A tsunami of hatred has unapologetically overshadowed earth; sticking our heads in the sand and hoping it will dissipate isn’t the solution. This evil is bold and will undoubtedly continue and strengthen if gone unchallenged.

Don’t wait on your heart; love intentionally.

One of the main reasons for this upsurge of hate is partly due to the mistreatment and injustice we have bestowed on each other. People are talking about how bad things have gotten; they’re praying for God to intervene. But He has empowered the church with His Holy Spirit to combat wickedness.

Unfortunately, the world doesn’t have a clue what to do; the good news is that the church does. She knows God is the only answer and that her job is to LOVE purposefully and indiscriminately.

… thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

³¹ And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these (Mark 12:30-31).

Goosebumps don’t have a monopoly on love.

But to be honest, loving everybody, including our enemies, seems unrealistic, even for some believers. However, we’re making this harder if we only define love through warm affections. Don’t wait on your heart to tell you who to love; just do good by people.

Do acts of kindness deliberately until your heart catches up.

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. ³⁵ By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another (John 13:34-35).

© 2022     

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What can the world offer in exchange for an intimate personal relationship with God? Our first response is probably a resounding—NOTHING! But not so fast; think about it for a minute; this bartering occurs more often than most realize. For instance, do we deprive ourselves of getting closer to God for the things and pleasures of this world? Judas did—for thirty pieces of silver.

Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests ¹⁵ and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-15, NIV).

For us today, thirty pieces of silver can be interpreted as:

• The time we aren’t willing to sacrifice to learn and know God better. (Phil. 3:7-8,10)
• The wants we aren’t willing to forgo to be obedient to the Word. (Galatians 5:19-21)
• The vengeance we aren’t willing to release for God to handle. (Romans 12:19)
• The people we aren’t willing to love. (Matthew 5:43-45)
• The pride we aren’t willing to surrender for humility. (Proverbs 29:23)
• The faithfulness we aren’t willing to abide by during difficult times. (2 Timothy 4:7)
• The lies we aren’t willing to disclose for truth. (Proverbs 12:22)

When Judas realized what he had done to Jesus, he gave the silver coins back to the chief priest and elders, saying: I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. Then, Judas cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, departed, and hanged himself. (See Matthew 27:3-5.)

Thirty pieces of silver enticed Judas—what amount will tempt us?

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   See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

 

I know it seems like evil is taking over, but fret not because of evildoers—for they shall be cut down like grass. Put your faith in God, knowing that He has people around the world who are not bowing to wickedness—but are standing uncompromisingly strong for Him. (Ref. Psalm 37:1-3)

Evils like, but not limited to:

• Extortion
• Falsehoods
• Immorality
• Cruelty

Has God ever come up shorthanded?

Elijah made the mistake of thinking he was the only one who had not replaced God with false gods. But God revealed to Elijah that He had 7000 who had not bowed to Baal. That same revelation applies today. Each believer is just one of a multitude of warriors.

Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him (1 Kings 19:18, NKJV).

If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

Some of the wicked think they can circumvent God’s commands by referencing His name and citing a few Scriptures, unaware the Lord laughs at those who plot against the righteous, for He sees the day of justice coming. Even though the wicked have drawn out their swords, their bows will be broken, and their swords will enter their evil hearts (ref. Psalm 37:12-15). In other words, the wicked will fall prey to their own schemes.

Therefore, Satan and his minions are deceived if they think they can be victorious against God’s army. So, don’t lose heart in well-doing—stay encouraged, and by faith, wait expectantly on the LORD to set wrongs right.

Are you one of many not bowing?

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We’re human; we make mistakes; things happen. But unfortunately, kindness, compassion, and mercy are exchanged for rage and vengeance; simple mishaps can have grave repercussions. How long can we survive on this cold-heartless trajectory?

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21, NKJV).

The world needs to see God’s love in action.

When Jesus ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit came to abide in each believer; therefore, the church is responsible for showing the world God’s love through her actions during this moral decline. I’ll admit; that it’s not always easy to restrain when confronted by rude hostility—but being a Christian isn’t easy; however, it is gratifying beyond measure.

