Having an Attitude of Faith for Favor

A bright pink paper was fastened to our door.  It was from the sheriff's office. 

Immediately my mind tried to take me on a journey that faith would not follow. 

My husband went to the station to retrieve the letter, but they wouldn’t release it to him.  It had my name on it and I would have to go get it myself.

By the time I learned that there was a pending letter for me it was late, and I would have to wait until Thursday to find out what it was.  I can tell you that the faith walk never takes a rest, and in order for me to get through the night I would have to stay in an attitude of faith and not waver if I was to receive any favor from the Lord.  In other words, I had to believe what James 1:6-8 says by acting on it.

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man (or woman) think they will receive anything from the Lord.  A double minded person is unstable in all their ways.
                                                 

How do you view life when the unexpected comes knocking?

When you see things like God sees things, it’s the spirit of faith ruling your life and you will do things differently.  You will see things as “all things possible”, not “Oh my, that looks impossible.”

All things are possible with God.  Do you believe it?  You may say yes, but don’t really believe it for yourself.  Sometimes I find it much easier to believe for others than I do for myself.  The Bible says that “all things are possible to those that believe.” (Mark 9:23) That means believing for myself as well as for others, that God is going to show Himself mightily in this situation.

The spirit of faith speaks what it believes.

The Word of God tells us that "our light affliction" works for us. (2 Corinthians 4:17)  God’s favor will come on those who operate in a spirit of faith.  He will take what the devil slings at us and make it work for us and not against us.

We need to say, God is going to strengthen me with all this. I know it’s light and isn’t going to last; this is temporal.  If we realize that, we cannot lose or be beaten.  We will live as a winner, the way God sees us.

The problem I was facing wasn’t wondering what the papers were (good or bad), but having difficulty guarding my heart to what the devil was trying to sell me. 

Solomon gave us a scripture that should help us recognize an attack on our faith from Proverbs 4:20-23 in the Amplified Bible.

 

My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings. Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart.  For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh.  Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flows the springs of life.

 

 Why do we need to guard our hearts? 

 

We need to keep and guard our heart against the things of this world and the devil.  It makes good sense that if we are blessed from within to the outward man that we need to work on guarding our “innards”. 

Look at it like this.  Do you lock your doors?  Where do you keep your money?  Under lock and key, guarding them, right?  We guard what is valuable.  The most important thing of value we need to guard is our heart. It is vulnerable and satan knows it.  If we think on the wrong things, our faith (heart) to trust in the things of God won’t be visible or in effect.  We become a target.

Let me remind you ...

Time after time in the Bible we see how God showed favor to those who believed Him and followed His Word.  Joseph, Moses, Caleb and Joshua to name a few. These people kept an attitude of faith when others caved in to the circumstances.  Do you remember what Caleb said when he came back with a report to Moses? 

God had promised a land flowing with milk and honey to the Israelites.  When they came to a certain place it was overrun by the enemy.  They would have to conquer the land and take possession of it by force.  Moses sent 12 spies in to take a look at what they were up against.  Only Caleb and Joshua had a report that pleased God.  This is told to us in the book of Numbers 13:17-33.

Caleb said let’s go take the land, but the others thought he was nuts. The attitude of faith spoke “we are able to take the land,” while the others felt they weren’t able to overcome.  He remembered how great the Lord had been to them. Even though the Israelites all witnessed the abundance, they saw themselves as small and powerless.  You have to realize that there were thousands and thousands of Israelites, plus they had a record of winning battles.  God showed them He was more powerful than anything or anyone, but they still saw themselves as small and able to be whipped.  How do you see yourself?  Small and powerless or great and full of the power of God.

The devil was able to get to their mind making them believe they would fail, even though they had been successful.  In your life, you are in control of what you believe, not God.  He has given you the power through Jesus Christ to guard your heart and life, so you can experience victory.  “I have given you power” Jesus said in Luke 10:19.  Now we have to cooperate with God in order to gain the victory, but without faith God has nothing to work with.

Let’s say it together: We are able!

