Satan is forever strategizing ways to mesmerize the minds of believers. He aims to strip them of peace, and his modus operandi is to saddle them with thoughts of past guilt and future fears, for he knows the peaceful mind of a believer is a powerful weapon to contend with.

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27 NKJV).

Mind control—past guilt:

Stay in the present.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8:1 KJV).

After you’ve repented about a past mistake, and your mind is still being riveted with guilt, know those thoughts are not from God but from the enemy trying to put you under his hypnosis.

God brought that to my attention when I noticed I felt guilty about something I did over thirty years ago. The Lord put in my spirit that it’s not His character to keep bringing up past wrongs after a person has made peace with Him.

However, I can turn the tables and use that experience to teach others the consequences awaiting down that path.

Mind control—future fears:

Live in the moment.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble (Matthew 6:34 NKJV).

God gives us an ample amount of mercy each day (see Lamentations 3:22-23), and His grace is sufficient for His power is perfected in our weakness (see 2 Corinthians 12:9). Therefore, bombarding our minds with possible future fears is like glaring at the sun without the proper protective gear. Jesus instructs us to live one day at a time; He will equip us to deal with whatever might come—whenever it comes. It’s just like the enemy to have us worry over troubles before we have the mind to handle them adequately.

Once again, turn the tables on Satan and quote the apostle Paul, “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (v.10 CSB).

As Christians, we must be readers and doers of the Word to know the mind of Christ, spend time with Him to gain His insights, and seek Him in all matters. Then when Satan comes with his mind-controlling tactics, ask yourself: what would Jesus do with such thoughts? We already know Jesus wouldn’t give them the time of day, nor should we.

For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16 NKJV).

© 2023

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

The shiny objects of this world are meant to lure us away from God. Nevertheless, no matter how we try to justify our sinful ways, God’s commandments aren’t suggestions, recommendations, or considerations, and we can’t name-drop our Lord to camouflage transgressions. Trust me, if we try to delete or manipulate the meaning of His Word, it won’t end well, as Adam and Eve proved.

God and His Word are One; who would dare suggest corrections are needed?

 (See John 1:1.)

My post has had one central theme for the past five weeks: God’s Word.

• Take Him at His Word
• God’s Written Voice
• Show Me in the Word
• The Word-faith Connection
• I’m Counting on You, LORD!

I don’t preplan these weekly writings; I write as the Holy Spirit leads. I can only assume He’s sending a message for believers to pay more attention to what He has already spoken.

Who will stand unapologetically on the Word?

Because of the social media era, the pressure of public opinion is widespread like never before. The Word warns us to be sober and vigilant; the devil is as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (see 1 Peter 5:8). When we find ourselves bending, twisting, and lying to defend ungodly ways, we have been or are in the process of being devoured. Friendship with the world is enmity with God (see James 4:4).

Therefore, we must purposefully keep God at the forefront so as not to be swayed in an opposing direction. Standing solidly on the Word is a bold step of faith—while on the other side, wobbling between two positions is unstable and misleading, especially to unbelievers who watch these acrobatic stunts.

In Luke 9:23, Jesus said, if anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily. To follow Jesus means to be sold out to Him and live according to His Word despite the pressurizing force to do otherwise.

The Word has spoken on every issue. It is not God who must conform to our ways; we must measure up to His ways. Otherwise—this won’t end well!

© 2023

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

 

There was a time a person’s word carried a lot of weight—it was enough to seal a deal, but today, even with the best intentions, words have a way of foundering by the wayside, but not so with God’s. God said, His word will not return to Him void but will accomplish what He pleased. (See Isaiah 55:11.)

God is not a man that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Numbers 23:19 NKJV)

 Take Him at His Word!

One day when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion met Him saying, “Lord, my servant is sick, at home paralyzed.” The man told Jesus that coming to his house wouldn’t be necessary for he wasn’t worthy of Him stepping foot under his roof, but if He would say the word, his servant would be healed. Jesus was amazed that the centurion had such faith. (See Matthew 8:5-10 for the complete account.)

Do you take God at His Word?

Why do many readily believe the devil’s lies but hesitatingly take God at His Word? Could that be because the enemy holds us captive in our past guilts that it’s hard to let go and believe God when He gives promises such as, “Come to Me all who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest”? (Matthew 11:28) Or when He said in 1 John 5:14, if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears whatever we ask, we know we have what we have asked of him.

