FAITH OR FEELINGS

Acts 20:1-2 NLT When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them … While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through …

When the uproar was over - did you notice that phrase? We all go through uproars in our lives from time to time and they can make us feel depleted or exhausted. It’s at that point we need our faith encouraging and Paul was very aware of the need, so he encouraged believers wherever he went.

It’s great if we have somebody who can encourage us personally, but what about when there’s nobody there to do it. What then? Are we going to go by our faith or our feelings? We have to do like King David and encourage ourselves in the Lord. We can remind ourselves of the many times He has come through for us in the past and how faithful our God is to us, how His Word, His promises stand forever into eternity. We have to not dwell on the circumstances, but look to our God.

If we’re wise we’ll speak His promises over our lives even if circumstances say to the contrary!😊 You see, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. In other words, what we hear coming out of our mouths is what we will believe. When we speak negatively we believe for the worst. When we speak the word of God our hope will arise, our expectations will increase and the joy of the Lord will bubble up inside us once again.

Let’s not rehearse the problem over and over again, all the bad stuff that has happened or is happening, but let’s rehearse the goodness of our God, how He has promised to never abandon us or leave us without support. Let’s encourage each other to believe for the best and not for the worst because our God is a miracle worker, He does the impossible every day and He has promised to turn our circumstances round for the good of those who love the Lord, who are called according to His purposes. That is a promise for us if we trust in Jesus!

Listen! We’re on the victory side, so let me encourage you today to know that God is for you and not against you, and with Him on our side we shall speak to our mountain, be Overcomers who go the extra mile, do whatever it takes. He’s with us in it and we are more than conquerors through Christ who saves us. Be encouraged! 

Join with me and lift up your head and declare, “Christ is strengthening me and I’m on the winning side.” In Jesus name. Amen.😊

Photo by Gloria Medlin on Unsplash