Mark 11:23-24(NLT)
“I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, may you be lifted up and thrown into the sea, and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. 24 I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.”
Jesus Christ told us that if we say to this mountain, “be lifted up and thrown into the sea”, it will happen. But here’s the thing, you must really believe that it’s going to happen, and you must not have doubt in your heart. Many of us will probably not admit it, but having doubt in our hearts is where we miss the boat. Doubt is a dream killer, and it’s a sneaky thing too. We may think we’re trusting God enough. We think that if we keep begging and repeating the same prayer, after a while, it’s going to happen. And when it doesn’t happen, when the prayer request we desire most doesn’t materialize, many of us lose it!
God doesn’t withhold blessings. He doesn’t punish us, and He never makes a mistake. So, if it’s not God, we have to take a blatantly honest look at ourselves. 2Corinthians 13:5 (NKJV) says, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.” This is really difficult for many women to do. They can’t bring themselves to consider that something they may be doing or something they may NOT be doing is blocking their blessing.
God isn’t telling us to take a good long look in the mirror to place us in self-condemnation. He wants to help us put some corrective measures in place. 2Timothy 3:16 tells us that ALL scripture is God breathed, and is useful to teach us the truth, and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. The scripture corrects us when we’re going off the rails, and it instructs us in God’s righteousness. Whenever you and I have an attitude that’s continually open to correction by God’s Word, it delights the Holy Spirit that dwells within. Our humility gives him permission to help us get rid of the things that are holding us back.
This week, I had a conversation with a woman who for many years has made a habit pattern of doubt, and refuses to admit it. She simply doesn’t trust God’s Word enough, and it is evident by her actions. She told me a female friend of hers recently called her up out of the blue to ask for a picture of her. She thought it was an odd request. It turns out that her friend’s boyfriend has a brother, and she wanted to introduce them to each other. I thought it was a very nice gesture, but as she’s done many times before, this woman immediately began a recitation of what she will and will not accept, and this new guy would have to check off the requirements on her list before she would agree to provide the picture.
Every woman has the right to want what she wants, but when we don’t give our desires to God and allow Jesus Christ to spearhead the process, we’re not on the winning side. We can’t control all the details, and when we make a habit pattern of trying to do this, we make ‘doubt’ our friend and ‘faith’ our enemy. We cut off ourselves from the blessing God wants to introduce into our lives.
Baggage is an equal opportunity employer, and we all have it. We have to recognize this. It’s the only way to move it out of our way. Being flexible and humble when it comes to God’s Will for our lives is a requirement, but some of us are simply too stubborn and arrogant to get out of our own way. This keeps us stuck.
1John 5:14(NLT) tells us, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” Faith requires us to ask according to God’s Will; not our will, but His. He knows what’s best for us. Rather than trying to control the outcomes, we need to simply pray and ask Heavenly Father to keep us in His Will. Romans 8:28 tells us that He causes everything to work together for our good. Yes, sometimes, faith also requires us to step outside our comfort zones, but we’ve got to be willing to squash the habits that keep us stuck, and be obedient to God so that we can move forward in our quest for a successful marital union.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“She’s Made ‘Doubt’ Her Friend and ‘Faith’ Her Enemy”, written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2018. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.