Only three people believed “we are able” Caleb, Joshua and Moses.  The majority was wrong!  Hey, God and you are a majority. The Israelites quit on God.  Will you?

I’m not going to pick up on the talk that is going on in the world, no matter how it looks.   Stop following the headlines, turn off the radio or television, put down the paper and guard your heart with an “I can” attitude.  People will think you’re not living in reality, but in fact, you are living in spiritual reality.  What’s happening in this world is not a reality in God’s world, so why take part in fantasy?

Even though we have things come against us, remind yourself that this too will pass.  Storms come, but they also go. Some leave damage and others just pose as being dangerous.  You need to have the faith to identify which kind of storm it is, how to wait it out, and where to turn when it is over so you don’t enter back into the storm.

Pilots know how to ride above a storm.  With God we can do the same.  When God gives us clearance to move forward then we can go safely.  The Israelites were in a holding pattern for 40 years because of unbelief.

Refuse to take on board the lies of the devil and talk of unbelief.  Only those who believe will see the blessing. 

 

Remember what happened to all those who didn’t believe God in the wilderness?  Only Joshua and Caleb were left out of all the adults who first left Egypt.  Even though they were delayed, they saw the promise.  They were the only ones who maintained an attitude of faith.

No matter what you have done in the past or what others try to do in discouraging you, maintain the attitude of faith so God can give you the favor.  There are even Christian’s that will try to talk you out of your faith and tell you to get real and see what’s going on around you.  There are some preachers that get me so discouraged that I can’t watch them. Matthew 7 says we’ll be known by our fruit, and faith is part of that fruit. If people can recognize you’re not a faith person, be sure God knows it.

 

I asked the Lord ...

On July 24th, 2013 I received a Word from the Lord about something that I kept praying for concerning the lack of strength and energy. He simply reminded me what my down fall had been. 

I was looking for strength and energy when what I was missing was my joy (or should I say God's joy).

 

Nehemiah 8:10 says the joy of the Lord is my strength. Duh!  I knew that!  But still began struggling with it over a paper I had yet to see.  Without joy we are weak.  I refused to give in to weakness over the unknown, and went to bed encouraging myself in the Lord as David did.  Over and over I reminded myself that I will believe a good report, the Lord only has good things in store for me ...

Those who are living in peace in spite of all that is happening are the ones who will inherit the things of God.  We aren’t to try and figure everything out, but to believe and stay in peace.  That's what I did.

Quit the blame game, stop looking for answers you can’t find and believe God even if your stomach is in butterflies.  Eventually, they’ll leave.  Expect things to change.  Since God doesn’t change, the circumstance has to and your faith will take you to levels you never knew.  The devil can’t take what you haven’t given him permission to take.  Don't give up your peace, joy or faith.

So what happened?

I didn’t know how God was going to turn things around, but I knew He could, so I have to act like it has already happened.  I chose to maintain an attitude of faith.

Wednesday night I went to bed confessing that God is working this out for my good.  I will not fear, I will hold on to my peace.  (You may need to do this also.)   Thursday came and the devil didn’t have victory.  If I gave into the fear and doubt I wouldn’t have seen God move. 

The whole thing turned out only to be estate legal papers my family wanted me to have, and the lawyer sent them to the sheriff's station for delivery.  Devil, you are such a liar!

  

Only you can maintain your attitude of faith.

If you need to change the people you eat lunch with, turn the dial on the radio, and walk away from naysayers then do it.  They’ll talk you out of your favor and faith if you let them.  Remind yourself that you are the one who has something to lose if you give up on your faith to believe God will deliver as He promised.

Ask yourself this question … "If I believe, why am I worrying?” Worry isn’t belief. Stay in peace, joy and follow after righteousness until you come into the favor God promised. Rise up, believe and enjoy the journey.

 

Thought to take away:  Great is the Lord!  Don't let your mind (thought life) take you to places your faith cannot follow.  Believe God is able to do more than we ask or think .. He Is God, Almighty!  Now sing it with me!

 

Great is the Lord!

 

  Daily Favor Requires Daily Faith

 

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Scripture reference was taken from the New King James Bible Version provide by Gateway Bible

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