How absurd is it to jimmy a lock when you have the key in your hand? Here’s another absurdity, Christians who struggle with worries and fears when they have the Holy Spirit residing in them. There’s no rationale for Christians to be burnt-out when they have the third person of the Holy Trinity dwelling inside of them. Jesus told His disciples that it was good that He go away because the Father will send them the Holy Spirit.

. . . But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you (John 14:26, AMP).

Sometimes we might act like we have it “altogether” not wanting or needing God’s help. Many times, that’s not the case at all, it’s more about us not fully understanding the revelation of the awesome power within us. In 1 Peter 5:7, we are told to cast our cares. In John 14:27, Jesus said that He left His peace with us, and we shouldn’t be troubled neither afraid. Our job, however, is to purposefully fight the good fight of faith and receive the peace we have been given through Christ. (Also, see: Matthews 11:28-30; Psalms 23:4; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.)

An unopened bottle of faith

Consequently, as soon as your spirit becomes agitated, it’s an indication to put your faith into action. Don’t wait until you have exhausted all your friends and self-help techniques before you call on the Holy Spirit’s help. Because when you do that, you have subconsciously relegated your relationship with Him to an after-thought—your plan Z. To prevent this from happening, get into the habit of calling on the Spirit throughout the day. Include Him in what you might consider “mundane” tasks. Go ahead ask Him; you know you wanna’ know: “Which watermelon is the sweetest?”

The more we practice involving the Holy Spirit in our everyday routines, the more faith we’ll have to avoid burnouts when trouble strikes. If we think grabbing an unopened bottle of faith off the shelf is going to move mountains—well, think again.

God’s Word is not plan Z; nor is His Spirit to be ignored. Joseph M. Scriven, author of the beloved hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” summed it up when he wrote:

O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge;
take it to the Lord in prayer.

© 2019

See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

image by Kaspars Grinvalds via 123rf

Imagine what would happen if the hate that is spewed out into the world today made an immediate U-turn back to its sender. Even though we reap what we sow (see Galatians 6:7), it’s hard for some to believe this goes for them, too. However, they might have a change of mind after a few immediate U-turns with life’s most persuasive teacher: Retribution! Sooner or later they’ll learn, “hate don’t love nobody—not even them.”

Instant backatcha´ is a blessing of mercy.

Of course, there are some whose very nature is to hate; I’m not talking about them; that’s a state of being that is beyond my understanding. I’m talking about those who are oblivious to the suffering they subject on others until it ricochets into their personal space. “What goes around—comes around” is painful when it’s a mirrored image of one’s own heartless acts. Nevertheless, it’s a blessing of mercy; a chance to change course.

Hate can be misleading!

Before any of us start thinking hate isn’t our problem, we should be cognizant of the fact hatred has many misleading disguises. The devil knows how to mask animosity, unforgiveness, revenge, greed, selfishness, and other forms of strife to be palatable enough for a “good” person to think they can swallow it and not choke. As a matter of fact, if we fall for it, the kingdom of darkness will have us think we’re doing the Lord a service.

Weigh the cost!

If we allow ourselves to be used to spread hate, eventually we’ll lose. But if we have the faith to do what Scriptures like the ones below command, not only will U-turns bring blessings instead of curses, but hell will be disarmed because it has no retaliatory comeback for love.

• Luke 6:31: So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 7:12, NIV).

• Mark 12:30-31: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these (Mark 12:30-31, NIV).

• Luke 6:35-36:  . . . love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful (Luke 6:35, NIV).

An added precaution:

We can’t be trusted to do a thorough unbiased search for hidden fragments of hate in our own hearts. We should follow David’s lead; he asked the only One who could see deep within the chambers of a man’s soul; he asked God to search his heart.

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24).

© 2019

See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

image by focalpoint via CanStockPhoto

In our “pushed into a corner—all is lost—what do I do, now” stories, we should somehow (not saying it’s going to be easy) find the faith to think beyond the hurt; see how God can be glorified in the mess. By transferring our attention to Him, it momentarily interrupts the ambush that’s trying to take over our emotions. Even though these pauses will probably last only a few minutes at a time, at least a different viewpoint would have been introduced.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

God’s glory is the passport out of the gory!

My son, Harry, came to me the other day with a situation; I told him to find the glory in the story. His initial response: What? I went on to explain that he should look for the blessings in the rubble. After careful inspection, we found three hidden in the heap. We then started talking more about the glory than the gory.

