James 2:26(NLT)
“Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.”
When it comes to the manifestation of what we’ve been believing to receive, there are some key truths contained in the Word of God that can keep us motivated and on the right track. One of them is contained within James 2:26. It’s the good deeds that we must be committed to carry out. God expects us to get busy doing good deeds before we wait, while we wait, and after. Another important element to keeping our believing aligned with faith in God is understanding the solid foundation that He requires us to have in Christ. This is the one that so many of us have overlooked, and we need to change that. Finally, a big key to staying motivated and spiritually prepared is having a very clear vision of what life will be when the manifestation of the blessing finally shows up in your life.
Good deeds
Jesus Christ said in Matthew 5:16(ESV), “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” The only light that you and I have is the light that we have received from Jesus Christ. When we accepted him as our Lord and Savior, his Spirit—the Holy Spirit came to live inside us. The light of Christ is the most brilliant and illuminating of any other in the universe. It shines brightly through the manifestation of his love. This means that our responsibility as children of the Most High is to outwardly demonstrate our inner reality. We have a lively hope in Christ, so we don’t sit around with our hands tucked beneath us. We have to do things that demonstrate our faith in God, because faith without works is dead.
Our good deeds are treasures, the kind that we can lay up in heaven. Many of us that are praying to get married haven’t made the Words of Christ in Matthew 5:16 a reality in our lives. We have yet to recognize the power that God has given us through Christ to do good deeds in the earth. Jesus Christ touched and healed people, and he did so in a way that all the glory went to God. This is an example for us. This is what God requires. So, a lifestyle of Christ means that we must change a few things. We must strike a balance in life where doing good deeds for others isn’t an occasional occurrence but a continual pattern of the way we live.
Solid foundation in Christ
Jesus Christ tells us in Luke 6:48(ESV) about the person who hears his Words and obeys them. He said, “He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.” A weak foundation cannot hold the heft of God’s blessings. If we try to build anything on this weak foundation, the house will not stand. Some of us have been asking God for the blessing of marriage for a very long time, but our foundation still isn’t strong enough to withstand the storms of life.
We shouldn’t think for one second that our desire for marriage and our ability to maintain the blessing will not be tested by the devil. It will be. From the moment we ask for marriage, the devil is plotting against us. God doesn’t leave us alone to fend for ourselves. He tells us in Ephesians 6:10-11(NLT), “10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” We shouldn’t think we can wait until we’re married to put on God’s weaponry. We must armor up now by reading, studying, and hearing as much of God’s Word as we possibly can.
A clear vision
The wisdom of Proverbs 29:18(ESV) tells us, “Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.” This verse very clearly tells us that we need a vision. We need an imagery of what is to come so that we will remain motivated and faithful to God’s statues. Many of us have tried vision boards and other methods to keep us motivated, but it hasn’t proved successful in getting us any closer to the mark. That’s because many of us are trying to visualize receiving the blessing of God, but we haven’t changed. We’re seeing our old selves in the picture, and that’s the old self that God commanded us to strip off.
You see, when we trust God, the evidence of that trust is our obedience to do what He says. He tells us in Ephesians 4:22-24(NLT), “22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God–truly righteous and holy.” Is this the image you have of yourself in your mind? Do you see your new glorious self, Christ-like, clothed in true righteousness, loving, vibrant, and full of God’s holiness? This is the image God has of you. Will you trust God to help you be that vision? God guarantees that when you are sold-out in faith in Him, and loving Him the way He deserves, you will see yourself the way He sees you, and your husband will too.■
English Standard Version (ESV), The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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.
“Will You Trust God?”, written by Kim Times, edited by Fran Mack and K. Stephens for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2023. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!