Are you feeling ready to walk away from a relationship – are you possibly even considering divorce? We want to pray for you.

“I needed to hear that”, Kelly said with a catch in her voice. The layoff notice had come as a complete surprise. Anger and panic had welled up within her.
Sue had listened to her vent. Then she had spoken quietly and gently reminded Kelly that God knew of this turn of events. He would direct her through the unknown path. He could be counted on to guide her. He would give her wisdom. Kelly’s heart was comforted and strengthened. She was encouraged to go on and her heart softened at the reminder of God’s care.

God’s Word alerts us that in difficult times our hearts can go astray. They can become hardened and turn away from God.

We all know that wondering of “Where is God?” when something significant does not go as we had hoped or planned and life seems to tumble around us.

We live in a world that acknowledges God less and less. Often the choices of others affect us in hard ways. Politics at work, relationships with those we care about, finances, even health issues. We can feel alone and our faith can feel slippery as we walk.

When clouds gather in our lives we can begin to allow unbelief into our hearts. It’s very subtle and slips in. We pray less and our Bible sits unopened more. When we don’t understand God, unbelief creeps in. It can harden our hearts to the point where we tune out God even when He speaks to us. We can find rebellion creeping up on us if we are not monitoring our hearts. Listen to God’s words to us…

“See to it brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:13).

God knows the tendency of our hearts toward unbelief. That’s why He counsels us in these matters. We need to be aware of keeping our hearts soft. God’s call to “Encourage one another daily…” helps build a reservoir within our own hearts … it helps keep our hearts soft.

It is easy to be deceived into thinking God doesn’t have our best interest at heart, especially when things don’t go well. We need to guard our hearts against unbelief and rebellion and know that, in those tough places, He is there to guide us through and teach us.

When you feel unbelief slipping into your soul and find rebellion nibbling around the edges of your heart, seek out spiritual encouragement. Walk and talk with a friend and be honest in sharing your need of prayer. Do a Bible study on a topic that grabs at your heart. Choose to spend some time with God and cry out to him from the depths of your soul telling Him all the things in your heart. Choose to turn toward Him. God will encourage you even when people aren’t there to. Choose to draw near to Him and ask Him to help your unbelief.

When we receive encouragement in our soul from God, we are then in a position to give encouragement. You cannot offer something you don’t possess.

Then, when you hear despair in the lives of those around you or in the emails of those writing to you, you will be equipped to encourage them with words from Scripture, or a gentle reminder of God’s everlasting love even when the road ahead is obscured.

It’s an amazing circle. Daily speaking of God’s care will not only encourage others and bring comfort, strength and hope…it will also encourage you and help keep your own heart soft and your faith strong.

It’s an amazing circle…”He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” ( Proverbs 11:25).

Pay attention to God’s warning against unbelief. Our faith in Jesus is our most valued treasure. If you loose it there is nothing of true value left. Guard against an unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. Turn to Him and ask Him to speak to you. Watch for those whose hearts are turning away and ask God to give you encouragement to share. It will build you up as you do.

Father God, I know the tendency of my own heart to grow hard around the edges with unbelief and even rebellion at times. I choose to draw near to You and ask that You would encourage my heart and help my unbelief. I need You to refresh my inner being and give me strength.

Encourage me through Your Word. Give me a greater desire to read it and to pour my heart out to you. Give me people in my life who will share with me the encouragement they receive from You. Help me to encourage others whose hearts are growing hard in difficult times. Daily be my source in everything I pray, in the name of Jesus, amen.

Questions: How does unbelief and rebellion start to take root in ones life?  How can you be ever ready to help those that are in despair around you?

How to trust God

^“He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”)”. (Mark 5:41)

In Mark, Chapter 5, Jesus is met by Jarius, “one of the rulers of the synagogue”, whose daughter was sick.  On the way to Jarius, Jesus deals with many life issues…sickness, financial loss, loneliness, and separation.  Then Jarius receives a report:  ““Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” (Mark 5:35).  In other words, it’s too late…it’s final…and nothing can be done now.

