Tag: believe

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Do You Believe that He Will?

The Manna Chef

When I was a little girl, I used to love testimony service at church.  I loved hearing about the goodness of the Lord and singing with the congregation.  I remember the saints would say, “God can do anything but fail!” and everyone would shout, “Amen!”  I heard it so often that I believed it even back then.  I learned about the vastness of God, and I witnessed miracles right there in church.  I was taught to have faith in God, to trust Him completely, and to expect Him to move mightily when I was just a child. 

I’m grateful for that foundation I received because, today, I need it more than ever.  I’ve walked with Jesus for a long time, and still I sometimes need to be reminded that He can do anything but fail.  I know that He is not slack concerning His promises, and He has proved to me time and time again that nothing in my life has been left to chance.  I know that God is in control at all times, and He is ordering my very steps every single day.

I want to ask you something today.  How many of you believe that Jesus can move on your behalf, you just aren’t sure if you believe that He will?  There is a big difference.  I encourage you to examine yourself today.  Take a close look at where your faith lies.  If you are believing God for big things, you have to trust that He will actually do them—according to His will.  So, seek His will (and His kingdom) first and watch Him show out on your behalf.  Now, I’m not talking about snapping your fingers and expecting God to perform like your personal genie.  I’m talking about actually seeking His will for your life, obeying what He has commanded you to do, and then walking in total confidence that God will do what He said.

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It’s Not Too Late

The Manna Chef

Sisters, I have a word to encourage your hearts today!  I have been diligently seeking the Lord on behalf of His daughters, and today His word to me has sparked fire in my soul!  God said, “It’s not too late.”  I don’t know what you have placed before the Lord, what promises you are waiting to manifest, or what dreams you’ve allowed to just fall along the wayside.  But God’s word is clear, “it’s not too late.” 

Sometimes we get discouraged when it seems like the season of opportunity has passed us by.  Circumstances may not appear to be ideal, especially right now, but God is not bound by our circumstances or by how things look.  So right now, just hold on to God’s Word and His promises. 

The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth.  They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.  It is the same with my word.  I send it out, and it always produces fruit.  It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.  (Isaiah 55:10-11 NLT)

God has not forgotten you.  He has not forgotten the promises He made to you.  He said His word will accomplish all He wants it to accomplish and will prosper everywhere He sends it.  What has He promised to you?  It’s not too late.  Don’t allow the enemy to plant seeds of doubt in your mind.  You know what God said.  Trust Him.  It doesn’t matter if the odds are against you.  He said all things are possible with Him (Matthew 19:26).

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Who Told You That?

The Manna Chef

I recently asked, “Whose steps are you following?” to remind you to be intentional in following the leading of the Holy Spirit.  It’s a great reminder that nothing in our lives happens by chance and that we need to be aware at all times of the effects of our actions.  But today, I want to go even deeper.  If you’ve ever had to deal with negative thoughts, then this message is for you.

I remember many years ago reading about “negative self-talk.”  At the time, I was teaching middle schoolers, and it was a message that was near and dear to my heart.  I firmly believed (and I still do) that speaking words of life into our young people is vital to their development.  But it doesn’t stop there.  We need those same words of life.  And we need to speak them constantly.  (You have power of life and death right in your own mouth, according to Proverbs 18:21.)

This pandemic has altered our daily lives.  Many of us are working from home.  Others may not be working at all, while some are working nonstop as essential staff.  Don’t believe for a second that the enemy is not waiting by to speak all kinds of lies to you.  He wants to plant ideas of hopelessness and despair.  He wants you to be paralyzed from fear and for you to succumb to the pressure that is all around you.  He wants you to be depressed from being constantly inundated with bad news and frightening statistics.  Sisters, he wants desperately to defeat you.  Remember, he has three jobs: to steal, to kill, and to destroy, so you have to be prepared to defeat him. 

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Your Words Matter

The Manna Chef

I know that we are living in challenging times, but I want to encourage you to look at the good in the midst of all of the chaos going on around us. Listen to what God is whispering to you. Is He calling you for more prayer time with Him or more time spent in His Word? Is He encouraging you to spend more quality time with your loved ones? Are you able to get some much-needed rest? Or are you on the front lines showing that God truly takes care of His own while you are demonstrating His love and power to those seeking medical care?

I need to remind you of something today: your words are important. They have power, so be careful how you use them, especially now. You can speak blessings over your life or you can speak curses. Even in the midst of all that is going on right now, you can speak life, Sisters!

Let me give you a practical example. My grandmother (one of the greatest prophets to have ever lived) never allowed us to speak words of poverty. We weren’t allowed to say things like, “I’m broke.” We learned at an early age that our words spoke life and death and that we were responsible for how we used them. Instead of saying those negative words, we learned to call on the Lord to bless us. We learned to speak blessings into our lives–and yes, even into our wallets. It was a profound lesson, and I still remind myself of the power I have in my own mouth to create and manifest results. That shouldn’t really be a surprise though, should it?

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Faith-driven or Fear-driven?

The Manna Chef

As I was driving to work one morning, I began to recall past conversations I have had with Lord concerning His plan for my life.  Sisters, let me be real with you right now:  I have not always embraced His plans for me.  On several occasions, I have even been mortified!  I felt like I wasn’t the “right” one to do whatever God was saying or that I simply wasn’t enough for what God had shown me.  Have you ever experienced that moment?

God was so patient with me.  He reminded me of the many battles we have faced and won together.  I really appreciate my walk with the Lord.  It hasn’t always been easy, but I love Him at this very moment more than I ever have before!  I appreciate all that I have experienced—the good and the bad, even the downright awful.  God’s blessings have manifested in my life in more ways than I could have ever imagined.  He truly has been my Superhero more times than I can count.

So now, instead of running when God instructs me to do something, I am learning (notice I said “learning,” it’s a continual process for me) to recognize the presence of fear, acknowledge it, confess it to the Father, and then hand it right over to Him.  I don’t ignore it and pretend that it isn’t there; otherwise that fear may just creep up and try to paralyze me and stop me from pursuing what God has instructed me to possess.  I have learned to call it out and then call on Jesus to help me.  And guess what?  Jesus has always been right there for me!  He has given me His own Word to empower me in those very moments.

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