God’s LOVE overshadows the devil’s lies.

The devil’s deceptive techniques can manipulate our thoughts when we don’t clearly understand God’s love for His children. However, when we internalize the intensity of His love, we can, by faith, walk in the confidence of this revelation.

Jesus proved His love when He shed His blood on the cross; surely, we can take Him at His Word.

We have come to know [by personal observation and experience], and have believed [with deep, consistent faith] the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him (1 John 4:16 AMP).

   © 2023

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

I don’t know a believer who wouldn’t want an in-person consultation with the Holy Spirit concerning life’s pressing matters. I’ve heard people say it would clear up a lot if they could spend just a few minutes with the Lord; however, many overlook they’re in direct communication with God every time they read the Bible—His written voice.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1).

God has more answers than we have questions.

We may not find specific answers to our everyday dilemmas word-for-word per se in the Bible; nevertheless, the principles laid out in the Word are absolute—never changing—the definitive guide to our situations. Whatever we are facing, God has already spoken.

Examples of a Spirit-to-spirit consultation:

• Are you perplexed about how to handle a sensitive matter? God says quite a bit about using wisdom (see Proverbs 4).
• Are you having a problem deciding what to do about your state of affairs? God says to acknowledge Him in everything you do, and He will direct your path (see Proverbs 3:6).
• Are you having difficulty dodging the enemy’s onslaughts? God articulates precise instructions on how to dress for spiritual combat (see Ephesians 6:11-18).
• Need a shoulder to cry on? John 14:18 says, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

So if you want to set up a face-to-face with the Lord, open the Word and listen to His written voice.

Ask the Spirit to help you see—He and His Word as One.

In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. (AMP)

Closing remarks: We must abide in the Word by meditating on it and allowing it to take root in our inner being; then, at the appropriate time, the Holy Spirit will whisper God’s written voice to our circumstances.

© 2023

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

You said—God told you—WHAT? Show me that in the Word because He wouldn’t say anything like that; God would never contradict Himself.

Be ready to defend the Word.

God speaks primarily through His Word; therefore, we can’t spiritually afford to be lackadaisical when it comes to learning and studying what thus saith the Lord; but recognize the value and power of the scriptures, especially during the times we live in now.

Be aware of false teachings.

Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons (1 Timothy 4:1 NLT).

One of the reasons God’s Word is depicted as a sword is its ability to cut through layers of deceit, exposing the Truth of any matter we might face. We must be dogmatic and aggressive when learning the scriptures in depth. It’s not enough to be able to recite them; we must meditate and internalize, where they become a part of us, where we fall in love with God’s words, making us inseparable.

When the devil came to tempt Jesus when He was in the wilderness for forty days, Jesus responded: It is written. We must do likewise and wield the Word to back the enemy off. But to do that effectively, we must know the Word.

In many cases, the Word is an untapped reservoir of supernatural power.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV).

We must be stewards of the scriptures and able to identify when they are spoken in error, out of context for manipulation, or even when it’s innocently misinterpreted from a lack of knowledge.

The enemy is all about confusion. He wants us to think the Bible is too hard to understand and doubt our ability to interpret it correctly without a degree or certificate in theology from a prestigious institution.

But think about it; it wouldn’t make sense for God not to want His children to understand His written voice. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit is inside us, ready to explain and clarify where needed.

If the  Bible is too challenging to understand, ask the Spirit to lead you to a translation you can study and comprehend—or listen to.

Then when something doesn’t sound biblical, or when you get a prick in your spirit, be ready to say:

Could you show me that in the Word?

© 2023

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

 (John 1:1, emphases added)

Do you want to defeat the adversary? Then, understand there’s a connection between the Word and faith that shouldn’t be overlooked. Okay, you might already know this, but for me, this was groundbreaking when the Holy Spirit revealed this to my spirit; I’ll explain.

We often hear, or even we might say, things like, “I need more faith.” But I’m learning that we don’t need our faith to increase, per se, to do miraculous acts; we need to change the overpowering thoughts we have about the “mountains” in our lives and put our confidence in the Word will perform what is impossible for man. That should take the pressure off when trying to believe the inconceivable because we know there’s nothing too hard for God. Zechariah 4:6 teaches us “it’s” going to be done by God’s power, not by our own efforts.

 I don’t need more faith; I need to learn more Word to channel my belief through.