“As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken”, He responded immediately, “Be not afraid, only believe”.  His response was immediate…to stop fear in its tracks.  Fear is the opposite of faith.  We can’t allow fear to take root, even when the situation looks dead (hopeless).  We are called as believers to believe.  “Only” leaves no room for anything else…just believe!  “Everything is possible for one who believes.” (Mark 9:23).

Jesus arrives at the house, where they “wept and wailed greatly” Jesus’ response to those in the house was, “the damsel is not dead, but sleeping”.  What may look dead to you or others perhaps, in God’s eyes, is a resting place…a place where we have to wait upon the Lord because all else has failed (Psalm 27:14).  They responded by “laughing Him to scorn” (open dislike or disrespect).  When hope came in the door, they rejected it.

But when Jesus heard them, He “put them all out”.  We have to put out the voices of unbelief, (whether it’s from the enemy, people, or even ourselves), and keep our minds on what God says.

After He put them all out, He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). There are circumstances and situations in the natural that seem dead and hopeless.  We may find ourselves saying, “How can I arise? Everything is dead in me.  There’s nothing left.”   That’s where God’s hand come in.  He doesn’t just leave it to you.

Like the damsel received the touch of the Master and arose and walked, receive His touch.  His hand is stretched forth “even now”.  Let Him heal you and revive you.  Then walk towards your destiny.  Walk through the pain.  Walk about all the people who laughed and said you were never going to make it.  Those very same people will be “astonished and amazed” at what God is doing in your life.

TALITHA KOUM!  Daughter, I say unto you, arise!

Question: Where can God bring freedom and hope to your life today?

What are you praising God for today? May we pray with you?

“Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. His love endures forever” (Psalm 136:1).

Endure is a powerful sounding word. When I looked it up in the dictionary and pondered how the definition correlated to God’s love for us, a phrase leaped out at me: “without flinching.”

God’s love endures our fickleness, persists through our unbelief, remains during our rebellion, continues endlessly, and it does all that without flinching. The steadfast love of the Lord is something that we can rely on completely. It never comes to an end.

Psalm 136 is a litany of praise for God’s might acts and goodness; each of its 26 verses end with the response, “His love endures forever.”

Something happens in my heart when I read that Psalm. Each time “His love endures forever” chants in my brain, it goes a little deeper. It adds layers of strength to my belief that it is true, solidifying my resolve to live in the hope and confidence that God’s love brings.

Claim this truth for yourself. Cling to it during your dark struggle. Nothing can endure longer or stronger than God’s love for you.

O God, we join with the psalmist saying, “Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. We give thanks to Him who alone does great wonders; His love endures forever. We give thanks to the One who remembered us in our low estate; His love endures forever. We give thanks to the One who freed us from our enemies; His love endures forever. We give thanks to the One who gives food to every creature; His love endures forever. We give thanks to the God of heaven; His love endures forever (Psalm 136:3, 4, 23-26). Amen.

Questions: What would you include in your list of God’s mighty acts and goodness? How does praising God change us?

“Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. His love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1

Endure is a powerful sounding word. When I looked it up in the dictionary and pondered how the definition correlated to God’s love for us, a phrase leaped out at me: “without flinching.”

God’s love endures our fickleness, persists through our unbelief, remains during our rebellion, continues endlessly, and it does all that without flinching. The steadfast love of the Lord is something that we can rely on completely. It never comes to an end.

Psalm 136 is a litany of praise for God’s might acts and goodness; each of its 26 verses end with the response, “His love endures forever.”

Something happens in my heart when I read that Psalm. Each time “His love endures forever” chants in my brain, it goes a little deeper. It adds layers of strength to my belief that it is true, solidifying my resolve to live in the hope and confidence that God’s love brings.

Claim this truth for yourself. Cling to it during your dark struggle. Nothing can endure longer or stronger than God’s love for you.

O God, we join with the psalmist saying, “Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. We give thanks to Him who alone does great wonders; His love endures forever. We give thanks to the One who remembered us in our low estate; His love endures forever. We give thanks to the One who freed us from our enemies; His love endures forever. We give thanks to the One who gives food to every creature; His love endures forever. We give thanks to the God of heaven; His love endures forever. (Psalm 136:3, 4, 23-26) Amen.