The way I see it, we have two options when we find ourselves in a fix. 1. We can go down the dead-end road the devil laid out, or 2. Think about the message the Holy Spirit wants to relay to us and through us as our stories unfold. We pretty much know the end results of the first option; however, the second option should be examined a little closer.

The movie vs. the book

People are more prone to watching the movie vs. reading the book. This is especially true when it comes to reading the Bible. Nonbelievers will be more intrigued when they observe believers who actually live their lives based on the Word, as oppose to believers reading the Word to them without any real-life, real-time testimonies to back up their claim. For instance, nonbelievers are checking to see how Christians react to everyday issues like adversity. Do they respond in line with their convictions, or are they overtaken by the gory like everybody else?

In a world where there’s so much skepticism concerning God’s existence, skeptics want to be convinced—before they sign on the dotted line.

But—it doesn’t stop there!

These sideliners aren’t the only ones paying attention to the movie; God is watching His people:

• appreciating His glory, and
• praising Him for His glory in the midst of their gory.

Can you spot God’s glory in your story?

I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears (Psalm 34:1-4).

© 2019

See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

image by Rommel Canlas via 123rf

You have probably experienced times, I know I have, when you felt alone and needed God’s comfort; one word from Him would have carried you a long way. But you couldn’t sense His presence, so you began to wonder—Where are You, Lord? To the best of your knowledge and awareness, you tried to live obedient to His Word; you followed the guidelines of faith, but with all your good efforts you still thought—Where are You, Lord? You knew God said that He would never leave you; you knew the Holy spirit lives on the inside of you; nonetheless—like a child reaching out to its parent, you needed the assurance that your heavenly Father was there—but heaven was silent.

Why, LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
(Psalm 10:1, NIV)

Lord—where are You?

Matthew 28:20 says God will never leave us—that’s good to know during hard times. The fact that hell can’t make a move without heaven knowing about it should ease our minds, also. But as troubling as “trouble” can be, believe it or not, the trouble isn’t the main issue, because heaven is monitoring that crisis (see 1 Corinthians 10:13). God is more interested in how we perceive what’s going on; the substitutes we use to take His place when we can’t trace Him in the darkest of dark times.

Quiet—testing!

If you are a teacher, parent, coach or hold any position of instructing or training, you must at some point—test the students to see if they can apply what was taught. The same is true on a spiritual level. You won’t know the strength, or lack, of your faith if it’s never put through fiery tests. Without these tests, you might think you’re trusting God, only to find out you don’t have enough faith to blow out a candle.

I’m sure Peter was sincere when he told Jesus he would never deny Him, however, when he was faced with the possible consequences of that stance, Peter denied Jesus three times in one night (see Matthew 26:69-75). From Peter’s experience, we can see how easily it is to get caught up in the moment; we might think we’re functioning on a level in Christ that we’re not. The only way to put an end to this deceit is for our faith to be tested.

The test: The effectiveness of our faith to believe and apply Scriptures to our everyday challenges.

Test prep questions:

How intimate is my relationship with God? What should I do to become even closer to Him? How can I develop more trust and confidence in my own prayers? What must I do to exchange my fears, doubts, and worries for faith? How can I effectively use Scriptures in my everyday situations? Which Scripture(s) can help me with what I’m going through right now? How can I use these Scriptures as a sword against the enemy? What should I do to remain hopeful in the promises of God when I can’t sense His presence?

Helpful study tip:

Don’t wait until the day of the test to prepare.

We don’t necessarily have to pass the test with flying colors. Because each wobbly-rickety step of faith, is an accomplishment that will be credited towards our next trial as we go from faith to faith.

So, the next time you find yourself wondering: Where are You, Lord? Use your faith to hear Him say:

I’m Right Here!

© 2019

See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

image by Galina Peshkova via 123rf

There are no obstructions or legions pitched out of hell that can block the supremacy of God. Who dares to stand in defiance before the One who stretched out the heavens; laid the foundations of earth; lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters; and, makes the clouds His chariot? (Psalm 104:3-5) If your faith is speckled with doubts and marred by fear, check to see if you’re connected to limited man, or to the Unlimited God, the One who walks upon the wings of the wind.

If God is for us, what can the limitations of man do against us?

If God so sees fit, He’ll open doors that man has determined to keep shut, and He’ll shut doors that man, in all his strength and influence, can’t open. If hell hounds are clenching your heels, God will hide you in the safety of His pavilion. If there’s a “red sea” blocking you, He’ll command the winds to whoosh the water aside; My LORD!

For in time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock (Psalm 27:5).

Unlimited faith is not restricted to limited means!