As we consistently study the Word, trust forms, and faith emerges.

Over the years, the Holy Spirit has strongly motivated me to study the Scriptures. Recently, I asked Him to teach me how to effectively activate the power of the Word. That’s when He gave me the revelation about the Word-faith connection.

As a result, I pray God’s Word back to Him: “Lord, You said…”

Don’t waste time worrying about your problems—use that time to strategize a Word plan of attack.

The rain and snow come down from the heavens
    and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow,
    producing seed for the farmer
    and bread for the hungry.
¹¹ It is the same with my word.
    I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
    and it will prosper everywhere I send it  (Isaiah 55:10-11 NLT).

 Make the Word-faith connection!

© 2023

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

Yes, we want the big hallelujah miracles, but God set perimeters around His promises—conditions. In other words, are we in alignment with His Word? Does our lifestyle match the prayer requests we are seeking? If not, no amount of faith can override His ruling.

However, God wants to bless us, but are we giving Him anything to work with, like a submissive life of obedience and compassion to love and forgive others? Can He see Himself when He looks into our hearts?

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life (Proverbs 4:23 NLT).

God has a conditional will and an unconditional will. His unconditional will—will happen with no participation from us; for example, seasons will change, and the sun will rise and set. But His conditional will is linked to our involvement.

Does your heart mirror God’s Word?

John 15:7 says, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (NKJV). How can Jesus make such a blanket promise that His Father will do whatever we ask? Yet, Jesus does validate this claim because to abide in Him means we are in harmony with His Father’s will and desires.

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4 ESV).

No matter how hard we try, none of us is perfect, but when our heavenly Father sees we’re giving Him our best, that’s something He can work with.

© 2023

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

When your prayer request is aligned with God’s will, and you have done your best to do everything He asked you to do, then it’s time to be still—stand on His Word, and by faith, let Him know, “I’m counting on You, Lord.”

I’m counting on you LORD; yes, I’m counting on him. I have put my hope in his word.

(Psalm 130:5 NLT)

We can wait with expectation when our desires match God’s.

God’s will—is going to come into being. Psalm 37:4 says to delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. I can’t overly emphasize our desires must coincide with His to count it as done; we must commit our ways for Him to act on our behalf (vs. 5). The amount of time that lapses shouldn’t be a discouragement; many times, God’s glory comes after a period of wait.

Wait and see the glory of God!

Remember, Jesus didn’t rush to heal Lazarus; as remarkable as it would have been to heal this man on his sick bed, instead, Jesus wanted to astonishingly display His Father’s glory by raising Lazarus from the grave after being dead for four days (see John 11:1-44).

We can count on God to intervene in the most inconceivable circumstances.

For instance:

• Moses had to count on God when the Israelites were cornered between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army (see Exodus 14).
• In a showdown, Elijah had to count on God to rain down fire from heaven and burn the idols of Baal (see 1 Kings 18).
• Daniel had to count on God when trapped in the lions’ den (see Daniel 6).

You probably won’t know how or when your prayer will be answered, but when you’ve done all, stand on His Word and let the peace of your faith express:

I’m counting on You, LORD!

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

Even though I no longer eat meat, I still remember how disgusting it tasted without salt. The salt turned a tasteless slab of flesh into a succulent, delectable, mouth-watering celebration. But just like meat needs salt, this corrupt world needs—the supernatural flavoring of the Holy Spirit.

Please pass the salt!

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men (Matthew 5:13 NJKV).

Believers are the salt of the world; God has His children sprinkled in every nook and cranny worldwide to spread His love. This world needs to see the difference this unique salt makes. If enough is applied, more will thirst for—the Living Water (John 4:14).

Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the person who takes refuge in him!

(Psalm 34:8 CSB)

Salt without flavor is good for nothing.

I love it when believers take a bold faith stand and walk in the authority God has given them.  Unfortunately, however, too many are contented to remain in the salt shaker—aka “closet Christians” not outwardly witnessing for Christ, as Jesus commissioned before He ascended to Heaven. (See Matthew 28:18-20.) This leaves a large field unsalted for imposters to invade—those who speak christianese even quote scriptures, although their actions say otherwise. Their hypocritical words only substantiate the world’s wrong concept of God.

A smidgeon of salt goes a long way.

