Believing God - by Beth Moore - Ch 10-12

BELIEVING GOD TO PUT HIS 
WORD ON YOUR TONGUE

There is an old song we used to sing as teenagers that says so much in just a few simple words.  I wish I had this song available for you to listen to, but for now here are the lyrics... read them and think about what it really means.

"There is nothing in this world that He won't provide, there is nothing in this world that He won't supply; if I believe, if I believe. There is nothing in this world that He won't provide, there is nothing in this world that He won't supply; if I believe, if I believe. So I'll say to the mountain, move.  So I'll say to the mountain get out of my way.  So I'll say to the mountain, move.  So I'll say to the mountain get out of my way. Yes, I believe!  Yes, I believe!"

Do you believe?  Do you ask believing that God will move your mountain? Or do you ask for things that do not require the mountain to move; just in case, God doesn't move it?  Then you won't feel like an idiot for asking, or like God is not listening.  Do you doubt that God will answer?   I know that in my life there have been times when it is really hard to look at the situation and see any good coming from it.  There are times when there is just no way for our human minds to conceive of a good out come.  But God sees a different picture and there is nothing impossible with God.  Beth Moore makes some points that we would do good to remember and apply to situations just like this and even to simple easy situations as well.  When we pray we need to remember that God gave us His Word, not just to teach and guide us, but as a powerful weapon.  It is called the Sword of the Spirit for a reason.  So when we come to God in prayer it is so important to use the Word of God and let the Scriptures do the work for you. If, when you pray, you quote God's Word in your prayers, you will be effectively wielding the Sword of the Spirit, so that it can perform the work that God intends it to do. Really, we should do this every time we ask anything, because not only does it make our prayers more powerful, but it helps us make sure that we are praying for God's will, not ours.  As we do this  we have to have faith believing that God is who He says He is and that God will do what He say's He will do! This chapter has made me realize how important it is to read, memorize, and meditate on God's Word. So that when the time of need comes, the Scriptures can be brought forth by the Holy Spirit into our mind, and we can quote them, and pray asking God to accomplish His Word and His will, in our lives and situations.

~*~

BELIEVING GOD CAN 
SANCTIFY YOUR MOUTH

In the world we live in, it is so easy to let ourselves be desensitized, by the things we watch on TV, or listen to in music, or even just the conversations around us. But God makes it very clear in His Word that we are to be transformed, by the renewing of our minds and I believe this means that we need to be careful that we don't let ourselves become so desensitized that the line between right and wrong becomes blurred.  When the line gets blurred our mouths probably are not sanctified!  Lets take a look at what James 3:3-6 says about our tongues. 

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. James 3:3-6 NIV

And in Proverbs 18:21 it says: The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.  These are just a few scriptures that show us why it is so important to sanctify our mouths.  It has the power to effect every area of our lives and the lives of those around us.  

~*~

BELIEVING GOD WAS FAITHFUL 
IN YOUR PAST

Just as Joshua and the Israelites needed the memorial to help them remember what God did for them that day at the Jordan River; we also need to remember what God has done for us!  As I made up a time-line as Beth suggested as the end of this chapter, it was amazing to realize and remember all that God has brought me through and done in my life and in my families.  Here is the story of how my christian heritage was started.

When my mother was just a young child, my Grandma had a friend who had invited her to a revival meeting at a church in the town, now at this time, neither of my grandparents were Christians, and neither one really thought there was much that God could do for them.  However, Grandma agreed to go just to see if people really did swing from the chandeliers. The afternoon of the meeting, my mother fell and hit her face on the hot wood stove causing a major burn across the right side of her face.  Grandma trying in desperation to help, poured a near by cup of what she thought was cold water on it, however, it was not water, but bleach she had poured for the laundry.  The bleach as you could imagine made the situation much worse and my mother was in terrible pain. Not long after this incident the friend came by to pick up grandma to go to the meeting.  Grandma tried to use my moms burn as an excuse not to go, saying that a small child in pain would only disrupt the service.  But the friend disagreed and said that if she was really in that much pain this meeting was exactly where she needed to be.  So grandma was talked into going, but did not want to be there.  When the preacher arrived, he announced that God told him to pray for every person in the building.  Upon Hearing this Grandma decided she should leave. Only to notice that my mom had fallen asleep, so she decided to stay so that my mom would not be disturbed. As soon as the preacher prayed for my mom, the burnt skin on her face started to heal, and by the end of the service my mom's face was completely healed.  My Grandma accepted Christ that day, and my grandpa accepted Christ a few year later. Grandma has been one of the greatest prayer warriors I have ever met.  And now there are over four generations who have been taught about Jesus, because of my Grandparents faith. God moved in my family years ago and is still working today. PTL!

