I’m excited for the things God is teaching me these days. One of the things that I am learning is  to not get discouraged while waiting on the evidence  of things not yet seen!Hebrews 11:1 NIV tells us 11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. I am growing in my confidence in God’s fulfillment of His promises. What we see with the eye currently is not what will be if we hold fast to those promises, not wavering. 

James 1:2-8 NIV ² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

There have been many times in the past that I have been double-minded. Not sure if it was God’s will to do some of the things I have asked for and therefore doubting even as the words were leaving my mouth. My confidence in the lover of my soul is changing. I believe I am seeing Him more for the beautiful Savior, healer, deliverer, Lord and King that He is and that it is His desire to give good gifts to His followers.  Now I am not referring to lavish homes and cars, not that these things in themselves are bad! I am referring to all blessings that enable us to fulfill His purposes in our lives. Peace, joy, sound mind, health and strength as we need it to do the labor He has called us to. We are the called to be the light of the world and what good can we do when we are moping about in ongoing depression, anxiety, fear and bondage!  If we have accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior and have made a decision to follow Him, we are entitled to freedom from all these things! 

2Timothy 1:6-8 NKJV says  ⁶ Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

God wants His church whole. He wants us living a life of obedience and  abiding in Christ daily. When we do, we are in a position to minister to those He puts in our path. To be a light in the darkness.  We are free  to pray for others and see answers.

James 5:16 NIV ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

I am learning that as I commit myself wholly to Him, to confess my sins before Him daily, to lean into Him, to believe Him, I am able to make a difference in the lives of those around me.  I am able to share the gospel and demonstrate the love of Christ to others and that is what He has called each of us in the body of Christ to do. His last words on earth tell us just that.

Mark 16:9-20 NIV ⁹ When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. ¹⁰ She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. ¹¹ When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.¹² Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. ¹³ These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.¹⁴ Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating;  he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.¹⁵ He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸ they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”¹⁹ After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. ²⁰ Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

My prayer is that each one of us will grow in our confidence of His love for us, in our faith and trust in His word and what we are able to accomplish through Him! As we do we will see the fulfillment of the great commission!

Father God, we thank you for Jesus. We thank you that we can fully trust in Him and rely on His love and kindness. Lord create a clean heart in each of us and renew a right spirit within us so that we may walk close to You and fulfill the purposes You have called us to. Let us be a light in this world. Let each of us do our part in the great commission. Increase our faith through Your word. Let each of us preach the gospel  and confirm Your word by signs and wonders as we do so. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.