The world needs to see our unyielding bond with Christ reflected in our love for all humanity. Our relationship with Him is our top priority—not money, status, or material things this world has to offer. They need to see our strength is found in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9); we fear God, not man (Matthew 10:28); no weapon formed against us shall prosper (Isaiah 54:7); we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a peculiar people (1 Peter 2:9); our effectual fervent prayers availeth much (James 5:16b), and we can’t be bought because we’re not for sale—Christ has already paid the price.

 

Pass the Salt!

© 2023

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

Can you tell the difference between a dead-end situation and a faith test? They have similar, if not identical, characteristics: hopelessness, unreasonableness, and ridiculousness. Nevertheless, one is for spiritual growth, and the other is a big waste of time. Can you tell the difference between the two?

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye (Psalm 32:8 KJV).

I’m facing this dilemma right now. Of course, I asked the Holy Spirit if I should keep on track or turn in a different direction. He answered by dropping little specks of encouragement to stay on board. Nonetheless, as time passes by, it gets harder to hold on. Perhaps this is the test I need to elevate my faith to sample just a glimpse of the magnitude of God’s glory.

I’m clinging to Psalm 37:4-5: Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass (NKJV).

If my heart is aligned with God’s ways, and I’m meeting the conditions of these verses, I put my hope in His Word.

I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

(Isaiah 43:19b NLT)

I know the Bible gives many examples of people who were confronted with what seemed like dead ends, like parting the Red Sea, Isaac’s miraculous conception, and the prison doors that opened for Peter; all of these incidents could have easily been mistaken for dead-end circumstances.

Continue or discontinue?

Whenever you are at an impasse trying to decide if you should continue in faith, seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance (see Proverbs 3:5-6). He is the only One who knows if what you’re going through is in His will.

If you are having trouble discerning His promptings, be honest and tell Him you can’t understand what He wants you to do. Tell God you don’t want to make a mistake and give up too soon; however, you don’t want to waste time if He needs you to change tracks.

A faith test or a dead end? Hmmm!

© 2019

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

Farmers do not expect a harvest hours after planting seeds, nor do they dig them up to see if any activity is happening. They know seeds must go through the germination process—the roots first grow downward to establish the underpinnings for the seeds; therefore, the planters do not expect to see any signs of growth for some time.

The same is true when prayers are aligned with God’s will; the believer must not lose faith just because they do not see immediate results. Only our heavenly Father knows why some requests come instantly while others take longer to be answered.

Perhaps the wait is:

• Getting the setting and everybody involved—ready for the answer,
• Developing the fruit of patience—while stretching faith,
• Possibly adjusting the heart and soul somehow—ensuring the spiritual foundation is on point.

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. ¹⁵ And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him (1 John 5:14-15 NKJV).

Faith germinates in the dark.

Whatever His reasons are for the wait, instead of losing hope, receive encouragement from knowing the miracle had already started germinating when Heaven first received the cry for help. Faith germinates in the dark like seeds.

At the right time, I, the LORD, will make it happen (Isaiah 60:22b NLT).

So, the next time you doubt your prayers will be answered, give faith a chance to germinate in Heaven’s secret chamber. However, in the meantime————————prepare for the harvest.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

(Hebrews 11:1 KJV)

© 2023

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith

Don’t let Satan convince you otherwise, but God talks to His children—all of them, with clarity and understanding. However, His mode of communication will vary, including, but not limited to, natural phenomena, gut feelings, peace, wisdom, and audibly on rare occasions, but primarily through His Word. Whatever method of communication is used, God’s children know their Master’s voice.

After he [Jesus] gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. ⁵ They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice (John 10:4-5 NLT).

The problem occurs when believers second-guess their faith and doubt what they heard. Satan loves for us to play the “who said that: me, God, or the devil” game. Once when the enemy had me on that unremitting merry-go-round, God told me to take myself out of the equation and decide if it was Him talking or the devil; taking that approach made it easier to discern.

Input produces output.

A good way to mute Satan’s voice and amplify God’s is through His Word. When we read and study the scriptures, they become embedded in our spirits. It’s gratifying when the Holy Spirit spontaneously reaches into our hearts and brings those verses or even a phrase from a scripture back to our remembrance when needing to hear a word from Him; make no doubt about it—that’s God talking.

