This morning in my prayer time the Lord revealed another area of renewing our minds that I thought was AWESOME! I pray it blesses you as much as it has me.
You know how they say that darkness is the absence of light? Or that hell is the Absence of God?
Well, what if we took that concept with everything else we may be struggling with in our walk with Yahweh?
For example, fear has to be one of the biggest culprits that hold God’s children back from moving forward.
I mean, let’s look at the 12 spies sent to Canaan to spy out the land. If it wasn’t for the TWO, Joshua and Caleb, who knows then they would have taken the land. The other ten came back and gave a report out of fear that there were giants in the land and walking in fear.
Thank you, Father God, for giving them courage and faith even in the face of all those giants.
So, let’s ask ourselves, “What is absent from our life that is making us fearful?”
Fear = the absence of Faith
If we know that faith is lacking in our lives then we also know we need to get some right?
How do you get that kind of faith though?
As Madea would say, “Read your bible, it’ll bless you!” lol
In Romans, it says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” So, it sounds to me like hearing the word of God, the scriptures are how faith comes to us.
How to get Faith
Now I don’t know about you but when I read my bible, I read it out loud for a couple of reasons.
Because there is power in our tongues and when I am reading God’s word I am speaking life out of my mouth. This is huge especially if you are prone to speak all the negative thoughts you have running through your head.
When you HEAR God’s words that is where the Faith building comes in to play. Just like it says in Romans about Faith coming by hearing. You’re speaking God’s word and hearing it at the same time…you’re building your Faith muscles.
His word gets embedded in my heart a lot quicker this way. For we know that “…out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks,” so, if we can get more of God’s word into our hearts then that is what will come out when we speak.
I like to think of it as this boomerang that comes back around. I speak God’s word out of my mouth. The words then enter my ears where I’m hearing his word and being built up in faith. Then, that faith grows in my heart where now all I have coming out of my mouth is faith-filled words and the truth God has spoken to me.
Moving on from fear, another thing I know I’ve struggled with big time in my walk with God is doubt.
Worry/Anxiety = the absence of Trust
When that bill comes in and you can’t pay it.
When your children are looking at you wondering what they are going to eat for dinner.
When you have to go to work and you’re just praying that the fumes will get you there so you can borrow money from someone to get gas.
When you’re going through a custody battle and so many lies are being said about you.
When you get bad news about a health issue you are experiencing.
When your children are going in the opposite direction of God.
When your children head off to college and your home is super quiet.
When raising the kids is finished and you don’t know what your purpose is anymore.
When you find out that your significant other is cheating on you.
When you’ve been working on your business for years and nothing is moving forward.
Do you worry and have anxiety or are you trusting that God’s got it ALL?
>>> Read: How do you Praise God in the storm <<<
The things I just mentioned are all things I’ve experienced throughout my life. I’m sure many of you reading the above paragraph have experienced or might be experiencing them right now.
What if, just for a moment instead of saying we are worrying and our anxiety meter is off the charts we realize that what is lacking is trust in God.
How do you Trust God in the storms of life?
My absolute favorite scriptures are Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”
All those trials and tribulations, and believe me when I say those were just a few, every single one of them God used for His Glory. Every single one of them God turned it around for my good. After every single one of those situations, my trust grew in our Abba Father.
So much so, that now when “bad news” comes, for the most part, I just smile and say, “I can’t wait to see how God works this out!”
Trust really does come from going through stuff that you thought would kill you and coming out on the other side better than you were. When you can look back on all the things God has brought you through already, your trust will naturally grow.
Look back and thank God. Look forward and Trust Him.
So why not do that right now if you haven’t already.
Take just 5 minutes to write down all that God has done for you. You’ll probably need more than 5 minutes but it’s a place to start. 😉
Write down everything you’ve been THROUGH and how it’s changed you and what it’s taught you.
If you feel led share those things in the comments below. For me, reading what others have gone through and how God brought them through builds my faith and trust in Him even deeper and stronger and I know it will for the other women reading this post.
I wanted to throw some more struggles that I think we as women go through and what is absent in that area of our lives.
Unworthiness = absence of Worth
Shame – the absence of Grace
Doubt = absence of Faith
Confused = absence of Direction
Hopelessness = absence of Hope
Low Self Esteem = absence of Confidence
What about you? What struggles are you going through where you know there is an absence of God’s promise. Please share with me in the comments. In doing so, you never know who else you may be helping.
Put them before your eyes daily and start reading them out loud.
I Promise you things will begin to shift in your life and where there was a void, God will fill it with His all-consuming self.
Be Blessed,
Audrey