Questions: What would you include in your list of God’s mighty acts and goodness? How does praising God change us?

Please open your Bible and read John 8:31-36.

According to man’s thinking, freedom means being able to choose or act with few if any restraints, limits or accountabilities. According to God’s view, this definition is actually a description of rebellion, where submission to authority is rejected and people all do as they see fit. (Judges 21:25) True freedom – being free from bondage to sin – is found only through Jesus Christ. (Romans 6:16-17)

The first step to freedom is recognizing where we are not free, that is, areas where we remain imprisoned. People who have not received Christ as Savior are in bondage to unbelief. They can neither believe God nor trust the promises of Scripture. Sin has blinded their eyes to the truth that they need a Savior.

Even Christians can find themselves in bondage, especially with regard to subtle kinds of enslavement. Feeling inferior is a type of bondage that can dictate how we respond to people. Insecurities can color our responses to life’s challenges and alter our ability to think or act; they also will affect our ability to trust and obey God. Furthermore, feelings of worthlessness or rejection can inhibit our Christian witness.

God wants us walking in freedom. Scripture reveals that we are set free when we know our position in Christ, our person in Christ, and our possessions in Christ. The path to discovering these truths is found only through the living Word of God. (John 8:31-32) Meditating on the eighth chapter of John is a good place to embark on freedom’s road. Its truths will set us free!

Question: How does the true freedom God provides (ie, the freedom to become the kind of people we were designed and meant to be) differ from the “freedom” (ie, lack of restraint) offered by the world?

About the Author: Charles Stanley

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13:14

In faith, I know these things to be true:

• God is full of love and grace, and he fills me with his love and grace.
• God’s work within me is to clear a channel for his love and grace to flow through me into the lives of anyone and everyone I meet.
• I may not be there yet, but I am “confident of this, that he who began a good work in [me] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
• And I know “God is able to make all grace abound [in me], so that in all things at all times, having all that [I] need, [I] will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).
• He will make my joy complete because I no longer live in darkness, but I now live in the truth and have fellowship with God (1 John 1:4; 1 John 1:6).
• Through the “Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,” I am, at all times, filled with grace, mercy, and peace (2 Corinthians 13:14).

This is what I believe to be true and I will walk accordingly, allowing God to do his work in me from the inside out. Father, make it so. I believe; help my unbelief.

Question: In which area(s) of your faith (perhaps some listed above) can you pray today: “I believe; help my unbelief”?

About the Author: Jon Walker

Are you feeling ready to walk away from a relationship – are you possibly even considering divorce? We want to pray for you.

“I needed to hear that”, Kelly said with a catch in her voice. The layoff notice had come as a complete surprise. Anger and panic had welled up within her.
Sue had listened to her vent. Then she had spoken quietly and gently reminded Kelly that God knew of this turn of events. He would direct her through the unknown path. He could be counted on to guide her. He would give her wisdom. Kelly’s heart was comforted and strengthened. She was encouraged to go on and her heart softened at the reminder of God’s care.

God’s Word alerts us that in difficult times our hearts can go astray. They can become hardened and turn away from God.

We all know that wondering of “Where is God?” when something significant does not go as we had hoped or planned and life seems to tumble around us.

We live in a world that acknowledges God less and less. Often the choices of others affect us in hard ways. Politics at work, relationships with those we care about, finances, even health issues. We can feel alone and our faith can feel slippery as we walk.

When clouds gather in our lives we can begin to allow unbelief into our hearts. It’s very subtle and slips in. We pray less and our Bible sits unopened more. When we don’t understand God, unbelief creeps in. It can harden our hearts to the point where we tune out God even when He speaks to us. We can find rebellion creeping up on us if we are not monitoring our hearts. Listen to God’s words to us…

“See to it brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:13).

God knows the tendency of our hearts toward unbelief. That’s why He counsels us in these matters. We need to be aware of keeping our hearts soft. God’s call to “Encourage one another daily…” helps build a reservoir within our own hearts … it helps keep our hearts soft.

