When the word nevertheless is used as a conjunction, it contrasts a previous thought; whatever is happening, it signals a change. Well, spiritually, it indicates a shift in the circumstances. When the adversary comes in like a flood, and hope fades, no matter how things may appear, we can look up and say: Nevertheless, God!

Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You (Jeremiah 32:17 NKJV).

Joseph was thrown into a pit by his brothers, sold as a slave, and then wrongly accused and imprisoned. Nevertheless, God gave him favor. (See Genesis 37-50 for Joseph’s complete account.)

Traces of, nevertheless, God are implied throughout Joseph’s life. That simple phrase empowers us to hold on to our faith and believe what the Word says about the situation. The troubles we face, or the blessings we eagerly await are indicators of our faith’s strength. Do we speak of faith superficially or put it into practice by confidently calling things that are not as though they were?

Whatever might come our way—Nevertheless, God.

• Weapons are formed against me.

Nevertheless,

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17a KJV).

• My foes are coming to harm.

Nevertheless,

He shall cover you with His feathers,

And under His wings you shall take refuge;

His truth shall be your shield and buckler (Psalm 91:4 NJKV).

• I’m afraid it won’t come true.

Nevertheless,

For with God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37 KJV).

• I feel hopeless.

Nevertheless,

For God alone my soul waits in silence and quietly submits to Him,
For my hope is from Him (Psalm 62:5 AMP).

The enemy will whirl his wiles—Nevertheless, God!

 

© 2023

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

A peaceful walk on a brisk autumn day, communing with the Holy Spirit, can work wonders for a weary spirit. Sometimes, we are so preoccupied with the busyness of life that we forget our spirits can feel the effects. That’s not to say we aren’t spending time with the Lord; nonetheless, we must be mindful that the devil purposefully sets up situations to exhaust us emotionally, leaving us more vulnerable to his attacks. Therefore, beware of his antics and protect your spirit at all times.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly (John 10:10 NKJV).

The importance of protecting my spirit came the other day when I felt spiritually rundown. I couldn’t understand why. So, I asked the Holy Spirit, and He gave me the idea to rewind the past 24 hours. As I traced back, I spotted two incidents that left me with a less-than-great attitude.

1. A phone conversation with a friend led to areas that were probably none of my business.
2. An article I read about a celebrity’s controversial checkered life.

I know those don’t sound like earth-shattering exploits, but that’s precisely the point: the enemy is cunning and has studied me long enough to know the best way to come after me is with subtleties; however, if gone unaddressed (which is what he was counting on), those underhanded maneuvers could have turned into something more significant.

In Proverbs 4:23, we are warned to: “Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.” (AMP)

In Luke 6:45, Jesus said good and evil are produced from what is stored in the heart. He left us with peace; however, it’s our responsibility to hold onto it (see John 14:27). Paul instructs us on how that’s done (Philippians 4:8).

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (NKJV)

When you start to feel irritated, check with the Holy Spirit to see if He’s telling you to proceed with caution (because not in every situation you can remove yourself) or if He’s prompting you to change course immediately, or perhaps He’s leading you to step away, calm down, refocus—take a walk with Him and enjoy one of His beautiful autumn days. Ahhh!

Protect your spirit at all times; it’s the most precious possession in your care.

   © 2023

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

 

Our faith becomes diluted when we hold onto a few backup plans—just in case. But trusting the Holy Spirit requires placing our entire being on His sovereignty to uphold and sustain us as He chooses.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV).

Faith requires letting go and trusting God!

The Holy Spirit wants us to depend exclusively on Him. But to do that, we must purposefully invest time in getting to know Him. “How can you trust someone with your heart you hardly know?”

The more we learn about God’s faithfulness and the truth of His love for us, the more we realize He’s our security and provider; our spiritual ears become sensitive to His guidance as we lean on Him for help. However, building trust is ongoing, toughening each time it’s used.

Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,
Whose hope is in the Lord his God,
⁶ Who made heaven and earth,
The sea, and all that is in them; (Psalm 146:5-6 NKJV)

Mark 4 recorded when the disciples encountered a great windstorm on the sea; the waves were overflowing into the ship fiercely. They were frightened and, therefore, woke Jesus, Who was in the stern, sleeping soundly. The disciples said,  “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” (v. 38b) But Jesus said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” (v. 40) NKJV

God is telling His children, I’m with you; trust Me, not the ropes.

Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10 NKJV).

   © 2023

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

The purpose of a scab is to safeguard the wound as it heals. However, scabs can be hard to resist picking off prematurely, and sometimes they fall off accidentally; in such cases, bandages are helpful. But what about protection for our spiritual wounds? Are scabs and bandages provided for those hurts?

He heals the brokenhearted
and bandages their wounds (Psalm 147:3 CSB).

A week ago, I burned my arm on a hot pan; it was only superficial, but it did form a small scab. The Holy Spirit used that crusty casing to teach me a valuable lesson about safeguarding the mind against attacks when waiting for prayers to be answered. Here’s my story:

The other morning, I was elated; I could see the light at the end of the tunnel; the answer to my long-awaited prayer was coming soon. But within the hour, the rejoicing was replaced with gloom and fear. I asked the Holy Spirit what happened. He used my burn incident as a metaphor to explain.

You didn’t safeguard the wound (the prayer request). So, the devil was successful in stealing your praise. Accepting the enemy’s lies, your protective scab (faith) was peeled off. Guard your prayer intentionally, as aggressively as a lioness protects her cubs until it manifests; beware of what you think; you don’t have to ponder every thought that enters your mind, especially when your faith in the matter hasn’t solidified and is open to doubt.

Ways to safeguard the wound:

• Don’t contaminate the wound by concentrating on the hurt.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Philippians 4:8 KJV).

• Stay in the presence of the Lord.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1 NKJV).

• Safeguard the wound from predators.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8 NKJV).

• Purify the wound.

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16 NKJV).

Safeguard your spiritual wounds until they completely heal.

   © 2023

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

 

When facing a million-to-one probability, why can’t you be that one in a million? Usually, when the stakes are that high, your chances are deemed hopeless and futile, but not according to God’s calculations; if you abide in Him, and His words abide in you, the Holy Spirit can laser in and pull you out like a rare diamond from among the masses and position you for a miraculous blessing.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, (Ephesians 3:20 NKJV)

Most of my writings reflect what I’m going through or have been through; writing this blog is one way the Holy Spirit speaks to me. This week’s post came to mind when I thought about the insurmountable odds against what I’m praying for when the Lord said to my spirit, “You could be that one in a million.”

The murkier the circumstances, the brighter His glory shines.

When a child of God places their faith against the grain and trusts Him to deliver on His Word, impossibilities become possibilities; people might count them out, but El Shaddai can flip the script and perform mind-blowing miracles that can mess the human mind up.

Whatever the situation, family, health, financial, job-related, or some other issue, keep your spiritual ears open to hear and do what the Lord says concerning the matter. And as long as He tells you to keep on keeping on, then never give up hope because you might be that one—in a million.

Delight yourself in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

⁵ Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him, and he will act.
⁶ He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
    and your justice as the noonday (Psalm 37:4-6 ESV).

   © 2023

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

God’s “delays” are on time; it might not seem that way to us, but His timing is perfect. Perhaps if we could see all the behind-the-scenes complexities linked to answering prayers, we might take on a different perspective; especially when other people’s lives are entangled.

… “You do not realize now what I am doing, but you will [fully] understand it later.”

(John 13:7 AMP)

But still in all, despite all the complicated intricacies involved, many of us are crying out for a long-awaited prayer to be answered. Even though the wait can be grueling, we shouldn’t become discouraged if our desires are aligned with God’s will and if we’re doing everything He asks us to do to the best of our abilities. Our Lord’s faithfulness will not disappoint.