Whenever hatred can engage you in a war of exchange, even though you got the last hateful word in—you lost; hate won. But, on the other hand, give God something to work with by operating in love—then the combatant isn’t just confronting flesh and blood, but the host of heaven who is backing you. Moreover, acting in love throws the agitator off balance—which I find pretty amusing.

Don’t let evil conquer you; you conquer evil by doing good.

Nonetheless, the restraint not to go toe-to-toe with the world doesn’t happen automatically; it takes effort and determination to use the power of God within to tone things down. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Read the Gospels and see how Jesus put haters in their place without falling into the enemy’s traps; our LORD represented His Father superlatively. Please note Jesus routinely spent time alone to commune and receive spiritual replenishment from God. It’s the church’s turn to stay equipped and take a stand; we must:

• Live our private and public lives as full-time representatives of heaven. (1 Corinthians 3:16; John 2:6)
• Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer should be like breathing—done most of the time unconsciously.
• Stay fully dressed for battle (Ephesians 6:11-18).
• Expect our faith’s endurance to be tested by experienced agitators. (James 1:3)

These days, we’ll never know when an innocent: Oops, could turn into an all-out war.

Stay in love!

© 2022     

   See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

 

Iron doesn’t float, but that well-known fact didn’t stop God in 2 Kings 6:1-7 when a woodman accidentally dropped an axe head in the Jordan River. When he told Elisha, his teacher, what had happened, Elisha asked the man where did it fall? When the woodman showed him the spot, Elisha threw a stick into the water, and the axe floated to the surface.

So, who was Elisha that God would grant him such an unheard-of miracle? Elisha was the faithful student of Elijah—whom the Bible describes as having a nature like ours, meaning Elijah didn’t have supernatural powers of his own, but what he did have was a genuinely close relationship with God—and his protégé Elisha likewise.

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months (James 5:17, NKJV).

The valuable takeaway from this story is that while the woodman was upset about losing an axe head that he had borrowed, there’s no description of Elisha doubting that God would defy the laws of physics to retrieve the axe. I believe there’s no record of Elisha’s uncertainties or hesitations because he didn’t question God’s abilities.

Never let impossibilities short-circuit your faith when God’s involved.

Do you need God to repel the laws of nature in your life? If you need an iron floating miracle, ask God if it’s in His will—and if it is—follow His instructions, and never allow impossibilities to short-circuit your faith when God’s involved. Remember, there’s nothing too hard for the One who rides upon the wings of the wind (Psalm 18:10).

Do you need an axe head to float?

© 2022     

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

In ancient civilizations, swords were a standard wartime weapon; perhaps that’s why the apostle Paul depicted the Scriptures as a sword when he wrote to the church at Ephesus. He wanted the Ephesians to associate the Word of God with a lethal weapon they could use when attacked by the devil. Of course, unsupported intimidations don’t frighten the enemy, but when a Spirit-filled believer proclaims and stands on the Word—the devil is threatened.

¹⁷  [T]he sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephesians 6:17b)

The devil knows the Word fluently.

In Matthew 4:1-11, we see the value and confidence Jesus placed on the Word when He was on His forty-day fast in the wilderness. Every time the devil tempted Jesus using scriptures, the Lord unequivocally responded, “It is written. . .”

However, it isn’t enough to cite Scriptures for the enemy to take us seriously; the Word must be spoken—from a heart that is in right standing with God. (See 2 Corinthians 5:21.) The prayers of the righteous availeth much (James 5:16). Please don’t be deceived; the devil knows when words are backed by heaven—or not.

A sword mounted on a wall is useless in combat.

Yet, to model Jesus’ actions and receive His results, we must know what is written. Thus, we must be lifelong learners of God’s Word by studying, meditating, praying, and respectfully applying it to our everyday lives. I like to say, chew and digest the Word. We can’t pick and choose the easily digestible parts; we must be obedient to what’s written about any situation we find ourselves in; making it routine to base life’s circumstances and decision-making practices on the Scriptures. Then, as a result of an obedient life, we are empowered when the devil strikes; therefore, by faith, we can strike back and say:

It is Written . . . !

© 2022     

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Not long after, you receive a hallelujah—thank you, Jesus revelation, the devil comes quickly to steal that word before it takes root in your heart. His goal is to turn your adulatory praise into an interrogation of skepticism, “Did God really tell me that?”

[T]hen cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved (Luke 8:12b).

When doubt vs. faith  

I’m learning to:

• Immediately document the revelation, including the time and date I received it. That notation will serve as proof later that I didn’t imagine the whole experience.
• Expect the devil, usually in the middle of the night, to insert doubts and fears into my mind—don’t treat them as reality but as faith stealers.
• Meditate throughout the day on scriptures that relate to the revelation. The Word of God annihilates the enemy’s lies and strengthens my faith.
• Never let my guard down; the devil is unceasing in his efforts. (See Ephesians 6:11-18.)

When Jesus was tempted on His forty-day fast in the wilderness, He responded to every bait the devil threw at Him with, “It is written . . . ” (See Matthew 4:1-11.)

So likewise, we must also be steadfast and use our faith and say, “It is written . . .” when the devil comes to steal the revelation.

© 2022     

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

If weary or any form of irritability describes you at the moment, check the condition of your soul: mind, will, and emotions, because anything in constant demand to perform is bound to become weakened—the perfect setup for an adversarial ambush. So, as soon as you detect any signs of aggravation—look up—get refreshed—then proceed!

“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” (Jeremiah 31:25, NIV)

The adversary knows when we’re in a vulnerable state. His standard mode of attack usually starts by deceiving our minds with one lie or another and then infecting our will with temptations. Then when the soul concedes, the enemy entangles the emotions in a web of guilt and condemnation.

When Jesus was in His humanity, Hebrews 4:15 says that He experienced every emotion and feeling as we do, yet Jesus never sinned by giving in to them. I think what attributed to His spiritual strength was the fact that He knew when to withdraw to be alone with His Father to commune and replenish the virtue He released to others. With the continuous demand that was put upon Him, even Jesus needed spiritual refreshing—and so do we. By faith, we are to model after Him and let the Holy Spirit minister to us, give us encouragement, and armor us with heavenly reinforcement against the enemy’s maneuvers.

Savor in God’s presence.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

(Psalm 23:3)

I think downplaying the importance of spending daily one-on-one time with the Holy Spirit is one of the devil’s profitable misconceptions. Many think going to church, participating in Bible study groups, and other church activities (great things to do) can substitute for being alone with God—they can’t! You’ll never get to know God on a personal level without savoring in His presence.

Don’t keep running on empty—STOP—get refreshed—then proceed.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. ² He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

³ He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

⁵ Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. (Psalm 23)

 

© 2022     

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Like many of us, more than likely, you are waiting for an answer to a prayer. Are you losing sleep thinking it’ll be too late if it doesn’t come soon? Don’t worry; time isn’t a factor with God—He knows the shortcut. Therefore, He’s more interested in your faith development, and patience plays a vital role in that process.

If need be, God will take the shortcut—He’s never late.

God spoke that word to my heart when I became anxious the other day waiting. He told me to take the “time” component out of the equation and concentrate on the lesson He wants me to learn about His faithfulness. He said that if the answer didn’t come when I thought it should, that was my misconception; He’s not on my clock—He operates outside of time.

Wait for the Lord;  be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

 (Psalm 27:14, ESV)

Since patience is the headliner, our attitude while we wait is the main point. It’s our responsibility to put the waiting period to good use by growing intimately closer to God. In Psalm 27:4, David said there was only one thing that he sought after, to dwell in God’s presence. God said, to seek first His kingdom and righteousness; and all these things will be added unto us (see Matthew 6:33).

Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart (Psalm 37: 4).

Let patience have her perfect work (James 1:4).

Perhaps our misplaced priorities are delaying the answer. When our spiritual relationship with God is our primary concern, we hear Him better; for instance, when He’s encouraging us to keep holding on or when He’s prompting us to let it go, move on—for He has a better plan. However, if what we’re waiting for is God’s desire, we shouldn’t lose faith by the length of the wait.

After all, God knows the shortcut.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).