Unlike man, God has no limitations; therefore, if our faith is linked to His unlimited power—the sky is NOT the limit. The miraculous might supersede man’s logical thinking; but that doesn’t mean it’s unachievable when God can create a way out of nothing. We can’t depend on our own intellect or the abilities of others to come up with the right answers, but we can rely completely on God’s wisdom. His unlimited resources will never diminish. Humans can only go so far in whatever there are trying to achieve, but with God…

However, if we try to put God’s means and methods in a conventional box, we might miss out. Instead, of Him entering in through the front door, He might seep in through the vents. We must put our trust in Him no matter how His blessings come; or whom He chooses to deliver them by. Sometimes it’s too much for our brains to imagine what the unlimited God can do.

“… I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:19)

I think we should spend more time praying for God to reveal His Majesty, and less time concentrating on what man can do against us. As we grow spiritually in our understanding of who God is, the clearer we’ll see people as lumps of animated clay—performing (for a short minute) on earth’s stage. Our faith should be in the One who made the clay.

Limited man vs. Unlimited God—No contest!

© 2019

See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

image by lightwise via 123rf

Breaking News!!! Evil-fiery darts headed in our direction; take cover in the secret place (see Psalm 91). And, fear not; God has given us everything we’ll need. However, even though we have angels guarding us, the Word equipping us, and the Holy Spirit leading and guiding us, we still have to exert our faith in order to get maximum results.

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy (1Peter 4:12-13).

Who’s the target?

When a fiery dart comes to interrupt our lives, we shouldn’t take it matter-of-factly with an attitude of: Oh well, that’s life. Darts hit for a reason. It’s important to identify the target, then if we can, find out what caused it in the first place. This will help us to strategize our counterattack. Think about it, we wouldn’t use the same type of brush to paint a house as we would to brush our teeth.

Darts aimed at us!

At the moment, I can think of two reasons (there are probably more) why darts would aim for us: 1. The consequences of our own making. 2. The enemy trying to kill, steal, and destroy us.

If the dart is because of our wrongdoings, and we’re not willing to repent, we can wield all the faith we have and stand in all the prayer lines in the world, but it won’t redirect that dart—

Bullseye!

But, if we have done wrong and we’re truly remorseful, God will forgive us. Subsequently, we might still have to bear the chastisement of our erroneous actions, but the good news is we have the power, love, and mercy of God to walk us through.

Quoting Scriptures not enough—DO the Scriptures!

Then there are those random darts of fear that will attack our minds; no fault of our own. When those strikes happen, we can’t just read or quote Scriptures; we have to do the Scriptures. For example, 1Timothy 6:12 tells us to fight the good fight of faith (action word: fight); Ephesians 6:13 tells us to put on the full armor of God (action: put on); verse 14 instructs us to put on the breastplate of righteousness and stand firm (action: put on and stand firm); verse 16 charges us to take up the shield of faith, and the sword of salvation (action: take up), and finally verse 18 directs us to pray always (action: pray).
We fight illegal suggestions (lies) that will attack our minds by exercising our faith. The devil hopes we’ll get tired of putting on the armor (suggestion: never take it off), but if we concede—he’ll take over our thoughts and control our lives.

Darts aimed at God!

A perfect example of innocent people who underwent fiery darts for our Savior is found in the second chapter of Matthew. In Bethlehem, King Herod ordered his soldiers to slaughter all male children under two years old in order to kill baby Jesus.

Today there are martyrs who are being persecuted; sparing not their own lives in order to spread the gospel to those living in restricted countries. There are people in our part of the world taking darts every day because of their love for God. You might be one of them who are ridiculed and hated because of your stance with Christ.

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you (John15:18-19).

As life unfolds, there’s no way to avoid all the fiery darts; even if you live a life of compromises and negotiations; buddying up to the enemy—trying not to tick-him-off. The devil will still throw evil darts as if to say, “You knew I was a snake.”

Darts won’t stop coming; stay in the secret place; “Do” the Word of God!

© 2019

See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

image by Warakorn Harnprasop via 123rf

If we think a few gestures, gimmicks, and fancy religious words will fool satan into thinking we’re somebody that we’re not, then we’re sadly mistaken. We might be able to deceive one another, even ourselves, but the devil, the master deceiver, can spot a pretender. The kingdom of darkness only respects the Word when it’s spoken in faith by someone who has the backing of the Holy Spirit. Someone who has a close personal relationship with God. The devil will test us to make sure we are—who we say we are. And, to do that, all he has to do is wink; then check to see who’s still standing on the Word of God.

[God] He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved
(Psalm 62:2).