God’s reasons for not answering our prayers as soon as we wish are numerous, but for now, let’s narrow the scope and consider three: 1. to mature us spiritually, 2. to stretch our faith, and 3. to allow us to learn a few lessons about ourselves.

Delays could be working for us, not against us.

It matures us spiritually-

We are drawn closer to God during trials. We learn more about His character and Who He is. His faithfulness fuels our trust in Him. Our spiritual ears become sensitive to discerning His voice as He leads and guides us. His Word becomes our lifeline as we cling to His promises, and the experiences of trailblazers of the past are invaluable.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV).

It stretches our faith-

As our trust grows in the Lord, we take more steps of faith as He guides us. We are more open to believing that He will perform supernatural acts in our lives.

For with God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37 KJV).

We learn valuable lessons-

The longer we wait for our prayers to be answered, the more time we have to learn about ourselves. Trials have a way of surfacing ungodly attributes that might be lodged in our hearts, such as hate, pride, anger, and jealousy. For example, while waiting, I’ve noticed things about myself; I’m judgmental. This negative characteristic could have stayed hidden if my prayer had been answered sooner.

How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.

 (Psalm 19:12 NLT)

Delays are not denials.

God’s delays are timed perfectly; we may think He’s running late, but He’s not. God is thoroughly overseeing all aspects. The answer might not come as we had in mind, and that’s a good thing; just like His timing differs from ours, His ways and methods are better too. Nevertheless, keep seeking with hope; the answer is on the way.

© 2023

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

After Satan’s blockbuster move at Calvary, he took a victory lap. BUT THEN God made a countermove; He turned what the devil meant for evil into humanity’s greatest opportunity—to be freed from the clutches of sin and death. What was once the enemy’s so-called triumph has contributed to his ruin and damnation. However, that’s not the end of the story; that one countermove of God affects every aspect of our daily lives.

I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death (Revelation 1:18 NKJV).

Don’t believe Satan’s lie that he has the last word over anything concerning the lives of believers; because the God in them is greater than he who is in the world (see 1 John 4:4). The adversary walks about like a roaring lion (see 1 Peter 5:8); the enemy can only get to God’s children as he’s allowed (see Job 1:9-12).

Fact check!

The Holy Spirit already provided us with the countermove for every lie the devil wants us to believe. However, it’s our job to fact-check the enemy, search the scriptures and walk by faith.

For instance:

Lie: God doesn’t love you.                                                                            

Countermove: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16 NKJV).

Lie: You’ve sinned too many times for God to forgive you.

Countermove: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9 KJV).

Lie: You have no power over me.

Countermove: Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you (Luke 10:19 NKJV).

Lie: You’ll never amount to anything.

Countermove: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV).

You get the idea.

   © 2023

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

 

No one is greater than Jehovah El Elyon, the Most High God; who can contest Him? Who can restrain Him, for He soars on the wings of the wind? Who can match His powers, for He hurls and routes lightning bolts? He is the great “I AM,” dependent upon no one. His attributes are incomparable, for He reigns Supreme—causing demons to tremble.

When God made a promise to Abraham, He had to swear to Himself because there was no one greater to swear by (see Hebrews 6:13).

Lord, there is no one like you. You are great; your name is great in power (Jeremiah 10:6 CSB).

No one is greater!

In the book of Job, chapters 38-41, the Lord presented Himself to Job in a whirlwind, interrogating him with a litany of mystifying questions such as: (questions taken from the CSB version)

• Where were you when I established the earth?
• Who fixed its dimensions or stretched a measuring line across it?
• Who put wisdom in the heart or gave the mind understanding?
• Do you know where darkness lives so you can lead it back to its borders?

God revealed His awesomeness through this line of questioning, leaving Job speechless, for there is no one greater.

YET, with all that majestic grandeur, God makes Himself approachable to each of us. He’s a loving Father Who watches over His children. There’s no pit they can fall into that His arms can’t reach and deliver. There’s no demonic grip that He can’t free them from.

There is No One Greater!

See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

   © 2023

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.