 

© 2022     

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

We have auto, home, and health insurance, but do we have step insurance? As unpredictable as life is, do we really want to proceed without communicating with the Holy Spirit throughout the day about the moves He wants us to make—or not? When Jesus walked the earth, He did nothing without receiving directions from His Father; they were in lockstep—shouldn’t we do likewise? When our steps are insured by the Holy One, they are backed up by the Word (see Romans 8:28).

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:6).

Jesus didn’t navigate on His own; He stayed in continuous communication with His Father; consequently, His steps were protected.

• Jesus slipped away often to pray alone. (Luke 5:16)
• Before Jesus selected His disciples, He went into the mountains and spent all night in prayer with His Father. (Luke 6:12)
• After Jesus fed the 5000, He withdrew to a solitary place to be alone to pray. (Mark 1:35)
• Jesus sent the multitude away and departed into the hills to pray. (Mark 6:45-46)
• In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus agonized in prayer. (Mark 14:32-42)

Because Jesus spent so much intimate time with His Father, He knew God’s will. For example, before He raised Lazarus, He lifted His eyes and thanked His Father for always hearing Him; Jesus knew His steps had the “green light” to call Lazarus forth. (See John 11:41-42.)

We can walk by faith when God authorizes our steps—knowing nothing can prevail against what He orders. Even if our foundation collapses, we win because God is with us.

Are your steps insured?

© 2022     

   See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

 

Are you weighed down with troubles? Each worrisome thought adds weight to the burden making it even more intolerable. However, believers have access to God’s promises during challenging times. Psalm 34:19 says many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. So let His Word do the heavy lifting by encouraging your spirit out of despair.

I pray that you will begin to understand how incredibly great his power is to help those who believe in him (Ephesians 1:19, TLB).

No weight can withstand the power of God’s Word!

When you need some heavy lifting done, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to give you enlightenment on the scriptures that speak to your situation. Then study, meditate, and trust that the Word will work in your circumstances. This level of assurance doesn’t happen overnight—it takes practice leaning on God and trashing the devil’s troublesome thoughts as lies.

Finally, worship and praise the Lord. With all this adulation, the enemy will flee but don’t be surprised or discouraged when he returns. Just do what you did that caused him to leave in the first place. He’s counting on your human nature to wear down and lose focus; remember, he’s a spirit; he’ll never tire out; therefore, stay ready to battle, and claim what’s rightly yours through Christ.

I’ve been waiting years for a particular prayer to be answered. I’m fighting fiercely to hold onto my faith by casting down every vile thought. I primarily depend on two scriptures to do my heavy lifting while I wait.

1. Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart (Psalm 37:4).
2. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

Find scriptures that will do your heavy lifting.

© 2022      

   See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

The prophetic plan set into motion before the beginning of time cannot be stopped by the world’s denial of God’s existence; or by its rebellious attitude that it’s the master of its own fate. The world might try to suppress and ignore the truth of God’s reality, but His divine attributes are on public display; everything that is—attests to His being. People might choose not to respect the Almighty; however, that does not obstruct humanity’s prophetic future.

Ready or not, Jesus is coming back.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up (2 Peter 3:10).

But imagine the impact believers would have on a dying world if more of us conducted our behavior as if Jesus’ return could come at any moment—unannounced.

Would we be caught:

• Passing up opportunities to spread the gospel?
• Holding unforgiveness?
• Treating people, the way we wouldn’t want to be treated?
• Harvesting pride?
• Worshiping idols?
• Mistreating our enemies?
• Purposefully deceiving others?

We can’t stop the clock to prepare—we must live ready.

© 2022      

   See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

 

Due to a surge of erratic volatile events that the world is undergoing, our daily schedules, routines, and lives are subject to change suddenly. Consequently, I’m sure you will agree that if there ever was a time to stop and purposefully listen to what the Lord is saying—it’s NOW.

We sing songs, pray, and read Scriptures asking the Lord to order our steps. Yet, many people spend most of their prayer time informing God about situations, instead of listening to El Shaddai, Lord Almighty’s instructions in this season of spiritual warfare. We need divine wisdom on how to survive through this strange terrain.