The seven sons of Sceva in Acts 19:13-16 tried to cast out an evil spirit in a man when they said, “We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.” The enemy knew they didn’t have the authority to use the name of Jesus; therefore, the spirit looked at them and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” As a result, the evil spirit overcame them; they fled naked and wounded.

Our authenticity in Christ is our greatest weapon!

I don’t care how “smart” we think we are, as long as we’re in these human bodies we are subjected to deception. The Holy Spirit is the only One who can give us the wisdom to outsmart the deceiver. However, those of us who know God must be fully committed to His Word; then the enemy will recognize who we are in Christ.

Furthermore, we want him to know—that we know who we are in Christ. Also, we want him to know—that we know—we have been validated with the authorization to use the Lord’s name against the principalities of darkness.

Therefore: Through Christ—we can discern the evil devices and tactics in our lives. Through Christ—our steps are unimpeded, and when we run, we will not stumble (see Proverbs 4:12). Through Christ—we are able to walk by faith and not by sight (see 2 Corinthians 5:7).

We must stay prayed up, alert, and ready by faith to use our spiritual weapons; not as simulated mock-ups, but as genuine, undisputable children of God.

© 2019

See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

image by Sergey Nivens via 123rf

When it’s time to make decisions, we can read all the books; consult all the experts, re-research all the research, but it’s still incomplete, inadequate, piecemealed information without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God is the only One who knows where the icebergs of our best laid plans are hidden.

Do we trust God’s insight?

We’ll never know everything about anything. That’s where are faith in God comes in. If we put our trust in the Lord, we don’t have to know everything—just Him. We run into problems when we want to take matters into our own hands and bypass the conditions that are required to walk by faith. It says in Proverbs 3:5-7 not to put our trust in ourselves.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Ponder this:

• Do I have faith in God’s insight to lead me down the right paths?
• How can I develop that level of trust in God?
• Can I let go of my wants and desires for His will?

Divine illumination

How wise is it to ignore God’s divine illuminating light shining on underlying factors? Our superficial understanding: will include people into our lives who we should exclude; will take the wrong job; marry the wrong person; buy the wrong house, only to leave us scratching our heads thinking—if the walls had only said something.

We know what we know, but is that enough? 

I’ve run into enough icebergs head-on to know not to make any choices on what I, or anybody else perceives to be true without the input of the Holy Spirit. My faith works best when I pray first; then wait to get clearance from God. Sometimes, however, I can’t discern His leading, but I’ve learned His silence is one of His techniques to develop my spiritual ear. Can I sense His Spirit by faith?

That’s when I slowly move in my desired direction knowing everything is going to be alright because I acknowledged and honored God before I ventured out. He will pull me back if I’m headed in the wrong direction if I’m paying attention; wanting nothing, but to please Him.

Would you rather hit an iceberg with or without God?

We won’t be able to circumvent every iceberg in our lives (see John 16:33; Psalm 34:19). Nonetheless, icebergs don’t have to take us down. God knows beforehand what’s ahead; nothing catches Him off guard. Therefore, when we depend on the Holy Spirit to walk us through; those hard-pressed encounters won’t destroy us, but will grow us.

God knows where the icebergs are—do you?

© 2019

See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

image by niyazz via 123rf

We routinely take the same route; red light stop—green light go; change lanes; turn right, turn left; go straight; more lights, and before we know it,

Tadaaahhh—we’re there!

When it’s time to leave, we robotically return home; stopping at the same lights and making the same turns. The brain automatically placed that boring commute into a human databank ready to perform on demand—great!

However, not so great when the brain automatically turns our praise and worship into a thoughtless religious-ritual. Even though we love the Lord, if we aren’t mindful of the enemy’s tactics, we could find ourselves worshipping from an archive of dead religious clichés.

It’s good to outsmart the brain, every now and then, so it won’t unexpectedly place our praise and worship into a powerless spiritual-database of routines. Our Lord deserves more than prefabricated praises.

Words without power equals no faith.

How can we tell if our praise has slipped into a mindless practice? We can tell because robotic spirituality lacks the power of the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit is a part of our worship, He brings healing, comfort, and other aspects of His love. Also, we can tell we’re not linked to the Source when our faith yields too easily to doubt and unbelief.

The idea of worshipping turning into a ritual came to my mind the other day when I deviated slightly from my usual morning routine with God. Instead of praying before sunrise, the sun had already risen, and I changed from praying first to reading Scriptures. That’s when the devil told me my prayer wasn’t effective because I didn’t follow my regular format.

