…Begin with Faith!!

Mark 11:22-24 KJV

“And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

The idea of positive affirmations is rooted in faith. The biblical foundation of speaking our world into existence – the power of life and death being in our tongue. Creating our world – speaking the things we want to be, to receive, or achieve, by faith. We don’t yet have them, but we trust God to receive them by faith.

Additionally, positive affirmations are also self motivational tools. They encourage us to think big, to push limits, to feel that nothing is impossible.

Having said that, it is important to understand the power of our words and the way we think.

Matthew 11:22 starts by laying the foundation- Have Faith in God! Without this key component, no matter how positive you talk you will never reach the full level God has for those who trust in him. Hebrews 11:6 tells us without faith it is impossible to please God. Romans 14:23 tells us whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Gos is so faithful that he has given every man (woman and child) a measure of faith (Romans 12:3).

We must have faith in God!

Once our faith in God is settled, we can then speak to the mountains in our life. This is where those positive affirmations come in. Or as I prefer to call it speaking by faith the word of God to our situations. Here’s the key – we must not doubt.

It is impossible to walk in faith and doubt God’s ability and willingness to do what his word says. We must understand that God is not like man, he does not – he cannot lie! If he said it, he will bring it to pass. We must trust this! We must bind every thought to the contrary right away. Not ever allowing them to take root. This is why the first step was to have faith in God. We have to truly believe the things that we are speaking!

By doing this, we shall have whatever it is we ask of God.

The promise of God is in that last verse “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

So yes, make those positive affirmations in faith daily. Have faith in God, and stand boldly on the word of God. Trust and not doubt. And you shall have the very thing you speak!

Have a blessed day.

Psalms 25:10, “All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies”

I like definitions because they provide a more complete understanding of words we use frequently. Sometimes we get a definition in mind and we tie it to a word, regardless of the speaker’s intentions. Looking at the full definition can provide a different perspective on a conversation or text.

Some quick definitions:

Path: the course or direction in which a person or thing is moving.

Mercy: the Bible defines mercy as forgiveness or withholding punishment. Webster defines mercy as compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.

Truth: that which is true or in accordance with fact or reality. The Bible defines truth as this: God is truth!

Covenant: A covenant is a relationship between two partners who make binding promises to each other and work together to reach a common goal. They’re often accompanied by oaths, signs, and ceremonies. Covenants define obligations and commitments, but they are different from a contract because they are relational and personal.

Testimonies: evidence or proof provided by the existence or appearance of something.

I appreciate God so much!! In Jeremiah 29:11, we see that God has a plan or us and he intends to bring them to pass. Our covenant with him is that we will keep his commandments and share his testimony with others. We cannot be afraid or stingy is spreading the gospel (or Good New) of Jesus.

This covenant has inherent responsibilities and blessings. God sets us on a path that leads to him. As we walk this path he has laid out for us, we receive his mercy. But we must also be merciful to others. We receive his truth – his holy word. We must also share his truth to all.

Our walk with God is all about relationship. It is personal. It is just between God and the individual. However, the fruit that the relationship produces is a blessing to all who come into contact with it.

It is a blessing to know him. So much so that we cannot keep silent. The God dwelling on the inside compels us to share his testimonies. His is good and has been good to us – we much share what he has done. We must share that goodness. We give of ourselves (time, money, gifts and calling) to all who need, but as the Lord directs us.

One other definition I would like to share is keep. The dictionary defines keep as to have or retain possession of. In the Bible, Keep means to “guard,” “preserve,” “be faithful to,” and “maintain.”

To reap the benefits of this promise, we as believers MUST walk is this requirement. We must guard the word – hide it in our hearts. We must preserve it by sharing it freely, starting in our own home, then go outward. We must be faithful to what it says, what it requires. And finally, we must maintain. Ephesians 6:13-14, reminds us: having done all, to stand.

It is a blessing to know… that you can stand! God strengthens us to stand. We must take full advantage of every tool he provides to us for our victory.

Have a blessed day and stand!!