• Fear not; I am with you. (Isaiah 41:10)
• The battle belongs to Me. (2 Chronicles 20:17)
• Cast your cares on Me. (1 Peter 5:7)
• No weapon formed against you shall prosper. (Isaiah 54:17)
• Nothing is too hard for Me. (Luke 1:37)
• I’ll never leave you. (Hebrews 13:5)
• My grace is sufficient. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
• If I’m for you, who can be against you? (Romans 8:31)

Learning the Word is an excellent place to start if you want to build your faith to recognize God’s voice. One thing is for sure; Satan isn’t going to soothe your soul with what saith the Lord.

© 2023

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

 

Do you ever think about what it would be like to have supernatural capabilities to stand up against the evils that confront you? Or perhaps you ever wonder what it would be like if you could walk in peace regardless of your circumstances? Or have inside information on dismantling your enemy’s plots?

But, with God on our side, we don’t have to imagine; as believers, we have access to the supernatural realm through the Holy Spirit, our Informant, Comforter, Helper, Advisor, and Standby. He comes to dwell inside each believer at the moment of salvation, empowering us supernaturally—yet, so many live defeated lives—despite all the power within.

Loose the power!

As for me, it’s not enough to know I have the power, just like it’s not enough to know I have a measure of faith if I don’t know how to utilize it to the mastery God wants me to; these divine attributes aren’t mere talking points but vital tools as servants of God.

How unfortunate it would be to allow the power afforded me to remain dormant and restrained by any means. That unsettling inquisitiveness is my motivation to write a blog about faith; writing these posts keeps me aware that I have unleashed powers deposited in me that I must explore.

An informed Christian is one too many for Satan.

The good news is that an informed Christian is one too many for Satan since we can multiply and spread the gospel. Can you picture what the world would be like if most, not even all, children of God would walk in the faith of the Holy Spirit and take their proper stance as more than conquerors?

No wonder the enemy wants to destroy our relationship with the Spirit and deceive us into believing we don’t have what it takes to be used by God. What a contradiction since we can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us (see Philippians 4:13 NKJV).

You got the power—release it to the glory of God!

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence (2 Peter 1:3 NLT).

© 2023

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

We can know of God by listening to people talk and reading what others have written; we can attend church every Sunday, devote our time and talents, and still might only know of Him from a peripheral perspective. But, when we have an encounter with God, for instance, when He walks with us through our trials, we get to know Him personally.

I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes (Job 42:5 NLT).

Job is a perfect example of someone who learned God’s character and ways from a first-hand account after he endured inconceivable hardships. In as far as Job is concerned, you might think you would rather not know the Lord that well if that’s the price tag; nonetheless, we will have tribulations if we know Him or not (see John 16:33), but those who walk with the Lord through those trying times come out stronger and wiser on the other side.

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.

(James 4:8a)

The Holy Spirit wants to have a personal relationship with us, not be a mere distant acquaintance. He wants us to experience Who He is, be our LORD, and be the Savior of our souls. However, it takes more than just wanting such a relationship but having a deep desire that causes us to pursue Him. Psalm 42 tells of a deer that longs for a flowing stream to quench its thirst; that same intensity is how we must seek after the Spirit—holding nothing back.

I’m going through a trial right now, but as the Holy Spirit walks me through, what I’m learning spiritually overshadows the problem. It’s humbling and a privilege to be able to know God personally.

© 2023

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

A little bit of faith can turn this world right-side-up, and Satan knows that. That’s why he has many believers thinking they don’t have enough power on demand to move the “red seas” they face. With that misconception, the enemy can keep them worried about their problems and program them to concentrate only on what they can’t do instead of what God can do with the bit of faith they have.

Think about it; it wasn’t Moses who split that sea for the Israelites to cross; God did that—Moses was only the duct for the power to flow through. As a matter of fact, Moses doubted that he had the wherewithal to do what the LORD was asking.

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exdous 3:11 NKJV)

Even though we can accomplish mind-boggling acts with a little bit of faith, that doesn’t mean we should become satisfied at that rudimentary level and not work to grow our trust in God; what it does mean is we shouldn’t fall prey to the disabling trap that our little faith can’t move mountains.

And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” ⁶ So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you (Luke 17:5-6 NKJV).

If you want king-size faith, continue to work on growing spiritually by spending alone time in God’s presence—listening to what He has to say, reading and studying His Word, praying, and obeying Him.

BUT in the meantime—confound Satan by getting the most out of your little bit of faith.

