Dream Busters

“It was by faith that Noah heard God’s warnings about things he could not yet see.”

Hebrews 11:7 (NCV)

Today's promise consists of excerpts from today's Daily Hope newsletter. 

Dream busters will always show up in your life. Critics, cynics, and even loved ones may question your God-given vision...

But the biggest dream buster is often yourself. The words you speak to yourself matter. If you talked to your friends the way you talk to yourself—saying things like, “I’m no good,” “I should’ve known better,” or “I’ll never succeed”—you wouldn’t have any friends.

The truth is, we lie to ourselves all the time. The Bible says, “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9 NLT). We convince ourselves things are fine when they’re not, or hopeless when they’re not. That’s why you must listen to God—because He always tells the truth.

Hebrews 11:7 says, “It was by faith that Noah heard God’s warnings about things he could not yet see” (NCV).

Notice the word “heard.” Noah trusted what he heard from God, even though he couldn’t see the future. Similarly, you can’t see your future, but you must trust God. His Word is your guide. Faith is believing what you can’t see—your destiny and your eternal future.

The Bible says, “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever” (2 Corinthians 4:18 NLT).

Focus on what lasts forever, not on temporary troubles. Noah’s faith was counter-cultural, standing against the disbelief around him. How did he maintain such faith? He heard God.

You might say, “I don’t hear God!” The solution? Get closer to him. The Bible says, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10 NIV). Turn off distractions. Sit quietly. Pray.

Only when you draw near to God can you truly hear His voice. Listen, and follow Him...

No matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been, you’ve got a place in God’s forever family ready and waiting for you. The invitation is wide open. Just believe and receive.

Prayer:

Dear God, 

     I know when I die, I’m going to give an account of my life to You. I know I have sinned against You, and I have lived by my plan, not Yours. I want that to change, starting right now. I want to turn away from my sins and turn toward You.
    Thank You for sending Jesus to die for all that I’ve done wrong so I don’t have to pay the penalty. I know I don’t deserve Your forgiveness. I know only Your grace can save me, Lord. I could never be good enough to get into a perfect place.
     Jesus, thank You for loving me so much that You took all my guilt on Yourself. You made me acceptable for heaven, and I humbly ask You to save me. I believe in You, Jesus. And I believe You will keep Your promise to save me instantly, certainly, completely, and eternally. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

I Have to Do Everything

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
Philippians 2:14-16 NIV

I don't know when it happened. I'm not even sure how it happened, I just know that I've caught myself doing it, and I don't like it. Grumbling. Complaining. Being negative. I told my sister today, that is NOT who I want to be. I have to rip out that bad seed by the root, get rid of the thorns and re-work the hardened soil of my heart and soul! Jeremiah 4:3 tells us, Break up your unplowed ground and do not sow among thorns. I am thanking God this day that He shines His light on the Truth of His Word and loves me enough to correct me.

Michelle offered that we should refocus our hearts and minds by actively communicating every day what we are thankful for. Knowing my sister and I are two peas in a pod, I readily agreed with one stipulation: We have to be truly grateful, not negatively grateful. What do I mean by that? Well, none of this - "I'm grateful I didn't smack the snot out of anyone today who ticked me off, even though I had ample opportunity." To which she replied, "Yeah, I was thinking no - 'I'm so grateful God gave me good perceptive skills so I could see an idiot coming from a mile away' kind of thing, either." (Yes, you can see for yourself we needed to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God... Confessing our faults one to another, praying for one another that we might be healed.) It is God's Word - His Living Word - that changes the hearts and minds of mankind.

Yes, I have to do everything - without grumbling and complaining or arguing! We choose to control what comes out of our mouths by following Your Word, I will bless the Lord at all times: Your praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Prayer:

Father,
           According to Your Word in Philippians 4:7, we choose not to worry about anything, but to tell You every detail of our needs in earnest and thankful prayer, and Your peace which transcends human understanding, will keep constant guard over our hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus. Make our hearts pure so that when we speak out of its fullness our words will be pure. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen