“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” – Hebrews 10:23
In case y’all have wondered where I’ve been, or if this little blog was done, the reason for the extended absence is in the first part of today’s title: life has been “life’in” at unheard-of levels. It has brought a series of challenges which have had some long-term effects spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. I’m not gonna spill the tea on all that’s happened because 1) that’s my business, and 2) that’s still my business. 😉 Taking a hint from the amazing woman of God that is Jackie Hill Perry, I refuse to focus on the problems that I have encountered because that would be giving them too much airtime and praise instead of focusing on the Lord God who solved every single one of them. It is only fair to you, though, to let you know that I had not forgotten about this blog and its purpose to connect with others around the world and share the way, truth, and life that is Jesus Christ. I have notes scattered about so many different topics and verses to talk about and meditate on, but again, just look at the top:
Life be life’in.
It’s a safe bet to say it’s the same for a lot of us this year. And I firmly believe that the way some of us responded to the enemy’s attempt 3 years ago, i.e., the “Year That Must Not Be Named”, really ticked him off. I believe he was rooting for a 100% rejection of the Lord and has been trying to get his payback as that clearly did not happen. Souls are still being saved, strongholds and generational curses are still being broken, and deliverance is still breaking through for those who have turned away from sin and fixed their eyes on Jesus.
And I have both seen and/or experienced this in the last 11 months, fam. It has been rough, tough, and at times downright ugly. BUT God is still on the clock neither slumbering nor sleeping, and He absolutely made ways out of no ways.
Now I know not all of us who are reading this can say the same. The prayers for healing and deliverance, the cries for change seem to be unheard and ignored. The faith and hope which were laid as part of the foundation inherited by praying parents, grandparents, and favorite aunts/uncles are being so rigorously tested that the temptation to doubt God even cares grow stronger each day. The temptation to be envious of those who received their blessing/miracle/healing/new life faster than us is great, too. And at times it is hard to say “Thank You, Lord” in advance, to praise and worship Him more for Who He is than for His actions.
However, with my personal trek through life’s valleys has come a deeper understanding, fam: praise, worship, obedience and service are what we MUST continue to do. Why?
Because God is still good.
Today’s verse says: “Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful”. The God who gave His only begotten Son – who gave Himself—as a single sacrifice for sins for all time, is faithful, i.e, loyal and steadfast, to His Word, will and way for us. Please understand and receive what God’s faithfulness means:
- He is committed to keep us and never forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8).
- He is resolute to provide our every need (Philippians 4:19) in His time, His way.
- He is dutiful to keep the weapons that have formed against us from prospering (Isaiah 54:17).
- He is constant, right there in our long struggling seasons to help us through them (Psalm 46:1-3).
Every synonym for the word “faithful”, God is that and more. The Bible is stuffed to the gills with verses in song, letter, historical narrative detailing this. He is faithful because He cares; He cares because He is faithful, and because He is good.
The idea that the Lord is not good or that He does not care is a lie straight from the pits of Hell. Remember that Jesus Christ—God the Son—committed no crime and knew no sin, but died a sinful, criminal’s death to save us from sin and eternal separation from the Lord. This is the epitome of how much the Lord cares for you, me, all of us! Jesus died to satisfy the righteous requirement against sin in this world! Of course the Lord hears and cares, especially when life be life’in! With trillions of reasons creation has given contrary, He could have chosen His mind instead of seeing God the Father’s plan all the way to the cross.
But He did it anyway, because He has loved us since the very beginning of all things. And because He is God, and is good, only He could be raised from the dead with all power in His hands, to give to those who would believe in Him as the Son of God the Kingdom power and authority to decree the Good News about Christ, to set the captives free, heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead. Oh, how Satan would love us to forget all about this, to remain stuck on life being hard and what seems like unanswered prayers and petitions!
Here’s the thing about that, though: God hears everything, even the prayers that we hold tight in our hearts. Best believe, man of God/woman of God, that He has heard us and has given a response. We have to position ourselves to hope for it without wavering and be faithful to Him. Because when we do this, we refocus our hearts and minds on our problem-solving, situation-handling, chain-breaking, healing, delivering Lord God Almighty…the God who has been, is, and will always be good even when life ain’t.
Believe the Lord for it, fam. No matter what, believe Him.
Prayer: Lord God, thank You for being good, constant, faithful and true. Thank You for Your presence, power, mercy, forgiveness, and unconditional love that continues to blow my mind. I pray for the person(s) reading this blog who is finding it hard to hold on in a trying season, who have been wondering how much longer, and I ask that You give them a supernatural portion of confidence to endure with joy until their change comes. I pray that You seal the cracks in their faith shield with Your strength as they continue to wait on You. I also pray for the other person reading this entry who doesn’t know You in the pardoning of sins, who feels there is no hope. I ask that You speak to that person now, Lord, in a way they cannot deny is You. I ask that You touch their heart and mind with the truth of Your love, that they may ask “What must I do to be saved?” I ask that You save him/her, Lord, and bring them into right relationship with You. Continue to be with us all, Father. I ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Ask, Seek, Knock 