© 2023

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

 

Since light casts out darkness, God equipped His church to be that beacon of Light the world needs. Therefore, believers should not be shocked or overtaken by this world’s evils but see those times as opportunities to display the Holy Spirit’s brilliance they carry within.

God didn’t give believers a laidback stress-free assignment; that’s why He fortifies His people with everything they need to go into the enemy’s camp and, by faith, be victorious. But, sad to say, too many lights have been compromised and hidden under bushels.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. ¹⁵ 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.

¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:14-16 KJV).

Believers shouldn’t be perplexed as the world about these wicked times.

Believers shouldn’t be awestruck and frozen with fear about these wicked times, for who else can do the job? Unfortunately, the world thinks it has the answers to everything and thinks everyone, including the church, should follow its dark path. However, that’s not how God set it up; it should be the other way around.

Think about this:

• Believers are shielded with God’s armor. (Ephesians 6:11-18)
• Believers have the unparalleled power of the Holy Spirit within them. (John 14:16-17)
• Believers have access to God’s wisdom. (James 1:5)
• Believers know the Truth. (John 8:31-32)
• Believers doing the work of the LORD are surrounded by a heavenly host ready to charge. (Psalm 91:10-12)

I’m sure you get the point about who should be leading the world. And since God has His people stationed worldwide, the earth should be glowing with Light. But, for the most part, the gospel of Light is hidden under bushels, and darkness prevails.

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: ⁴ In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

⁶ For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:3-4, 6 KJV).

Is your light hidden under a bushel?

© 2023

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

Sometimes we think we’re walking by faith, but to be honest, we have a few fallback strategies tucked away—just in case. But then there are those times when we can genuinely say, “Lord, if you don’t, it won’t happen.” That level of dependency humbles us and puts our faith where it belongs—in God’s abilities. Do you think young David relied on five smooth stones when approaching Goliath, a giant Philistine warrior? (1Samuel 17:1-51)

When faith speaks . . .

A lady shared with me a time when she spoke with the same confidence David had when he told Goliath, “The LORD will deliver you into my hands; then I’ll cut your head off.” The woman continued telling me about when she and her four children had no money and were hungry.

Mother: Set the table.

Children: What are we going to eat?

Mother: I don’t know; set the table.

Children: What for? There’s no food.

Mother: Just set the table.

During that exchange, a stranger knocked on the door.

Stranger: Are you the lady of the house?

Mother: Yes.

Stranger: The Lord told me to give you this.

The man handed her an envelope with enough money to feed her and her children for the next few days.

Another true example of when faith spoke was when a minister and his wife had no food or money. One day when dinner time was approaching, his wife started putting three empty pots on the stove.

Minister: What are you doing?

Wife: God will provide.

Not long after the empty pots were on the stove, a chef from an upscale restaurant, who they knew, came to their house unannounced with bags of food already seasoned and ready to be fired up from his overstock: filet mignons, potatoes, and vegetables. The only thing the wife had to do was put the blessings into the three pots and cook.

Total dependency develops faith.

 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

² My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth (Psalm 121:1-2).

© 2023

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

Do you have the courage needed when life’s circumstances demand your faith to walk on the outer edge? Do you have the courage to look foolish to a world full of harsh, judgmental criticisms and still do what thus saith the Lord? In other words, do you have the courage to do faith?

Faith takes courage!

Faith is the means through which God’s immeasurable power is released into our hands. Satan knows that our faith can alter the kingdom of darkness’s agenda. So, of course, it pleases the enemy when we allow him to box us in a state of immobilization. But think about it; nothing is impossible for God—the omnipotent One; therefore, when we walk with Him, expect and be ready to make some bold moves.

They dared to do faith!

For instance, Moses, Jeremiah, and Gideon lacked confidence in themselves but placed their uncertainty in God’s hands and stepped out on faith. However, their trust didn’t happen overnight; they developed a relationship with God—they knew Him; they entrusted their entire being to His care.

• Moses said to God, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here” (Exodus 33:15, NIV).
• Once Gideon was convinced he had heard from God, he told his men, “Get up! The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands” (Judges 7:15 b, NIV).  
• Jeremiah gave God all kinds of excuses for why he couldn’t do what the Lord asked. But he submitted, and God told him, “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you.“ (Jeremiah 1:17a, NIV)

We can see these men had reservations like many of us; nonetheless, they had the courage to do faith.

Do you have the courage to do faith?

© 2023

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.