Speak; for thy servant heareth (1 Samuel 3:10b).

When God first called Samuel, Samuel thought his mentor, Eli, had called him. After this happened the third time, Eli realized the voice that called Samuel was God’s. So Eli told the boy, if He calls you again, say: Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. (See 1Samuel 3.)

Is God calling you?

God is constantly communicating, so expect to hear from Him. Since He speaks in several ways, we must be open to receiving various forms of communication, including but not limited to: circumstances, people, nature, dreams, visions, peace, inner knowing, and of course, His Word. Some people have even heard His audible voice.

In the case of Samuel, he listened and obeyed God; therefore, because of his dedication and faithfulness, he was used mightily. Samuel did what he was placed on earth to do; now it’s our time to be used. Don’t miss your turn!

When I read your weekly comments, I can tell we agree that God’s prophetic Word is unfolding right before our eyes as things are heating up and closing in on earth. As a result, it’s time to listen and receive instructions on what God wants His people to do in this hour. And when we receive the call, by faith, our response should be like Samuel’s, “Speak; for thy servant hearth.” Like a friend of mine would say, “It’s just that simple.”

It’s time to listen—and obey!

© 2022      

   See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

 

The world is still doing what it has always done—misbehaving, disregarding God and all He represents. You would think with the frequency and intensity of troubling events the world would realize that something unusual is taking place.

“So it was that when they gave God up and would not even acknowledge him, God gave them up to doing everything their evil minds could think of. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness and sin, of greed and hate, envy, murder, fighting, lying, bitterness, and gossip.” (Romans 1:28-29, LAB)

Of course, the world thinks it’s smart enough to speculate and hypothesize why all these dire conditions are occurring, but if its theories don’t point to heaven—it’s all vainglorious foolishness. This is a time of reckoning; God is publicly revealing His displeasure with the inequality, dishonesty, cruelty, hatred, and so on that are running rampant.

Unfortunately, some of us who are believers in Christ are often unaware of how far we have drifted from the gospel to keep up with this fallen world. Because deception looms, we must weigh our actions by the Word of God, not by human standards, particularly how we treat one another.

Still cuttin’ up!

• Treating others the way we wouldn’t want to be treated. (Matthew 7:12)
• Taking advantage of the poor. (Proverbs 22:22)
• Conveniently excusing lying and other forms of deception. (Proverbs 19:9)
• Holding grudges and unforgiveness. (Matthew 6:14-15)
• Criticizing, belittling, and condemning others for their sins. (Romans 3:10)

If we know better, we ought to do better.

I genuinely think the mistreatment of one another will be our nemesis if we are guilty and don’t change our ways. How can we say we love God and mistreat our fellowmen? We can’t! (See 1 John 4:20.)

Those of us in Christ see the world misbehaving; however, the challenge is for us not to be persuaded by such acts of misconduct.

The world will get you in trouble!

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:2).

© 2022      

   See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

 

Do you want to get the most return on your faith? Then, invest and capitalize on God’s ability—the One who spoke the world into existence, the One who parted the Red Sea, and the One who kept the lions from eating Daniel.

… Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief (Mark 9:24b).

But how can we believe with so little faith?

We must plant our tiny seed in God’s omnipotent hand; walking by faith is not optional but mandatory for believers in Christ. Jesus rebuked the disciples for their little faith when faced with a ferocious storm (see Matthew 8:26). Jesus asked, will I find faith on earth when I return? (See Luke 18:8.) And foremost, we can’t please God without it (see Hebrews 11:6).

Unfortunately, we often make a mistake thinking it’s our responsibility to self-produce enough faith to bring about the changes we request. If we feel our faith is weak and ineffectual, perhaps we focus too much on what we can self-produce than on the One who generates the power; it’s God’s power performing through us—believe in what He can do, not in flesh and blood.

                              . . .  for without me ye can do nothing. (John 15:5b).

Our faith is unwavering if based on God’s capabilities.

If you’re having difficulty believing, ask yourself: how well do I know God? Getting to know Him and submitting to His ways should be every Christian’s lifelong pursuit; you get to know Him by spending one-on-one, face-to-face time with Him daily; no substitutions can replace this practice.