Red flag moment!

What the enemy said was so ridiculous that it made me stop and think: Am I so dependent on a mindless rigid routine (churches can be guilty of this, too) that the Holy Spirit’s freedom of expression is smothered? Are my praises coming forth out of habit or from my heart?

Worshipping God is more than a ritual.

We must honor God’s spontaneity. If He wants us to sit in silence and listen with our spiritual ear, or sing a song, or read His Word, whatever He wants us to do, we should be willing to relinquish our routine, and allow His Spirit to direct our praise.

Almighty God deserves more than a routine praise.

Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comey (Psalm 147:1).

© 2019

See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

image by lightpoet via 123rf

We are witnessing what happens when global warming is ignored; glaciers melting causing water levels to rise; arctic wildlife threatened with extinction; weather patterns gone haywire, and air pollution worsening are a few problems that have been emerging. But there’s another type of global warming that should get even more of our attention:

Hell fires!

These demonic fires are melting away (among other things) our decency; the moral values of this world. What used to be wrong is now acceptable; what used to be right is now outdated and old-fashioned. The Word of God warns us not to compromise (see Galatians 1:6-7; Matthew 6:24; James 4:4).

So, how can we slow this inferno down? Notice, I said slow down; I’m not naive enough to think we can stop it altogether; these roaring flames began simmering sometime in the beginning. . . However, just because it started once upon a time, doesn’t leave us blameless without anything to do.

Don’t get pulled into this molten world!

Pointing fingers is not what I call doing something; if the truth be told, we are all playing a part in this meltdown, either by passively surrendering our self-respect to a perverted world, or by being a direct or indirect contributor. To delete moral decency and think everything will be fine, is like trying to hold water in our bare hands—won’t work! We must not give way to this demolition of values.

Fight fire with the FIRE!

God is the all-consuming fire (see Hebrew12: 25-29). Jesus came to earth and modeled how we should hold our stance against this meltdown. His armor (see Ephesians 6:10-18) when put under the most extreme conditions—won’t melt.

Fight indecency with decency!

Our love for Christ will give us the passion and the faith to stand on the side of right. The world might be slowly melting, but God’s people are standing firmly on the solid Rock.

• Treat people the way you want to be treated (see Luke 6:31).
• Give mercy the way you want mercy given to you (see Matthew 5:7; James 2:13).
• Leave vengeance to the Lord (see Romans 12:19).
• Overcome evil with good (see Romans 12:21).

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

© 2019

See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

image by Bruce Rolff via 123rf

Water dissolves sugar; gasoline dissolves oil; vinegar dissolves calcium, and God dissolves confusion. So, if you find yourself confused, call on God to dissolve it. And, since He’s not the author of confusion (see 1 Corinthians 14:33) guess where it’s coming from?

Are you confused about anything?

I’m constantly learning about the benefits children of God have through Jesus Christ. But, many of us don’t use our faith to receive these privileges because of a lack of knowledge (see Hosea 4:6). God’s Word serves many purposes; however, I feel one of those functions is far too often overlooked. We see the Bible in its broader sense, but what about how it offers practical advice for everyday mundane situations like being confused about something. Do we tolerate this spirit of confusion thinking it’s just a part of life, or do we oppose it vigorously knowing it’s not from God?

As I’ve stated, I’m still learning about the privileges I have as a child of God. But one thing I have learned, and that is not to put up with confusion. Confusion is a red flag for me to stop and call on the Almighty. He knows the way I should go; so, why not ask Him? I would like to share two examples of how God dissolved confusion in my life.

Example #1: I was in a church committee meeting when we found ourselves in a ball of confusion trying to decide what to do and which way to go in a matter. Around and around, and around we went until God put this into my spirit: Ask Me what to do?

When I told the committee what God said, we stopped and prayed. In a couple of minutes, we noticed the Holy Spirit had filled the room with peace and we were able to think clearly.

God dissolved the confusion.

Example #2: Back when I was an elementary school principal, I can’t tell you how many heated disputes I witnessed between parents and teachers. When the battalions came to my office, they each told their side of the story.

As they vented, I would sit silently at my desk, with my eyes automatically shifting back and forth to the person speaking at that moment. Anyone would have thought, “She’s listening intensely to everything that I’m saying.” However, the truth of the matter, I wasn’t listening at all, but instead my spirit was bowed down to God pleading and crying: HELP!

God always heard my cry and calmed the situation by telling me the perfect thing to say. All those conferences, and I do mean ALL, ended with either a handshake or hug.

God dissolved the confusion.

