Fantastic Friday #1021 - Doubt

 Doubt

 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. James 1:5-8

Do we doubt for any good reason?  Many of us allow doubt to creep into our lives because we are struggling and the answer is not readily available for us. Let’s look more closely at why this doubt creeps into our situation. A lot of times doubt comes because we don’t think God cares about what we are asking for, or maybe it is not coming fast enough. God also allows us to stay in our situation because He is not ready for us to receive an answer or we probably need to work on our faith in God and His provision. Does having doubt produce more faith? Probably not, because our faith comes from seeing what God has done for all His creation and us as well, so having doubt is going to do nothing but cause us heartache and pain as we fail to see that God is there to help us. Take a moment to remember God’s faithfulness and remove the doubt from our mind. 

Have a great weekend. 

Matt 

Fantastic Friday #1020 - Thanks

Thanks

1 I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
2 I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:1-2

One of my most favorite times of the year is our American Thanksgiving holiday. We have developed quite a number of traditions with this period with our family, and even now that our family has grown, we still practice those same traditions. The reason I like the holiday of Thanksgiving is because it truly gives us a time to pause and offer thanks for what we have. I also think that it ushers in that Christmas season of thanks for Jesus' birth, and these are all good focal points for us to have. However, what happens during the rest of the year, are we as thankful during those periods as we are during these holiday times? The best way to be thankful all year round is to pause in our daily prayers to offer thanks for who we are, what we have, and how God has always been there. I know we can get in a rush at times, but there is nothing more favorable than thanking God for His provision and gifts. I know I am extra grateful for many things this year, and will continue to work on showing my thankfulness every day. If we can remember to focus on gratefulness, our spirits will be lifted and we won't allow the enemy to hit us with negative thoughts.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #1019 - Compare

Compare

4 Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud,to those who turn aside to false gods.
5 Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare. Psalm 40:4-5

18 Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.” Luke 13:18-19


Do you look around and find people comparing themselves to other people, what the others have that the you don't? There is something really dangerous when we start comparing ourselves with other people. If you think about it, God made us specifically for the time and place we are in during our lives. Now, there is freedom to make decisions that may better our lives or the reverse could worsen our lives, but still the same God planted us where we are today according to His plan. When we start comparing, this can invalidate what God wants for us. This could be as simple as the impact on others and how He wants us to see His action in our lives. So, as we look at comparison, how about we look at trying to achieve a righteous life that honors God, be thoughtful of the blessings we have and thank God for them every day. The deeper we start to compare with others is only a road to destruction and pain, and will only drive us further away from our Lord and Savior. Just like God compared the Kingdom of God to something we cannot fathom, there is no comparison to His love and care for us.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #1018 - Faithful

Faithful

9 I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.
10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth. Psalm 57:9-11


Why do we doubt the faithfulness of our God? Over and over we pray for God to intervene, to protect, to heal and to be the center of our lives, but in the middle of the trial and hardship we doubt. God loves us, and this scripture shows how great His love is for us and we need to realize this. God is a healer that comes in great times of need and provides protection and healing when hope is limited and the enemy creates negativity. Two things we need to remember, God is our Father who loves us and we should not doubt. God is Faithful.

Have a great weekend.

Matt