Unbelief is Paralyzing

The funk I've been in can be boiled down to one word - "unbelief". I can relate to Beth Moore in Praying God's Word when she answers the Lord's command to believe with, "Of course I believe in you. I've believed in You all my life." And I can relate to the Lord's response to her just as much, "I didn't ask you to believe in me, I asked you to believe me." I don't remember a time when I didn't believe in God! However, believing Him, believing He can and will do what He says He will do, well, that's something I've struggled with my entire adult life. I have made great strides in my belief, and even thought I had come to a place of utter belief of God: Who He is, What He is, What He can do! But I can once again relate to Beth when she says, "I have a feeling this is one theme I probably will run into again and again in the course of my journey. Why? because without faith it is impossible to please Him...you and I will be challenged to believe Him from one season to the next, all of our days. And if we have even half a heart for God, He's likely to shake our perimeters and stir up a little excitement." I say it all the time...our home is a lot of things, but boring is definitely NOT one of them! And God is doing it again! Stirring us up...I'm finding that He lets us sit less and less in the place we are in as He challenges us to grow in Him.

In fact, I haven't even overcome my last unbelief...not in God, but in myself. For the next step of faith God is calling us to, He is asking me to believe I can do much what I had to believe I could do to bring Isabella into our home. I overcame that unbelief and welcomed her. But we are definitely still walking out that belief in a day to day basis...and frankly, most days I feel much more like a failure than a success! So as I contemplate this next step of faith while still wrestling with fleshing out the last one, I once again hear my thoughts ringing in Beth Moore's words:

"The enemy taunts us with whispers like, 'You'll never be free. You've tried a hundred times. You go back every time. You're hopeless. You're weak. You're a failure. You don't have what it takes.'...You do have what it takes. You have Jesus - the Way, the Truth and the Life. But you can't just believe in him to be free from your stronghold. You must believe Him. Believe He can do what He says He can do. Believe you can do what He says you can do. Believe He is who He says He is. And believe you are who He says you are."

There it is. The crust of my funk - I don't believe...I believe He is who He says He is. I believe He can do what ever He wants! I struggle with believing He will do what He says He will do and I just flat have lots of unbelief in the area of believing I can do what He says I can do!

But once again, my God whom I love dearly and is so personal, met me right here...in my unbelief! Beth's words have ministered to my soul. They have encouraged and inspired me through the Holy Spirit! I sat and spoke out loud the areas I am struggling in personally. The areas I feel like a failure. The areas that I don't believe I can do because of my human limitations. I sat and spoke out loud, "I believe I can _______" and filled in the blank with all the things the enemy has told me I can't do over the past few weeks. It's amazing the perspective change that gives me! I see my children as blessings and not burdens. I see tasks before me as adventures not challenges. I am amazed at just how much differently life looks with my focus on Jesus, His ways, His power, His strength; and not on me or the world!

I am refueled and ready today! I am able! Whatever comes my way today, I am able! I'm ready for a great start to a great week! I will not just survive this week, I will LIVE it!

Quotes that Speak

I am reading several books right now, and I love quotes that stand out. So I will share some with you guys!

"I'm not sure we're ever in a more uncomfortable predicament than when we discern evil in someone who other people esteem. At no time should we be more prayerful or careful to search our own sin-driven souls." ~Beth Moore in Esther

"Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established." ~ Solomon in Proverbs 16

"The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But He loves one who pursues righteousness." ~ Solomon in Proverbs 15

"The enemy goes after the defenseless when the strong are weak." ~ Beth Moore in Esther video session two

"He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out." ~ Solomon in Proverbs 10

"You will never be more prone to attack than when God pulls you out of where you are and puts you on a wilderness road to where you are going, but you are not there yet." ~ Beth Moore Esther video session two

"Life in the Spirit is like riding a bicycle - balance is everything. One can fall off on either side...If we ran out of gas on the way to a conference, "the devil didn't want us to get there." I've since come to realize that if you don't pay attention to the fuel gauge, you're not under attack, you're underinteligent." ~ Guy Chevereau in Spiritual Warfare: Sideways

"You will be victorious when you are fighting an enemy of God!" ~ Beth Moore Esther video session two

"When we're afraid, we don't just forfeit our peace and well-being; we ultimately give the devil the attention he seeks. Our 'afraidness' is the corrupt, distorted worship he craves." ~Guy Chevereau in Spiritual Warfare: Sideways

"There is nothing meaner than a coward - they won't fight face to face." ~ Beth Moore Esther video session two

"Holiness is not the luxury of the few. It is a simple duty for you and for me. If there are poor in the world it is because you and I don't give enough." ~Mother Teresa

"Do not be afraid of sudden fear nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; for the Lord will be your confidence and ill keep your foot from being caught." ~ Solomon in Proverbs 3

"Humans can gossip like frogs eat flies." ~ Beth Moore in Esther

"Satan has a theory that he's banked his entire accuser's career on: Even the strong grow weak. True enough, but this, Beloved One, is also true: Even the weak grow strong if they set their minds to it." ~ Beth Moore in Esther