Let's rejoice with Good faith! "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Rom 10:9). Trust Jesus to heal, change, & strengthen you. You're covered in His precious blood & filled with the Holy Spirit! Praying for your journey. 
**Prayer Group Updates!** 
**Healing & Restoration** 
(I Corinthians 7:17) “Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.â€
Being content in your current situation is not easy but it is attainable if you would learn to trust God. Frustration sets in and leads to anger when you are too focused on the problem. The problem seems so overwhelming and more and more time goes by with prayers unanswered. You just want to throw your hands up and cry. I know, I have been there with issues concerning my son and the prayers seem to go unanswered and the issues with him will bring me down. Financial issues too overwhelming beyond my control and ability to resolve and likewise, time goes on and on with prayers unanswered. The issues will overwhelm you and cause you to focus too much on them; worried you will never get out it steals your joy and unbelief sets in. Frustration is rooted in unbelief; you are frustrated and angry because your prayers are not answered and are worried that they will not be answered. Your current situation is beyond your ability to control or resolve and looking too long at the problem you become frustrated and angry! Keep you eyes on Jesus! He is bigger than your problem! (Hebrews 12:1-3) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.â€
This is exactly why you need to stay in the WORD OF GOD; it will transform your heart and your thinking! (Romans 12:1-2) “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.†It is living and active and we need to get stubborn! (Hebrews 4:12) “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.†Satan is the thief! (John 10:10) “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.†He wants us to doubt God and give into unbelief which moves us from the place God wants us to be in—trusting Him. (Hebrews 11:6) “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.†If you will learn to look at your situation as a “set up for God’s glory†then your joy will increase and give you strength to endure because you are trusting in God. (Nehemiah 8:10) “The joy of the Lord is your strength.â€
Learn to embrace opposition and to see it as a “set up.†(James 1:2-12) “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 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. 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. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business. Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.â€
The greater the opposition the greater the testimony you will have. Jesus could have healed Lazarus but He waited until he had been dead for 4 days! Oh the stink! Does your life stink right now! Then praise God because you have a big blessing coming as long as you persevere in faith and do not give up! The longer you persevere in faith with a smile the more frustration you cause Satan! That alone should put a smile on your face! Jesus could have healed Lazarus and from where He was at. All He had to do is “say the word†and Lazarus would have been healed but He was even more glorified in raising Lazarus from the dead as a symbol not only to the dead spiritually but to all the dead things in your life. He is able to raise everything to life! He also used others to assist and blessed them as well in being a part of the miracle. He called others to remove the grave clothes. There are others that God may want to use to assist in your answered prayers. You are touched and they are as well, increasing your faith and all He will use to bring about your answered prayers.
Gideon was full of doubt when the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in Judges 6. The Midianites, the Amalekites and other eastern nations were combining forces to come against Israel. Gideon was from the tribe of Benjamin which is one of the smallest tribes of Israel. He was full of doubt but God! God always knows what we need. When the Angel of the Lord appeared, He greeted Gideon with, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.†This was far from how Gideon saw himself but “God calls things that are not as though they were.†Gideon fleeced the Lord twice! He asked the Lord to do something that when done he knew that He would be with them and give them victory. He showed Gideon mercy and gave into his requests knowing that Gideon needed his faith built up. He will do the same for you. He knows where you are at and He knows your heart and what you need. Although He gave into Gideon’s request He reduced the army from 32000 men to 300! Wow! Only 300 men to fight against 3 or more vast armies! But Gideon obeyed and they won the victory and God was glorified! The people of Israel had drifted from God and were worshiping the false gods of the land and this great victory brought them back. Are you tempted to do the same when you get weary? Do you give into worry, gossip, murmuring and even want to just tie one on so to speak? Learn from the story of Lazarus and Gideon; God is with you! And He is faithful! (Psalm 145:13) “The Lord is faithful to all of His promises and loving toward all He has made.†God is faithful and like the story of Gideon, God can use your victories to be a witness to the people in your life who need to come back to Him.
Embrace your overwhelming situation as a growth opportunity. Embrace it as an opportunity to increase your faith and learn more about God’s faithfulness and love for you. Embrace it as a set up for an overwhelming testimony to share when you come through in victory! When you learn to look at your trials as opportunities to learn and to grow spiritually you will begin to trust God more and you will go through your trial a lot faster and a lot happier!
