Over the past few months, I have been reading quite a few books in my spare time. I must admit that I have thoroughly enjoyed being able to curl up with a good book and just read for hours. After all, between working full time and going to school full time, reading for leisure was never really something that I ever had the time to do! A few of the books that I have been reading include: Rich Dad, Poor Dad, By: Robert Kiyosaki; Financial Peace Revisited, By: Dave Ramsey; Praying God's Word, By: Beth Moore; and of course I threw in a murder mystery written by Mary Jane Clark. Each of the above books are written by phenomenal authors who echo a dynamic message!
Nonetheless, out of all of the books that I have read, Beth Moore's book has probably been my favorite. Perhaps I love her book so much because she is so transparent about her walk with God. For example, in chapter two of her book, Beth discusses how "God seems to work in themes in [her] life. [Therefore,] every sermon, morning devotional, and Christian radio program all 'coincidentally' speak to [her] about the same subject for an uncomfortable length of time." Well let me tell you, I can definitely give a fellow sister a big, fat AMEN to that because God is certainly working on a central theme in my life right now! It's the theme of belief.
As many of you all may know, I am currently looking for a job. I began applying for teaching positions back in January for the 2010-2011 school year. So for the past seven months, the re-occurring theme of belief has been popping up in Sunday morning sermons, conversations with friends, daily devotionals, various books that I have read and Christian radio programs. But out of everything that I have heard or read, it was probably chapter two of Beth Moore's book that totally solidified with my spirit. Beth was talking about a time in her life where she felt like the Holy Spirit spoke to her and said, "Beth, I want you to believe Me." She answered, "Lord, of course I believe in You. I've believed in You all my life." She said that the Lord responded back to her very clearly and adamantly by saying, "I didn't ask you to believe in Me. I asked you to believe Me." I have to tell you that once I read that, it sunk into my spirit like a dead weight, and I immediately began crying and repenting. I began thinking to myself....how many times have I simply believed in God, but not believed Him? It's almost like I am trying to put God in a box and be "safe" about my requests to Him; Lord, please forgive me! After all, doesn't Hebrews 4 tell us to come BOLDLY to the throne of our gracious God? I be live that it's about time for me to do that!
I think that one of the coolest things about being a believer in Christ is that even though the enemy may come against us, God has given us EVERYTHING we need to fight back. "[We] have what it takes--[we] have Jesus [who is] the Way, the Truth and the Life. [But it's not enough] to believe in Him! [We] must believe Him! Believe He can do what He says He can do. Believe [we] can do what He says [we] can do. Believe He is who He says He is. And believe [we] are who He says [we] are." If that does not totally rock your world then I don't know what does because it certainly shook mine!
Now here I stand--confronted with a choice and a decision. I can be anxious and worry about whether or not God is going to provide me with a job OR I can believe God is going to do this thing and provide me with a job--not just any job or the first job that comes along, but the job that HE WILLS FOR MY LIFE. My choice: to believe Him and be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, BOLDLY present my requests to God. And even though many may sarcastically say......."Good luck in finding a job," "Take the first job that comes along" or "My friend 'knows' people and she still can't get a job," I am praying and believing that God has a job for me and is going to provide for our family like He said He would. After all, He has provided above and beyond this family's needs throughout the past seven months! So go ahead and believe in Him, but don't forget to believe Him!
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