Believing God - by Beth Moore - Ch 7-9

BELIEVING YOU ARE WHO 
GOD SAYS YOU ARE

Who does God say you are? Do you know? Or do you just have an idea of who you are based on what people around you say, or on past and present circumstances? I think many times we as Christians know that we are redeemed, forgiven, loved, adopted into God's family, chosen, blessed, favored, and much more.  But we don't believe it. We know that God's Word says it, but we don't really believe it applies to us, or we just don't believe He was talking about us.  We tend to think, "Yeah, sure ...  some people are all those things, but not me." I loved how Beth illustrated the difference between being a this (what God says you are) and still feeling and acting like a that (the person you believe yourself to be). God will help us to start believing that we are a this and not a that if we will just start asking Him to show us how He sees us. As we read and chew on God's Word, I believe that God is willing, and even excitedly waiting to show us the truth about ourselves.  Because whether we realize it or not, we are loved, blessed, chosen, redeemed, adopted, and forgiven.  We are children of God, and He is our Abba (daddy) Father.  I'd like for you to imagine with me for a moment what it would be like to sit in God's lap as He strokes your hair, and tells you how much He loves you.  When you cry He bends down on one knee and tilts up your chin, to wipe away your tears. Then God's loving arms surround you in a hug that is warm, comforting, gentle, and compassionate.  Can you picture it?  I can, and let me tell you that there is no other love like God's love.  We don't all have this kind of a loving Father here on earth, but we all have a loving Father in God, and He is waiting for us to start searching His Word so that He can show us how much He loves us, and how He views us through His eyes.  We truly are the way God see's us.  Now we just have to believe it!

 ~*~

BELIEVING YOU CAN DO 
ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST

I have had Phil. 4:13 memorized for more than half of my life, but have I truly believed it, expected it, or seen it played out in my life?  The answer is no.  I mean there have been a few occasions when I thought I had a grasp of it.  But in general, I tend to worry, fear, and doubt my way through situations.  I know God never intended me to worry, fear or doubt, because He was/is with me and in control every second of every minute.  I need the knowledge to become a deep rooted belief.  Here is a little practice I decided to do to help myself believe.  I speak the scripture out loud as it is written in the Bible.  "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Then I take the key point that I need to apply to myself and make it personal.   - "I can love the unlovable through Christ who gives me strength." Speaking scriptures out loud has a powerful effect.  The words of our mouths are a powerful weapon.  Let's remember to use them as we battle against worry, doubts and fear.  Do not allow yourself to meditate on the lies of the enemy, but speak the truth of God's Word over every situation and watch and see what amazing things God does in your life.

 ~*~
BELIEVING GOD'S WORD IS ALIVE 
AND POWERFUL IN YOU

God's Word is alive, active, operative, energizing, effective, and powerful in our lives. I love the way Beth breaks this statement down. I encourage you to reread pg 125 and think about what it means to have the Word of God working in your life in such a way. The Holy Spirit and God's Word, together they make a dynamic duo that is so powerful we cannot comprehend it. I've heard it said that many Christians make the mistake of reading too much too fast. It is said that we should read just one scripture or passage and meditate on it, for a day, a week or as much time is needed, we need to look at what the scripture says, what it means, and whether we really believe what it is saying. If we do this with a prayerful heart asking the Holy Spirit to teach us and lead us, we will be changed. It is so exciting! Just to know that God's Word is working in my life, on my behalf, to bring about God's perfect plan for my life.

Thank you Father for giving us your Son to die in our place, the Holy Spirit to comfort us, and your Holy Word to teach and guide us through all of life's issues. Amen