(I Peter 1:7) “These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.â€
Being content in your current situation is not easy but it is attainable if you would learn to trust God. Frustration sets in and leads to anger when you are too focused on the problem. The problem seems so overwhelming and more and more time goes by with prayers unanswered. You just want to throw your hands up and cry. I know, I have been there with issues concerning my son and the prayers seem to go unanswered and the issues with him will bring me down. Financial issues too overwhelming beyond my control and ability to resolve and likewise, time goes on and on with prayers unanswered. The issues will overwhelm you and cause you to focus too much on them; worried you will never get out it steals your joy and unbelief sets in. Frustration is rooted in unbelief; you are frustrated and angry because your prayers are not answered and are worried that they will not be answered. Your current situation is beyond your ability to control or resolve and looking too long at the problem you become frustrated and angry! Keep you eyes on Jesus! He is bigger than your problem! (Hebrews 12:1-3) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.â€
This is exactly why you need to stay in the WORD OF GOD; it will transform your heart and your thinking! (Romans 12:1-2) “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.†It is living and active and we need to get stubborn! (Hebrews 4:12) “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.†Satan is the thief! (John 10:10) “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.†He wants us to doubt God and give into unbelief which moves us from the place God wants us to be in—trusting Him. (Hebrews 11:6) “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.†If you will learn to look at your situation as a “set up for God’s glory†then your joy will increase and give you strength to endure because you are trusting in God. (Nehemiah 8:10) “The joy of the Lord is your strength.â€
Learn to embrace opposition and to see it as a “set up.†(James 1:2-12) “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 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. 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. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business. Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.â€
The greater the opposition the greater the testimony you will have. Jesus could have healed Lazarus but He waited until he had been dead for 4 days! Oh the stink! Does your life stink right now! Then praise God because you have a big blessing coming as long as you persevere in faith and do not give up! The longer you persevere in faith with a smile the more frustration you cause Satan! That alone should put a smile on your face! Jesus could have healed Lazarus and from where He was at. All He had to do is “say the word†and Lazarus would have been healed but He was even more glorified in raising Lazarus from the dead as a symbol not only to the dead spiritually but to all the dead things in your life. He is able to raise everything to life! He also used others to assist and blessed them as well in being a part of the miracle. He called others to remove the grave clothes. There are others that God may want to use to assist in your answered prayers. You are touched and they are as well, increasing your faith and all He will use to bring about your answered prayers.
Gideon was full of doubt when the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in Judges 6. The Midianites, the Amalekites and other eastern nations were combining forces to come against Israel. Gideon was from the tribe of Benjamin which is one of the smallest tribes of Israel. He was full of doubt but God! God always knows what we need. When the Angel of the Lord appeared, He greeted Gideon with, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.†This was far from how Gideon saw himself but “God calls things that are not as though they were.†Gideon fleeced the Lord twice! He asked the Lord to do something that when done he knew that He would be with them and give them victory. He showed Gideon mercy and gave into his requests knowing that Gideon needed his faith built up. He will do the same for you. He knows where you are at and He knows your heart and what you need. Although He gave into Gideon’s request He reduced the army from 32000 men to 300! Wow! Only 300 men to fight against 3 or more vast armies! But Gideon obeyed and they won the victory and God was glorified! The people of Israel had drifted from God and were worshiping the false gods of the land and this great victory brought them back. Are you tempted to do the same when you get weary? Do you give into worry, gossip, murmuring and even want to just tie one on so to speak? Learn from the story of Lazarus and Gideon; God is with you! And He is faithful! (Psalm 145:13) “The Lord is faithful to all of His promises and loving toward all He has made.†God is faithful and like the story of Gideon, God can use your victories to be a witness to the people in your life who need to come back to Him.
Embrace your overwhelming situation as a growth opportunity. Embrace it as an opportunity to increase your faith and learn more about God’s faithfulness and love for you. Embrace it as a set up for an overwhelming testimony to share when you come through in victory! When you learn to look at your trials as opportunities to learn and to grow spiritually you will begin to trust God more and you will go through your trial a lot faster and a lot happier!
(I Peter 1:7) “These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.â€
