A Reminder to Believe God

As I was preparing to lead my Life Group tonight, a section of Scripture we are studying in James & it's meaning has really been rolling around in my head & heart all week, for weeks actually. It is in James 5:14-16,

"Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore,confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

Healing. Victory. Faith. Trust.

Is healing possible? Will I ever get over ______? What if God doesn't answer my prayer in such & such a way? What if? When? How? How long? Why? It could go on & on...

Today, I was reminded of a study I led a while back, Believing God (Beth Moore). That was such a rich study, for many reasons, for many young women I believe. I clearly remember at the end of that 12 week study telling my group that, for perhaps no other reason, that the Lord had that study planned at that time just for me...a crossroads in my life. Quite honestly, it was truths in that Bible study, encouragement from God's Word, His character, & my sisters in Christ that kept me on the path of believing God, instead of completely giving up, shutting down, curling up in a ball, crawling into a hole, ceasing. So, I just thought I would encourage you with just a small portion from that study:

Faith that remains unchallenged, ordinarily remains unchanged, stifled, stagnant.

He is bigger that we will ever stretch our faith to conceive...every time you grasp a new concept about God, try thinking, "God is this...AND MORE..."

Prayers answered with a "no" could grant a greater "YES."

Will we not ask because we are afraid of being offended by God? Embarrassed? Disappointed? Hurt? Surprised? Or will we ask, know He IS able but trusting that He is good if He doesn't act? Blessed are those that aren't offended by/with Jesus.

Should we have faith to heal? Yes! But also & more, faith to trust.

God see's fretting faith as faithless fretting--we will never fret our way to victory or healing.

When you have no idea what to believe Him for in a given situation, just believe Him to be huge.

As I see it, sometimes we are at a crossroads...one side will take us to defeat, the other to victory. Like I said before, God used this study in a specific, dark season of my life for a reason...I could have easily been at the crossroads & chosen defeat.

Our Father delights in ambitious, fierce praying--so hit your knees & ask other to do it on your behalf. And believe God.

God requires our 100% & when He receives it, He returns it a hundred fold. He doesn't give back 50%. He requires so much of us so we can join Him in experiencing unmatched triumph & joy.

"The more we applaud God, the more inclined He is to come out for an encore."

So, I can't wait to see what God does!

I believe:

God is who He says He is.

God can do what He says He can do.

I am who God says I am.

I can do all things through Christ.

God's Word is alive & active in me.

I'm believing God.

(Who did it with the actions?!)

Joy & 32 is a Good Combo

I had the blessing of my birthday being on a Sunday this year & it was such a wonderful morning of worship! Baptisms, praising Him through song, listening to His Word, fellowship...such sweetness to it! As I saw what my Pastor was preaching about this week, a smile couldn't help but creep across my face. Did he know & plan this?! (haha, no, but the Lord so KNOWS me!) Several others even commented on it, "Brandi, he preached "your thing!"

JOY. REJOICE. I will say it again, REJOICE. CHOOSE JOY.

For those that know me well...this is one of my life mantra's, something I believe in & live by. Something that I choose to do. I am not always wonderful at it & have to remind myself often of this choice that I have. But I love that I get that choice. And I love that when I choose to make that choice, it brings me closer to Jesus, closer to how I need look. When I choose joy, it allows me to make much of Him & what Christ did for me on the cross, the life I now live because of this undeserved act. This 32 years of life I got to celebrate today. And having it marked by such an awesome sermon all about joy-one of my favorite things-was such a blessing to me.

I was incredibly gifted with wonderful friends who went out of their way to think of me today, remember me, encourage me, love on me, spend time with me, say & do thoughtful things...my life is richer because of them! Thank you dear friends!

And of course, my amazing husband...he blesses me so much, more than I deserve. He planned such a nice day & evening for me-got to hang out with him for all of it & that's just the way I like it. I'm ready to start this year of my life with joy as my focus. No matter what may come my way, good or bad, both can be faced with joy...because that depends on Jesus.