Remember Who He Is and What He Has Done

Last weekend I used my holiday weekend to conquer the tedious task of cleaning out my girls' closets and drawers. I always hate the task, not because it is a chore but because it makes my heart hurt a little bit to pack up clothes that they have so quickly outgrown.

As I folded up each item of clothing my mind would flash back to memories with them wearing the outfit.  Although remembering can be painful at times, there is greater purpose involved.

After all, the Bible commands us to remember at least 148 times. But what is it we should remember?

“But then I recall all you have done, O LORD; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.”

-Psalm 77:11 NLT

My oldest daughter, now nearly 4 years old, was an underweight infant, and as a new mom I was overly bothered by that. I would stress and stew over whether or not she was nursing enough.  Each time I would bring her to the doctor or the nursing center for a weight check I would pray, "Lord, please make her grow."  As I placed the lid on the box of 3t clothes she sprouted right out of I remembered how faithful God was to take care of my baby and calm the nerves of an anxious new mommy.

My youngest daughter had us praying for her life in ICU units on two separate occasions.  I recalled the day in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit that I was told that she would be delayed and would not likely develop as a normal child. When I folded up her mud stained clothes, the images of her splashing outside in the mud brought a smile to my face and a glow to my heart. "That's our God!" I thought to myself. 

You see, when we remember what God has done, we remember who He is. When we remember who He was in the past, our faith is strengthened for today. We can be certain that He is powerful, capable, loving and good because He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Might I challenge you today to stop and remember?  Take just a moment to look back over your shoulder at what God has done for you. Then, with the reminder of who He is in the forefront of your mind, you will have all you need to face the day in faith.

 

Father God, You have done so many wonderful things that the Bible says if we were to list them all, the world would be filled with books.  And that’s not even including all the details of your marvelous ways in my life.  My faith is strengthened when I think of all you have done.  Please help me to stop and remember who you are today so that I may walk forward with an unshakable faith that you are who you say you are.  Thank you, Lord, for your miracles and wondrous deeds.  I love you.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

3 Steps to Choosing Faith Instead of Fear

I came home from work the other day to a story from my three year old about how she was playing outside and fell and got a fat lip.  Then, when she smiled an adorable little smile I realized the fall caused much more than a fat lip.  Her two front teeth were damaged as well.  

In a panic, I called the dentist and he told me since it had happened earlier in the day it was too late to move the teeth back into place.  Instead, I would have to take her to see a pediatric dentist the next day and have them gas her and move the teeth back into place by force.  

My heart sank at the thought of how painful that would be for her.  All evening, my mind raced with endless worries regarding this situation…

She would be starting school in a few weeks.  What if they can’t fix her teeth and kids      make fun of her? 

            

 What if her permanent teeth are damaged? 

          

What kind of pain is she going to be in?

             

What if my husband forgot to add the kids to the dental plan and we have to pay for all   of this out of pocket? How much will it cost?

It didn’t take long for Skylar to see right through me.  Every time she smiled at me with her front tooth sticking out awkwardly between her lips, she would ask me, “Mommy, why are you looking at me like that?”  Oops, I guess I wasn’t hiding my fear at all.  At that moment I had a choice to make.  Was I going to be a model of faith or fear?

 

Heartfelt prayers for my daughters to develop an unshakable faith have been at the top of my prayer list lately, and at that moment, staring at the crossroads between faith and fear, I knew that choosing faith would lead Skylar down the road of developing faith.  

We are all faced with this choice daily.  There are scary things happening all around us, and the world is watching.  What will we model?  Faith or fear?  

That day, as I turned my back to fear and walked the path of faith, I learned that modeling faith is as easy as choosing to replace the what ifs with three simple steps.  

1.      Pray!

Once I had resolved to walk the path of faith, I started praying. We prayed as a family with Skylar and asked Jesus to go before her into the dentist and to take care of every detail.   We can run to Jesus with all the what ifs, fears, and concerns.  I believe that, and I want my kids to believe that as much as I do!

2.      Take God at His word and proclaim it.

The morning of Skylar’s appointment God led me to Deuteronomy 33:27 which says, “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”  As we drove to the dentist office, I started proclaiming that verse out loud so that Skylar could hear me, and I believed that He would be holding her the whole time.  Picturing our loved ones in the arms of the Everlasting leaves no room for fear!

3.      Walk it out.

As we pulled into the dentist office I put on my brave smile, grabbed my girl by the hand and led her into the dentist office in full faith that Jesus had this all under control.  The coolest thing about it, aside from the fact that He did in fact have it all under control, was that I witnessed Skylar walking in strength, courage, and, most of all, faith.  Faith is contagious.

Are you at a crossroad between faith and fear today? If so, I challenge you to turn your back to fear, and take those three simple steps to modeling faith.  I can tell you the path to faith will take you a lot further than fear will.  Fear ends in a dead end.  Choose faith!

How to Exercise Your Authority in Christ

^“ Elisha then traveled north to Bethel retracing his last steps with Elijah. On his way there, a large group of young boys came out of the city and began making fun of him: “Keep going, baldy! Keep going, baldy!” ²⁴ When Elisha looked back at them, he spoke against them by the authority of the Eternal. Almost immediately, 2 female bears walked out of the forest and ripped up 42 of the young boys.”

2 Kings 2:23-24

Today as I read 2 Kings 1 and 2, my soul found rest in a God who has our backs.  In 2 Kings 1 we see Elijah speaking fire from Heaven to demolish the troops who came to arrest them.  All he had to do was speak his God-given authority and bam! Problem solved. 

Here in 2 Kings 2, Elisha is being mocked and teased by a group of bullies.  He too speaks against them by the authority of the Eternal, and almost immediately two bears come and take care of it.  Again, bam! Problem solved. 

As I read this I found myself thinking, “Why doesn’t God work that way anymore?  I would love to be able to speak fire from Heaven against those who oppose me.  Wouldn’t that be awesome?!  And bears for bullies?  That would sure make sending Skylar to school for the first time a lot easier.  Kids these days can be so mean.”

Before I could even completely finish that thought I heard God whisper to my soul, “I am the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  What makes you think I don’t work that way anymore?” 

I responded, “Wow, God. You are right.  You are the same God who sent fire down from Heaven and bears out of the forest.  You had Elijah’s back, you had Elisha’s back, and I know you have my back.  I have seen it.”

Instantly examples of God having my back came to mind.  He reminded me of all the times He has answered my prayers and taken care of me and my family.  I had the feeling that He wasn’t done speaking yet, so I quieted my heart and leaned in a little closer. 

“You long to speak with the same God-given authority as Elijah and Elisha, to speak against the opposition in your life like they did.  Stacie, it is yours.  Proclaim my promises!  Instead of carrying around these fears of yours, speak the authority of my word against them.  When doubts rise up, speak in the authority of me, the Eternal God.  Cry out to me as Elijah did, and though you may or may not see fire from Heaven, you will see my hand at work on your behalf.  Stop fearing and speak my truth!”

What do you need to exercise your authority against today?  Are fears creeping into your heart? Doubts rising up and clouding your vision? 

Don’t spend another day being bullied by those doubts and fears.  

Take hold of the authority given to us through Christ Jesus—authority over the power of the enemy. 

Authority to speak His promises, take hold of faith and walk on in victory.   

Have a faith-filled, victorious day today!