It is easy to be deceived into thinking God doesn’t have our best interest at heart, especially when things don’t go well. We need to guard our hearts against unbelief and rebellion and know that, in those tough places, He is there to guide us through and teach us.

When you feel unbelief slipping into your soul and find rebellion nibbling around the edges of your heart, seek out spiritual encouragement. Walk and talk with a friend and be honest in sharing your need of prayer. Do a Bible study on a topic that grabs at your heart. Choose to spend some time with God and cry out to him from the depths of your soul telling Him all the things in your heart. Choose to turn toward Him. God will encourage you even when people aren’t there to. Choose to draw near to Him and ask Him to help your unbelief.

When we receive encouragement in our soul from God, we are then in a position to give encouragement. You cannot offer something you don’t possess.

Then, when you hear despair in the lives of those around you or in the emails of those writing to you, you will be equipped to encourage them with words from Scripture, or a gentle reminder of God’s everlasting love even when the road ahead is obscured.

It’s an amazing circle. Daily speaking of God’s care will not only encourage others and bring comfort, strength and hope…it will also encourage you and help keep your own heart soft and your faith strong.

It’s an amazing circle…”He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” ( Proverbs 11:25).

Pay attention to God’s warning against unbelief. Our faith in Jesus is our most valued treasure. If you loose it there is nothing of true value left. Guard against an unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. Turn to Him and ask Him to speak to you. Watch for those whose hearts are turning away and ask God to give you encouragement to share. It will build you up as you do.

Father God, I know the tendency of my own heart to grow hard around the edges with unbelief and even rebellion at times. I choose to draw near to You and ask that You would encourage my heart and help my unbelief. I need You to refresh my inner being and give me strength.

Encourage me through Your Word. Give me a greater desire to read it and to pour my heart out to you. Give me people in my life who will share with me the encouragement they receive from You. Help me to encourage others whose hearts are growing hard in difficult times. Daily be my source in everything I pray, in the name of Jesus, amen.

Questions: How does unbelief and rebellion start to take root in ones life?  How can you be ever ready to help those that are in despair around you?

About the Author Gail Rodgers

“[The boy’s father said,] ‘If you can do anything, do it. Have a heart and help us!’ Jesus said, ‘If? There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen.’ No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the father cried, ‘Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!’” Mark 9:22–24, The Message

Is it possible to be filled with faith and doubt at the same time? Yes!

You can have faith that God wants you to do something and still be scared to death.

Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is going ahead and doing what you’re called to do in spite of your fear.

You have to begin with the faith you already have; it may be just a little, but you start there. A beautiful example of this is the story of the man who brought his sick son to Jesus in Mark 9. Jesus looked at the man and said, “I can heal your son. If you will believe, I will heal him.”

The father then makes a classic statement: “Lord, I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief.”

Have you ever felt like that? “Lord, I have some faith. But I also have some doubts.” This man was filled with faith and doubt, yet despite his honest doubts, he went ahead and asked Jesus for a miracle. And he got his miracle—Jesus healed his son.

Mustard seed faith moves mountains. No matter how weak or how frail you think your faith is, it’s enough to get you through what you’re facing because your “little faith” is in a BIG GOD.

Matthew 17:20 says, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed … Nothing will be impossible for you.” That’s not a lot of faith; in fact, it’s just a little faith. But what else does that verse teach? “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move,’ and it will move”

Mustard seed faith moves mountains. Don’t get this reversed; we tend to read this verse backward; we want it to say, “If you have faith like a mountain, you can move a mustard seed”—as if it takes enormous faith to do a very little task.

Everybody has faith. You had faith this morning when you ate your cereal—faith that your spouse didn’t put poison in your granola!

You had faith when you sat down in your computer chair—faith that it wouldn’t collapse.
Everybody has faith; the difference is what you put your faith in.

Sometimes people will tell me they don’t want to surrender to Jesus until all their questions are answered; they don’t want to make a commitment until everything is understood.

