My apologies, too much time has passed since posting. In this time, I have studied, taught, and enjoyed living. My heart is overflowing! I am more confident than ever that the Word of God is truth and will accomplish what it says.
It is interesting when you read through Hebrews chapters 3 and 4. We see the Israelites struggle with the condition of their hearts. They chose to doubt God. Unbelief created hardened hearts and God was unable to let them enter into his rest. They were held responsible for these decisions.
So it is with us. Look at Hebrews 4: 1-3 (TPT):
Now the promise of entering into God’s rest is still for us today. So we must be extremely careful to ensure that we all embrace the fullness of that promise and not fail to experience it. For we have heard the good news of deliverance just as they did, yet they didn’t join their faith with the Word. Instead, what they heard didn’t affect them deeply, for they doubted. For those of us who believe, faith activates the promise, and we experience the realm of confident rest!
It is our responsibility to embrace the fullness of God’s promises. Believing them with our whole being, refusing to let go of what God has spoken so that we will not fail to experience them.
The Israelites heard what Moses was telling them. However, scripture shows us that what they heard did not affect them deeply, for they doubted.
I have taken this to heart. ‘Kim, are you allowing the Word of God to affect you?’ ‘Are you acting out what God is telling you?’ ‘Are you different today than yesterday because you are letting God mold you and shape you?’
Today, fear is at an all-time high. People are making decisions based on fear-driven information. Panic leads to quick decision-making. I am observing many people put their trust in what they are hearing, reading, and seeing. What I have come to understand about fear is that it wants to control you, telling you what it wants from you. These decisions are not the decisions one would make with a clear, peaceful mindset.
Jeremiah 17: 5-8 NV
This is what the Lord says:
“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;
they will not see prosperity when it comes.
They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives.
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
I want these verses to affect me deeply. I refuse to trust in mere men when I can trust in God with whom nothing is impossible. He will keep me and provide for me when the systems of this world can not! When God says not to fear drought because I will never fail to bear fruit, I am excited, for this means the light of Christ will shine for those around me to see! I will not lack anything! I will flourish! What a promise! What a wonderful heavenly Father!
I want to encourage you to do the same. Check your heart condition. Are you affected deeply by God’s Word?
Thanks!