Not Walking By Sight!!

We walk by faith, not by sight . . . while we do not look at the things
which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. (2Co. 5:7 and
2Co. 4:18)

Hebrews 11:1-3 says, " Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good
report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by
the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things
which do appear."

Are you walking by faith in your situation. Our God is faithful and
even if things are going contrary, or opposite the way you want, God
will still heal and restore. Remember, God ways are not our ways.

Many refuse to believe their marriage can be restored because they
have not seen anything positive happening in their circumstances. Many
are waiting to see something positive, or hear something positive
before they believe restoration is possible.

Is your faith in God strong enough that you can stand firm even when
God doesn't appear to be working in your life? Or is your faith
dependent on rapid, visible manifestations of His action?

Waiting to believe when you receive is not faith. Faith is believing
God, regardless of the way things look. As Christians, we are to walk
by faith and not by sight. If the circumstances say one thing and
God's Word says another, we must believe God. God does not lie. You
can always depend on Him. He will never let you down. He will always
do what He said He would do. And according to His own Words, we will
receive from Him when we believe Him.

In James chapter 1, the Bible tells us that when we pray we must
believe that God will answer our petitions. In fact, verse 5 says,
"But let him ask in faith with no doubting, for he who doubts is like
a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man
suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord."

When we pray, if we don't believe, we won't receive. The world says,
"I'll believe it when I see it."

Walking by faith is not always easy. Why? Well, it's because we have
become accustomed to walking by sight. When we pray and ask God to
meet a need in our life that is clearly promised in His Word, we must
believe that God has met that need. We must believe that God's Word is
true and that He has actually done what He said He would do.

Jesus said in Mark 11:24, "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you
ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have
them."

Jesus did not say that we are to believe that we have received when we
see positive results. He said that we are to believe that we have
received what we have petitioned, when we pray. That's praying in
faith. We pray, then we believe God so much, we trust His promises so
strongly, that we trust that He has already accomplished our request.
From that point on, once we have prayed in faith, we thank Him for
meeting our need, whether hearing negatives, seeing negatives or
otherwise.

2Cor 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward
man perish, yet the inward [man] is renewed day by day. 17 For our
light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more
exceeding [and] eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the
things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the
things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not
seen [are] eternal.

Quotes about Faith: "Never doubt in the dark what God told you in the
light...Faith wears everyday clothes and proves herself in life's
ordinary situations...Faith grows only in the dark. You've got to
trust God when you can't touch Him...A faith that hasn't been tested
can't be trusted...Faith is to believe what we do not see; and the
reward of this faith is to finally see what we have believed."

Be encouraged

Pastor Doreen

Thanks for the reminder - I needed it!

I just want to add - that the closer you walk with God, the more temptation will be thrown at you. The enemy doesn't like to see us get closer to God - be prepared for loads of doubt, frustration, anger, and anything else he can use to tempt you. He will stop at nothing and use what you love the most. I am speaking from experience - the last few weeks I have been wasting far too much energy fighting those demons instead of fighting for my marriage. Thanks Neicy for pointing this out to me.

As you go through this situation, there are so many ups and downs. Stay focused on God and He will see you through. God is the only one you can trust - even more than yourself. If you give in to the doubts, you do nothing but hurt yourself. It is so exhausting fighting the good fight, but in the end, it will all be worth it.

Stay strong and focused!!