Hey there. I've got a simple blog post today that I pray will be a conversation starter between you and the Holy Spirit.
One thing I have noticed the most in my faith journey (especially in hardship) is how often the enemy turns God’s periods into question marks. Think about it. How many times have you let seeds of doubt take root when God has made a promise but it’s taking time for it to come to fruition? Or when your gaze is on what you’re seeing making it hard to believe what He has said? The enemy comes in the same way he did with Eve...”did God REALLY say?”
The enemy loves to distort the truth and our understanding of who God is and who we are as His children. Be alert. Check every thought and ask what did GOD say? Not ...how do I feel or what does my human eye see. When God makes a promise, it does NOT return void.
I love how Deuteronomy 7:9 in the Amplified puts it: "Therefore know [without any doubt] and understand that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who is keeping His covenant and His [steadfast] lovingkindness to a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments..." Also a side note: Be cautious regarding the source from which a promise was given. I know this will sound a bit strange, but there have been times in my personal life where I thought the promises I was hearing were God’s but the enemy was planting counterfeit promises in my mind. This would then lead me to incorrect assumptions and expectations about outcomes and how God should show up.
The enemy knows how badly I want certain things and it’s easy to craft my own promises or receive any encouraging word from other people that sounds like a promise AS a promise from God because they are “good” things. Then I dangerously stamp God’s seal of promise on it. Guess what follows? Doubt or entitlement.
This is why it’s more valuable to desire the Promise Keeper and Way Maker Himself than any blessing. When we are focused more on cultivating our relationship with God and desiring Him, we are better able to discern His voice. Whatever you hear or whatever someone else speaks over you...bring it to the Lord and ask “is this from You?” And when it is His voice and His promise, have faith because He is faithful.