The devil loves it when he sees us wasting time trying to untangle commotion he instigated; instead of entertaining him, we should use our faith and get help. We should never assume we can handle the enemy’s plots without the help of the Holy Spirit, because even small elements of confusion can mushroom into something greater if ignored or mishandled.

Children of the Most High don’t have to tolerate what is not of God. We have certain rights, privileges, and benefits through Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore—

Ask God to dissolve any confusion in your life!

© 2019

See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

image by ximagination via 123rf

When life drains all your fight-back energy, it can leave you feeling despondent. Nevertheless, even though you’re beaten-down and cornered in, you manage to find a tiny seed of faith that you humbly exchange for an enormous miracle. It’s not easy to believe such a meager offering will be sufficient for God to bring “it” to pass. However, He knows when you’re doing your best to trust Him. He can interpret your heart’s intent, and turn your little faith into a gigantic miracle.

God knows a seed’s authenticity.

In Luke 17:6 it says, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

If God said He will do it, then He will do it. If He spoke it, then it will come to pass (see Numbers 23:19). Unlike man, God can’t lie. He knows everything about the situation you’re facing; He knows what needs to be done, and He has the power to bring it to pass with your little, not quite sure, seed of faith.

That’s exactly the state I found myself in a few weeks ago when I was crying out for a miracle. As I was praying, the Holy Spirit brought Psalm 37:3-5 to my attention.

Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Let me tell you, when God interrupts your prayer in order to give you a Scripture, you better pay strict attention, and do whatever it says for you to do. Hold on to that Word; it’s your confirmation that it will come to pass if you met the conditions. Every time doubt tried to creep in, I used those verses like a Sword and chopped the enemy down. You can’t receive anything better when you are believing for an answered prayer than to get a direct Word from the Most-High.

Watch Me bring it to pass!

The Holy Spirit spoke to me directly from His Word. Not only did He speak His Word, but He empowered it with revelation as it pertained to my circumstances; He put the following in my spirit from Psalm 37:

• Verse 3 says to trust God and do good. God let me know that being kind was not my problem, however, trusting Him was a different matter. He enlightened me that my trust wasn’t where it should be; that I still doubt and worry more than I should. But He knows I’m working diligently on it as demonstrated in verses 4 and 5.

• Verse 4 says to delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. God put in my spirit that I do delight myself in Him, because the quality time I spend with Him is increasing out of the mere fact I want to be with Him. I include Him in everything that I do, and wouldn’t think about making a decision without His directions. The Holy Spirit knows I have an insatiable appetite for the things concerning Him.

• Verse 5 says to commit your ways to Him and He shall bring it to pass. God let me know that I’m doing the best, in my flawed ways, to commit to Him, and since I’m meeting the conditions of these verses, in spite of my imperfect understanding, He knows I’m sincere. Therefore, when the devil comes with a lie, I should confidently tell him, “That’s not a desire of my heart.”

I shall bring the desires of your heart to pass!

© 2019

See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

image by hrianaalexmillos  via 123rf

We are lit to light. Here’s what I mean: Our encouraging words could light the fire that will inspire someone to go after their dreams. A smile given to a despondent stranger could be the light that says: You have value. Even the hardships we have gone through, empowered us with the sensitivity, wisdom, and understanding needed to ignite faith to those hurting. We are lit so we can light the light—in others.

We are lit to bless.

If God had wanted our lives to be lived in isolation, He wouldn’t have put so many of us, jammed packed, on earth. These living conditions causes us, like it or not, to inner act with one another. To say it differently, we need each other. While I’m lighting your fire, someone is lighting a fire in me. Consequently, the gifts, talents, and other attributes that we are blessed with are lights to be shared.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house (Matthew 5:14-15).

We have no idea how many lives we are influencing.

But here’s the problem, the adversary doesn’t want us to share the blessings of God. Therefore, he will plant thoughts like jealousy, greed, and resentment. The devil doesn’t care what type or method of discord is used as long as it impedes our lights. Of course, we know these are not thoughts from the Holy Spirit; so, as soon as these ills are detected, we are to start pondering on godly things (see Philippians 4:8). And even if our hearts are pure from strife, the enemy will cause us to doubt that we have any lights to share.

Last week when I was volunteering at a food pantry, another volunteer spotted a client in distressed. The volunteer looked at me and said, “Somebody should see about her.” It struck me that the volunteer was the “somebody” with the light—it was her heart that was moved with compassion. How many times do we pass off our responsibilities to help when we are the somebodies with the light?