God wants you start with the faith you have, and based on the example of the mustard seed, you don’t need a whole lot of faith to do great things for God. You just need a little.

So here’s a trustworthy equation: Little Faith + Big God = Huge Results!

You take your little faith; “Lord, I believe! Help me with my unbelief!”

And you place your faith in our big God.

And then he’ll show you how he works out huge results.

Questions: What causes us to doubt our faith? How can we seek to overcome our “unbelief” and nurture faith?

About this Author: Rick Warren

Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30am EDT.

“I needed to hear that”, Kelly said with a catch in her voice. The layoff notice had come as a complete surprise. Anger and panic had welled up within her.

Sue had listened to her vent. Then she had spoken quietly and gently reminded Kelly that God knew of this turn of events. He would direct her through the unknown path. He could be counted on to guide her. He would give her wisdom. Kelly’s heart was comforted and strengthened. She was encouraged to go on and her heart softened at the reminder of God’s care.

God’s Word alerts us that in difficult times our hearts can go astray. They can become hardened and turn away from God.

We all know that wondering of “Where is God?” when something significant does not go as we had hoped or planned and life seems to tumble around us.

We live in a world that acknowledges God less and less. Often the choices of others affect us in hard ways. Politics at work, relationships with those we care about, finances, even health issues. We can feel alone and our faith can feel slippery as we walk.

When clouds gather in our lives we can begin to allow unbelief into our hearts. It’s very subtle and slips in. We pray less and our Bible sits unopened more. When we don’t understand God, unbelief creeps in. It can harden our hearts to the point where we tune out God even when He speaks to us. We can find rebellion creeping up on us if we are not monitoring our hearts. Listen to God’s words to us…

“See to it brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:13).

God knows the tendency of our hearts toward unbelief. That’s why He counsels us in these matters. We need to be aware of keeping our hearts soft. God’s call to “Encourage one another daily…” helps build a reservoir within our own hearts … it helps keep our hearts soft.

It is easy to be deceived into thinking God doesn’t have our best interest at heart, especially when things don’t go well. We need to guard our hearts against unbelief and rebellion and know that, in those tough places, He is there to guide us through and teach us.

When you feel unbelief slipping into your soul and find rebellion nibbling around the edges of your heart, seek out spiritual encouragement. Walk and talk with a friend and be honest in sharing your need of prayer. Do a Bible study on a topic that grabs at your heart. Choose to spend some time with God and cry out to him from the depths of your soul telling Him all the things in your heart. Choose to turn toward Him. God will encourage you even when people aren’t there to. Choose to draw near to Him and ask Him to help your unbelief.

When we receive encouragement in our soul from God, we are then in a position to give encouragement. You cannot offer something you don’t possess.

Then, when you hear despair in the lives of those around you or in the emails of those writing to you, you will be equipped to encourage them with words from Scripture, or a gentle reminder of God’s everlasting love even when the road ahead is obscured.

It’s an amazing circle. Daily speaking of God’s care will not only encourage others and bring comfort, strength and hope…it will also encourage you and help keep your own heart soft and your faith strong.

It’s an amazing circle…”He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” ( Proverbs 11:25).

Pay attention to God’s warning against unbelief. Our faith in Jesus is our most valued treasure. If you loose it there is nothing of true value left. Guard against an unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. Turn to Him and ask Him to speak to you. Watch for those whose hearts are turning away and ask God to give you encouragement to share. It will build you up as you do.

Father God, I know the tendency of my own heart to grow hard around the edges with unbelief and even rebellion at times. I choose to draw near to You and ask that You would encourage my heart and help my unbelief. I need You to refresh my inner being and give me strength. Encourage me through Your Word. Give me a greater desire to read it and to pour my heart out to you. Give me people in my life who will share with me the encouragement they receive from You. Help me to encourage others whose hearts are growing hard in difficult times. Daily be my source in everything I pray, in the name of Jesus, amen.

Questions: How do you become aware of unbelief slipping into your life and rebellion starting to take root?  How can you be ever ready to help those that are in despair around you?

About the Author Gail Rodgers

Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, The Risk of Obeying God, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog