonna do during that waiting period?? Will you sit & whine about not getting what God has promised yet? Will you sit & doubt that God DID actually promise? Or will you push on, learn, grow, be obedient in the little things He has called you to NOW & believe God confidently while you’re waiting?!

Some encouraging verses to help you remember that God will come through on what He has promised you. Whether that be a husband/wife, a job, a baby, a strong marriage, provision or just peace & rest. He will provide what He has promised… in His time! In the meantime, keep your eyes on Him, do what He’s called you to do & Trust Him!

Hebrews 10:23-25

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love & good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return draws near.

Hebrews 10:35-36

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do Gods will. Then you will receive all that He has promised”

Hebrews 11:1

“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen. It gives us assurance about things we cannot see.”

Practice makes perfect, be careful what you practice

Each morning I receive an email from Girlfriends In God.  It’s usually some scripture, a story and how it relates to God in our lives and some encouragement. I then went on to read James 3 because that’s what my bible was open to and funnily enough it talked about the same subject.

God is clearly speaking to me about this today because it was mentioned in each thing I read… My words.

How you use your words can really make or break a person. In the email I read the quote

“How do you use your words? To fortify or flatten, to defend or defeat, complete or compete”

How many times do we carelessly let words flow and not think of the damage it can cause another person, even when we’re not intending it to? I know I do it often, usually in a playful manner, but nonetheless…it doesn’t make them any less deflating or destructive.

James 3:3-6 says

We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in it’s mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest fire.

What you say and what you DON’T say are both important. In James 3 it talks about examples of an untamed tongue

Gossiping, exaggerating, complaining, manipulating, flattery, lying, bragging, & putting others down.

Before you speak, ask, is what I want to say true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?

James 3:7-12 says

“People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, & fish. But no one can tame the human tongue. It is relentless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes the tongue praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing & cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely my brothers and sisters, that’s not right. Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water & bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.

My contradictory speech will often surprise me, I’ll sit and think “why do I have so say things like that?” or “where on earth did that come from” At times my words are pleasing to God, other times they are destructive. Which of these reflect my true identity?

The bible says “We are made in Gods image, but the tongue gives us a picture of our basic sinful nature. The Holy Spirit changes us from the inside out. When the Holy Spirit purifies a heart, he gives self control so that the person will speak words that please God.”

Today I pray that the Lord will continue to convict me when I start to become a salty spring. I want my words to reflect Jesus inside of me, not me. I want to speak life into those around me & lift them up, not tear them down.

My downfall is that I don’t mean it and it’s my way of playing, I usually only do it when I feel comfortable around a person enough to play that way. It may start as a spark but there will come a point that it will start a huge fire…

I read something the other day that said

“Practice makes perfect, be careful what you practice”

I don’t ever want to put something into practice that will become perfect, if it’s not joined with life.

Speak life to those around you today, encourage, inspire, love and see their potential skyrocket.