© 2019

See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

image by pogonici via 123rf

You’ll get no argument from me; I agree, there are some pretty scary stuff happening on this planet. There are bloodcurdling, run for your life, moments occurring somewhere all the time. It’s true, not every fear falls into the hair-raising category, however, they are still fears—no less.

Don’t fear the wrong fears!

As alarming as our personal everyday circumstances can be, many of those incidents don’t merit the caliber of fright we attach to them. Or, maybe I should state it this way: We allow the fears that are spawned from hell too much control over our lives. It tells us in Isaiah 14:12-17 that everyone will gaze upon satan and ask:

. . .Is this the man that made the earth tremble, that did shake kingdoms (vs. 16).

It sounds like he doesn’t deserve the respect of our fears. After all, he was thrown out of heaven; why would anybody be persuaded to follow him? The fears we validate the devil with are displaced! He doesn’t deserve our fright.

Be more afraid of what God will do when you disobey Him, than the devil.

And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him (Luke 12:4-5).

There’s nothing coming out of hell that a child of God should fear.

God has given His children the faith to be able to overcome anything discharged from the pit of hell (see Luke 10:19). The power we have shines light on the deceptive shadows of fear. What is there to fear if we have the faith to put on God’s armor? (See Ephesians 6:10-18.) You tell me, what demon can come against an angel of God? (See Exodus 15:6; Psalm 91:11-13.)

The other day when I was fearfully worried about something, God had me to remember an old familiar line parents used, and some are probably still saying:

“If you don’t stop crying, I’ll give you something to cry about!”

My heavenly Father’s message to me:

If you don’t stop worrying, I’ll allow something to worry about!

Whoa! I don’t have to tell you I straighten up—INSTANTLY. Fear and worry lost that round. As the Scripture in Luke warns: Fear the One who can cast you into hell.

Make sure your fears aren’t displaced!

© 2019

See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

image by photocreo via CanStockPhoto

It’s so good to know that when we come before God, we can drop our masks and be ourselves. Unlike dealing with people, we don’t have to put on a plastic smile to cover-up our tears; or fake a love from a hateful heart; or pretend to have faith when we’re really in doubt. But with God, it’s so refreshing to be able to come before Him just as we are; nothing pretentious, but down-to-earth openness.

Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. 2 Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications (Psalm 130:1-2).

God knows the real person behind the mask!

O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off (Psalm 139:1-2).

Even though God knows everything about us, it’s still necessary for our emotional healing to humble ourselves and express our honest feelings. How else can we get to the truth of the matter if we keep our true selves covered up? When we drop the masks (even the ones we wear privately) we might learn a few things about ourselves. What a relief it is to be able to take the masks off, and just be real with God. Whew!

God is multilingual—He translates our grunts, groans, and moans.

There is nothing that’s so awful or reprehensible that we can’t talk to God about. We don’t have to use pretty-flowery words; as a matter of fact, we don’t need words. Our groans and grunts will speak volumes. The pressures of life can sometimes have us feeling like we’re in a sealed can ready to erupt. How dangerous is it for that impact to explode at an inopportune time, like on our jobs?

God knows how to relieve the pressures.

But when you take your burdens to your heavenly Father, He will relieve the mounting pressures. All you have to do is approach Him by faith with a sincere heart. God will not tell your secrets; so, you can tell Him everything that is weighing you down. You can tell Him things you wouldn’t, and perhaps shouldn’t, tell another living soul. You can just be yourself and let the Holy Spirit comfort you as you confide in Him. He will hold you in His arms and lead you in the way you should go.

Afterwards, wipe your eyes and blow your nose, and keep trudging forward, because you have dropped the mask and received supernatural strength from the Lord (Psalm 121:1-2).

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).

© 2019

See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

 

image by bg_knight via CanStockPhoto

The earnest-heartfelt prayers of the righteous, moves heaven. And when heaven moves—hell trembles. The enemy knows he can’t stand up to the power of the Almighty; therefore, his strategy is to come after us. Our challenge is to keep our faith in God.

The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working] (James 5:16b, AMP).

We shouldn’t let hell’s tremors frighten us.

There are times when life can throw us in sudden turmoil. However, we shouldn’t be frightened because our loving Father is monitoring the whole situation. There’s not a move hell can make that heaven doesn’t know about. That should give us all the comfort and assurance we need.

The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry (Psalms 34:15).

