Dancing on the Waves

I'm new to blogging, and don't consider myself an author (so please excuse any spelling or grammar errors). I'm just a Christian woman who wants to glorify God and share His love to all the people I can reach. Lately God has been working with me on faith, and I think He wants me to share what I have learned. So here goes...

God has been stripping away things, lately, that I thought I needed to survive. I was wrong. He has brought me to my knees in prayer and showed me that He is all I need. He has me in a place where I have to rely on Him for everything and he has not failed me. I have been in fear and depression at times, but then I read His word and feel Him telling me, "This is where I want you" (thanks Pastor Jim). And piece by piece he has supplied my needs.

More troubles pop up and hammer at me daily, but I continue to go back to God's promises that He will take care of everything. Sometimes I don't see Him moving on my behalf, but I know that "Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don't see." (Hebrews 11:1), so I go on and hold fast to His word.

Sometimes we go through seasons of pain and fear, so that God can become more real to us. Times when we have to push away the world and draw closer to Him. "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." (James 4:8) I believe He wants us all to do this. It just takes hard times to get some of us to see that.

We are living in hard times and we need to build up our faith, and dig into God's word and find the promises He has for us. But how do we build up our faith? Well let's go through somethings I learned from our Pastor this last week:

1) Overcome your fear with the word of God, "Don't fear, because I am with you; don't be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will surely help you; I will hold you with my righteous strong hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

2) Stand firm in your walk with God. "Those who stand firm during testing are blessed. They are tried and true. They will receive the life God has promised to those who love him as their reward." (James 1:12)

3) Be still in your spirit; blocking out fear and anxiety and just resting in the knowledge that He is in control. "Be still before the Lord, and wait for Him". (Psalms 37: 7)

4) Rest in God's protection. "In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For you alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety". (Psalms 4:8)

God wants us to grow in our faith and become stronger believers--true believers that can weather the storm with Him and not sink as Peter did when he was on the water with Jesus. "But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, 'Lord, save me!' Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him and said to him, ' You of little faith, why did you doubt?' " (Matthew 14: 30-31) Don't bind God's miracles with your doubts and fears, just walk out on to that water with Jesus and "Dance on the waves"! ("Dancing on the Waves" by We The Kingdom).