Then, as we routinely absorb ourselves in His presence, these personal interactions mature us spiritually, and we come to know—apart from Him that we can’t do anything.

Self-sufficient faith is like expecting light from an unplugged lamp.

Invest your tiny seed in God’s all-powerful hand.

© 2022      

 

   See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

Does your behavior draw people to God? Has anyone said there’s something different about you; you’re not like the rest but can’t quite pinpoint why you stand out? Or do you blend in when with those whose actions contradict God’s? The world, in general, is searching for answers, and many of them do not realize God is the solution. Putting the Word into action will draw more people to Him than listening to yet another “you’re going to hell” sermonette.

And he [Jesus] saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men (Matthew 4:19).

Show the world, God!

Showing people that we believe and have faith in God through our actions will have a more profound impact than mere words. For example, when I was about eight years old, a neighbor franticly knocked on my grandmother’s door and said, “Your husband just had a car accident.”

My grandmother’s first reaction was she dropped to her knees and started praying. It turned out that it was only a fender bender, but what was memorable to me, she prayed even before checking out the circumstances; that was her natural response to any troubling situation—she called on God first. Once again, I heard the Scriptures clearly through her behavior:

• Psalm 121:1: I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
• Mark 11:24: Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
• Psalm 91:2: He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

I remember my mother saying that she couldn’t recall a prayer that wasn’t granted to her mother. Perhaps that was an exaggeration, but my grandmother did take the Word literally and obeyed the best she could. Observing her faithfulness over the years drew me closer to God.

Today, people need to see the Word acted upon unequivocally; whether it’s loving our enemies, helping those in need, or forgiving the unforgivable, the world needs to witness the love of God piercing through all this hatred.

Does your behavior draw people to God? If not, why not?

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead (James 2:14-26, NKJV).

© 2022

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When facing a hard-pressed predicament, ask the Lord, “Did You set this up?” Once you examine the circumstances from that stance, your attention will focus more on your spiritual growth and maturity than on the problem. Of course, you want the matter resolved ASAP, but instead of praying for deliverance as your first defense, pray to hear what the Lord has to say because if He set it up—there’s something He wants you and/or others to learn before you are delivered.

Only You, Lord, can fix this!

 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, ³ now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness (1 Peter 2:2-3, NLT).

Some learning possibilities:

• Walk by faith. (2 Corinthians 5:7)
• Put your trust in the Lord. (Proverbs 3:5)
• Seek God first. (Matthew 6:33)
• Impossible for man; possible for God. (Luke 18:27)
• God’s grace is sufficient. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Your faith will grasp the joy; your fear will grasp the hurt.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy (James 1:2, NLT).

So, why does James tell us to consider our troubles as opportunities for joy? He said that because he knows if we submit to God, hard times will transform us into the likeness of Christ, and anytime our actions reflect the Lord’s, that glorifies Him because of the spiritual advancement it produces.

Lord, did You set this up for Your glory?

© 2022

   See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

 

When heartstrings are being pulled, it’s hard to pray, with sincerity, “Lord, Your will be done.” That blind step of faith pleases God in that we trust His outcome in the matter. But all in all, that’s still a hard prayer to pray; I know because I haven’t prayed that prayer yet without adding my two cents on how things should go.

Letting God have His way is the ultimate test of our faith.  

When our Lord was in the garden of Gethsemane, He knew that doing His Father’s will meant He had to accept the bitter cup of wrath. That decision wasn’t easy; He toiled all night in agony; but concluded, “Nevertheless not what I will, but what thou would have me to do” (see Mark 14:36).

The apostle Paul received an invaluable revelation about God’s ways are best after he pleaded three times for the Lord to take the thorn away that Satan was allowed to dispense. I’m pretty sure Paul gave God a list of logical reasonings why the thorn should be removed. But God responded: “My grace is sufficient.”

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Once Paul realized that God’s grace supplied all the strength he needed to endure whatever infirmities and distresses came his way, it was his honor to showcase God’s power in those trying times.

But think about this: Satan can no longer control our emotions when we have resolved life’s outcomes to God’s will be done.

© 2022

   See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.