Devotional – January 14, 2021

There, as I was walking down the book aisle in the pharmacy, my eyes were drawn to a book with the picture of two beach sandals. The book was titled: What Happens When Women Walk in Faith, it was written by Best Selling Author, Lysa TerKuerst. I thought to myself, “Is it really possible to walk in faith?

The story of Abraham receiving a promise from God to receive a son in his old age always intrigued me. Even after Abraham and Sarah decided to assist God in fulfilling His promise and it seemed to be a mistake, God was still faithful to make the promise a reality. Isaac was born when the couple were 100 and 90 years old, respectively. My thought was: Abraham and Sarah lived so long ago, in a distant land, very far from where I live; what I was curious to know, was “if God was still active in our world today- making and fulfilling promises?

I took the book off the shelf and headed to the cashier; while a book was not on my list, nor in my budget, I thought for what it seemed to be able to teach me it was going home with me. The moment I entered the house I dived in. You see, at that point, approximately fourteen years ago, I was hungry to know God.

I had heard God’s call and was determined not to have an ordinary spiritual life; especially with what was going on in my life at the time- I needed to have a real encounter, one that would get me out of the turmoil in my mind- I desires to have an experience that I could not deny the power and presence of God.

On the topic of faith, I I had read several Scriptures in the Bible; I knew that faith required trusting God, and my question was how could I do that. Of the many passages i read about faith, the passage at Hebrews 11:1 was most profound; it says:

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:1

What I understood from the verse is that the hope of which it speaks is specific; much like Abraham and Sarah’s hope for a child. I wondered to myself how I too could have a personalized “hope” that I can trust God to make a reality. As I read Lysa’s book: What Happens When Women Walk in Faith, I read her stories of God’s faithfulness to her- making promised, guiding her in preparation for them, and lovingly fulfilling them. I was excited, because I knew from her testimony that God was still active.

In today’s devotional, Defining Her Faith, I am making the call to challenge you, my sister in a unique way. I want you to know that when God calls you, it is a personal invitation for to you to come to Him- to know, love and trust Him. Even if you are in the same space as others when you hear God’s call; if you are in church and walk up to the altar for prayer and there are other there- the call you hear is personal. What God has in store for you, and where He will lead you will be customized especially for you; no one else will have the identical experience you will have with God.

So, the truth is: The Bible encourages us to have faith; that is hope and confidence in God. Yet, God wants to be the Architect of the “hope” you are to have so that you can trust (have faith) Him to bring it to pass. My own walk with God has taught me that having confidence in God requires that I give God the opportunity to reveal to me those specific promises He wants me to hope for, and to desire His teaching and guidance so that I can receive the desires of my heart.

As women who desire to, or are walking with God, it is important to take a focused approach to our relationship with God in a way that will define the faith we have in Him, much like Abraham, and Sarah. The aim for you should be to be able to tell the story of what God has promised and fulfilled.

By this, I mean, take your relationship with God personal; seek Him with all your heart, draw close to Him more and more everyday. This is what God desires; I learned this from Stormie Omartian, another great author. I was reading one of her books: The Power of the Praying Woman; in Chapter 1- Lord Draw Me Into a Closer Walk with You, Stormie shares the story of how she searched for God in New Age religions and the occult world, yet she was not satisfied. When she surrendered her life to God, this is how she described her encounter:

He is the one, true, living God… I also learned that He is a God who can be found. A God Who can be known A God Who wants to be close to us. That’s why He is called: Immanuel, which means “God with Us”. But he draws close to us as we draw close to Him (James 4:8)

The Power of the Praying Woman – Stormie Omartian – Page 24.

Here another woman, living in today’s world is able to share her experience with God; this is even more evidence that God is active in our world today. I know with all my heart that God desires for every person to be able to tell their own faith stories. He hopes to have the opportunity to share a close relationship with us so we will have a: “Defined Faith”.

Today, you are encourage to: “Step up and take your place in God’s heart”. Allow Him the opportunity to reveal Himself to you, and give you the faith to believe that He will fulfill all His promises to you. May it be that the faith you have in God is the product of your deliberate investment in an intimate relationship with Him; one that grows closer and deeper with every encounter you have with Him. Your Defined Faith in God will be a spiritual legacy that will bless generations to come.

Know also that, among the billions of people in the world, you matter greatly to God. His Word attests to this truth:

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart…

Jeremiah 1:5

For this reason, you cannot afford for your story to be untold; hearing God’s call, and answering also involves being deliberate and directly involved in making the story God has written concerning you to be a reality. You may ask: how can I know that the story will end well; this is because god’s Word already tells of the Undoubtable Guarantee.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you, and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope, and a bright future.

Jeremiah 29:11

So Dear Sister, I encourage you to press on, and on, and on; be sure to- “Define Your Faith” – have complete trust in God that is specific and unique to you; that faith which tells a story that no one else can tell but you. Believe in God’s special love for you, and respond to it by giving Him access to express it at the deepest level. You will be delighted when you do – there is no greater love than God’s love.

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