Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day (Thursday 9/17/09)

What Are Your Actions Manifesting?

Matthew 8:25-27 (New Living Translation)

²⁵ The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

²⁶ Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.

²⁷ The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”

I remember a time when I was speaking with a woman who was a friend of mine, when I lived in Hawaii. She was relaying to me her story of “supernatural child birth,” (that is birth without pain or drugs to eliminate the pain, totally standing on God’s word). As she spoke I was engaged by the concept of having a child minus the pain, although trying to imagine how that could be after I had experienced 26 ½ hours of labor the first time and 17 hours of labor the second time that ultimately ended in a C-section, was beyond my grasp of reality. I listened to her speak of how she covered herself in prayer throughout her entire pregnancy and spoke life to her body and unborn child, and commanded them to line up in Jesus name, I realized it was her faith that was carrying her, and my heart longed for understanding. As she continued to speak, she began to relay a portion during the course of her labor where she took her eyes off of Jesus and began to allow fear to enter in, she said in an instant all that she had prayed and commanded seemed to have evaporated, but only for a brief moment. When the shock of the second pain hit, she realized the trick of the enemy and how fear had crept in because of her distraction. She began to pray in the spirit and renew her focus on God and she immediately felt relief and only pressure from transitioning stages but absolutely no pain. I thought, as I listened, what an awesome testament to our ability to trust God or not.

Fear is an interesting emotion it will cause us to act out and panic, it will cause us to lose our focus and begin to see and feel things that faith kept us protected and hidden from. It is when we can maintain a focus on who God is and what He said He would do for us in the midst of our storms, trials and adverse situations that gives us the ability to receive rest and peace. When we act out of fear, it always will manifest itself in impatience and anxiety. But when we can have faith and let it take control of our mind, heart and maintain its position of strength in our spirit, it will works to bestow upon us patience, serenity and fortitude. Psalms 37:7 says: “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.” It is when we take our abilities, thoughts and perceptions out of the picture and rely upon God’s that we receive the preciousness of God’s peace, even in the midst of our most trying of times.

Today, let us evaluate our convictions, commitments and confessions. Ask yourself “Who is ultimately in control?” If you are, then you have much to worry about and fear, but if God is, it is then that you have only to believe and watch Him calm every raging sea, correct every wrong and defeat every enemy. Let your words and your actions come into alignment and unity to provide you the ultimate combination and patience and peace!