God knows how much weight we can take, and when the burden gets too heavy, He will make a move (see Corinthians 10:13). We might not think we can endure, but if the Holy Spirit allows it, His mercy will sustain us if we put our trust in Him. It’s the enemy’s mission to deceive us into believing we’re alone and no one cares. We don’t ever want to sit around and let those depressing thoughts occupy and take root in our minds. Instead, we should run to the Comforter (see John 14:26). Keep in mind, just because we can’t see anything happening, we know by faith there’s always movement in heaven.

I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears (Psalm 34:4).

In John 16:33b it says, In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

God has equipped us to be conquerors (see Ephesians 6:10-18). All we have to do is be obedient to His Word, and let Him fight our battles.

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness (Isaiah 41:10).

When heaven moves, hell trembles!

© 2019

See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

image by albund via CanStockPhoto

Maybe I believe God will do it; maybe I don’t—just pencil that in. Don’t bother penciling “that” in; faith is written with permanent markers. Faith is not a social function where it’s acceptable to be penciled in when our plans are in doubt. When it comes to faith, either we believe or we don’t. James was straightforward when he said, don’t expect anything from the Lord if your faith is wavering.

. . .let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord

(James 1:6,7).

Penciled-in faith is not walking by faith.

Down through the years, I can’t tell you how many times I heard and read that Scripture. But today when I read it: BAM! This was an eye-opener for me. The Word of God is forever revealing on-time truths. That’s why we can’t read the entire Bible or even a Scripture and think: “I got this!” God continuously opens our understanding as the fluidity of His Word fits into all the nooks and crannies in our lives. There are no circumstances that can hide from or overpower God’s Word (see Hebrews 4:12).

Through the gift of faith, we are connected to that power. But far too often this gift is not received in a manner where it can exert its full potential. It can’t be over emphasized the need for faith development. Whatever level our faith is on; there’s always room for growth.

Our problems are too important to worry about.

How dear is the problem you’re praying about? Based on the Scripture in James, you know it’s not alright to sit around all day and worry about it. Not only is that a worthless endeavor, but it’s detrimental to getting your prayer answered. The familiar saying: “Less is more” can be applied here. The less you worry, the more supernatural power is generated. Pray for God’s will to be done, and do your required responsibilities concerning the situation. Outside of what’s required of you, dismiss it knowing: Heaven’s got it; so, what needs to be done, will be done.

Faith is a permanent marker—not a pencil.

When we put our trust in God, no matter what is known or unknown, we’re signing our confession with a permanent marker saying: I trust You Lord! As long as Peter kept his focus on Jesus, he was able to do the miraculous—walk on water. But as soon as he started paying attention to the harsh conditions that surrounded him, he began to sink (Matthew 14:28-31). Peter put more confidence in the winds and waves taking him down than he had in the Lord lifting him up. I guess one could say Peter’s faith was penciled in.

Penciled-in faith fades———————away!

© 2019

See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

image by zimmytws via CanStockPhoto

Is there a fork in the middle of your plans, dreams, or ideas? Don’t fret. Sometimes those forks are divinely planted so you’ll have to stop, take a breath, and analyze the situation. Who knows—you might end up thanking God for that fork?

Stick a fork in it!

All obstructions should not be viewed the same. Some obstacles are there to block us from bad ideas; some are there to stop us from good ideas, while there are others strategically placed to grow and challenge our faith. And, to complicate matters even more, God’s ideas are not necessarily free from adversity. We can’t assume just because there are hurdles to jump over, and demons to bypass, that it can’t be God. Now of course, the only way we can really tell which-fork-is-which, is to ask the Holy Spirit.

Who put that fork on the road?

When the Holy Spirit tells us to overtake and conquer a fork, He doesn’t expect us to do it in our might (see Zechariah 4:6). Therefore, we shouldn’t turn away in defeat, but zero in and attack it in the in the power of God. How many blessings have we passed up because they weren’t handed to us problem free? Anybody can travel down forkless roads, but the victor is the one who knows how to step out by faith.

The only way we can walk in that realm of boldness is to have a close relationship with God. Think about the connection David had when he offered to go up against Goliath. He had more than a superficial awareness of his Lord. That’s why he affirmatively said, he was going to cut off Goliath’s head and give the carcass to the fowls of the air. David knew heaven would back up every word. (See 1 Samuel 17:45-47.)

Why is this fork on the road?

Well, the same God is here for us when we come up against forks in our lives. But, if we want the David type of results, we have to do what he did prior to receiving those results. David put in the time that is required to build such a strong unyielding bond.

If our plans, dreams, and ideas are God inspired, we can’t let forks stop us from moving forward; if we do, we won’t get much accomplished, because there will always be forks on the road.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

© 2019

See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.

Image by mcgill via CanStockPhoto