Growing in the Lord

Brothers and sisters in Christ,


I am so excited to be writing to you. I was reminded this morning that our faith comes through hearing. Hearing what? Hearing the word of God, prayers and hymns that uplift and glorify His name, testimonies that resonate of His glory and studies which illuminate . It brings balm to the hurting, salt to the saints.. The Word of God becomes a living spring in our hearts.
It is what we store up in our heart that comes out of our lips. So, be weary of what you hear. Test those spirits that come with words of defeat. Defeat the enemy with the sword of truth which is a double edged sword. This sword is the word of God. It is double-sided as sometimes it heals while sometimes it convicts us to our very being. But, it is always out of love, for God is love. He is continuously trying to bring us into a deeper relationship with Him. He is out of love continuously healing, refining and restoring us. He wants what is our best and only He can do this as only He can see past, present and future at once. Only He knows why we are created and to what purpose our unique talents and gifts were meant for. We standing on faith when we know, despite our circumstances, that God does know what is best for us and is working for our best. Faith requires trust.
Trust comes through experience that He has our best in mind and not giving up on Him as He does not give up on us. Reminding ourselves that in good times and bad times, the Lord gives and the Lord takes and through it all, Blessed be the Name of the Lord. Trust requires understanding what God is doing.

The beginning of understanding is fear of the Lord. When we fear the Lord more than our circumstances, then God is ready to show you His power in your life and in your circumstances. It requires us to Hear that He is in control and sovereign. It requires us in our heart to trust him even when our flesh is shaking like a leaf. It requires us to know Him and we only know Him by spending time with Him.

Children, how blessed we are to have a Father that loves us so much that He is always looking out for us and waiting for us to bring us into a right relationship with Him. He isn't asking for slaves of obligation but slaves of joy. When we understand that through this relationship we are set free and begin to experience grace rather than oppression of obligation (and law), then we truly will be filled with the Joy of the LORD which is our strength.
God be praised!