Hebrews 11:1-2 MSG — The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.

What a powerful scripture! “Faith is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living.” Is faith your foundation? Is your foundation firm? Are there places where your foundation of faith has cracks in it? For example, are there areas where you are doubting God? Are there circumstances in which you are not following God’s lead? Are you fully obeying God?

Spend some time examining your faith by answering the above questions. Allow God to guide your thoughts and convict your heart of areas your faith can be improved. Let go and let God lead you out of your boat and onto the water to walk by faith.

Let’s pray. Dear God, forgive me for not completely trusting You and for being disobedient. Give me strength and courage to let go, trust, and obey. Help me to walk on water. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Please watch today’s YouTube video below.

Hebrews 11:1-2 NIV — Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

What is the definition of faith to you? Below are some of Merriam-Webster’s definitions.

Faith: a (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God

  (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion

b (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof

  (2) : complete trust

Which of the above definitions do you most relate to? If I am being honest, I am not always able to let go and completely trust. My humanness gets in the way. Sometimes I try to do things my way or I spend time worrying about possible future scenarios and outcomes instead of trusting God in the details. Spend some time reading the full chapter of Hebrews 11 and ask God to reveal to you any areas of your life that your faith is wavering.

Hebrews 11 NIV

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for the great lineage of faith that is explained in Hebrews 11. Reveal to me any areas of my life that I am not completely trusting You. Give me strength and courage to let go and walk by faith. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Please take a moment to watch our Testify Tuesday YouTube video below.

Hebrews 11:1-2 NIV — Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

Hebrews 11 NIV

Hebrews 11:1-2 MSG — The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.

Hebrews 11 MSG

Ephesians 2:1-10 NIV — As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,  in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Watch our Meditate Monday YouTube video below.

This Song Sunday let’s start by honoring all of our mothers.

A Mother’s Love by Jim Brickman

As you are able, spend some time listening to the following songs about faith.

Stand In Faith by Danny Gokey

Walk By Faith by Jeremy Camp

Firm Foundation by Cody Carnes

Proverbs‬ ‭17‬:‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Join us for See You Saturday as we wrap up the week on a Get To mindset!

Make sure to check out the Rooted + Grounded podcast!

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭17‬ ‭MSG‬‬ — So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

How do we keep our “get to” in focus? Dress in compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, and discipline. Wear love. Cultivate thankfulness. We’ve learned this week that we must set boundaries. We also must fervently pray because the Devil is scheming in our “have to.” I encourage you to write “get to” statements as your gratitudes.

1. I get to work!
2. I get to clean my house!
3. I get to pay my mortgage.
4. I get to shop for healthy foods.
5. I get to cook for my family.
6. I get to take my family to the doctor.
7. I get to exercise.

Now it’s your turn. What are your ”get to” gratitude statements? Be reminded that you can’t do this life on your own and your “get to” will be accomplished by relying on God’s strength. 

Sunday I encouraged you to listen to Strong by Anne Wilson. Try praying through her lyrics, “I hit my knees with my hands held high saying, “Dear Lord, Jesus, you know I can’t do this on my own. Lord knows I’ve tried, but I’m good at falling down. Thank God you’re good at picking me up off the ground. The world’s gonna try to break me but I know the one who makes me strong.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17‬:‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

A cheerful heart does not come easy. Often we have to wrestle with the Devil because our “get to” is easily crushed by taking our focus off of God and the joy that He has set before us. What is one way we can maintain a cheerful heart? From the @whoathatsgoodpodcast, “Don’t let people’s expectations control your yes and no. Follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit.”

The mind is a very powerful tool that has the power to be good medicine or crush one’s spirit. Be reminded today that you are a child of God. Recite: I “get to” walk with Jesus by the gift of the Holy Spirit. I “get to” serve God through my yeses and my nos because not everything is my assignment. Give yourself grace and remember that even Jesus needed time to turn to His Heavenly Father. 

What is one way you can build up your boundaries so that the expectations of others don’t crush your spirit? Trample the Devil through worship and prayer. Sunday I encouraged you to listen to Child Of God by Crowder. Some of the lyrics sing, “Clap them hands, stomp them feet. Devil ain’t got no hold on me. Dance all day, dance all night. Good God, I’m on fire. I may be flesh and bone. But in my haunted soul. I got the Holy Ghost. I know where I came from. Can’t keep me from my home. I am a child of God.”

Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for I am full of joy through the gift of Your Holy Spirit. Help me not to give in to the Devil’s schemes and allow the expectations of others to crush my spirit. I trample the Devil in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Extended Devotion Time: Read Luke 10: 1-24 @biblegateway

Do you see yourself as one of the Seventy-Two? 

Are you thankful that you “get to” work in God’s harvest field? 

Do you rejoice that your name is written in Heaven? Do you share this gift with others?