I love Rebecca’s opening question in chapter 11: “Have you ever experienced a contrast between the truth of your experience and the Truth of the Word of God?” So many of us can raise our hands.
I have found HOPE when I filter the truth of what I am experiencing through God’s Word in my heart. Real Hope! And you know what? God’s Word always tells me something different.
The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy:
I came that they may have life, and may have [it] abundantly.
John 10:10
Read it again…what do you see? The Truth about satan is he is a thief who only comes to steal, kill, and destroy your hope and everything you hold dear to you. But what does the rest of the verse say? God finishes this Truth with some of the most important words I think are in the Bible. He said,
I (Jesus) came that you may have LIFE, and have it ABUNDANTLY!!
When we remember to filter the truth of our circumstances through God’s Truth {His Word} we see that we have hope and life that is abundant no matter what our circumstances look like.
Bill and I have our home in Jacksonville, Florida up for sale. Our renters moved out in July and we know beyond all doubt that it was time to put it back on the market. Our first try was six years ago. We had 4 closings that all fell through days before we met to sign the papers. Talk about frustrating! Bill had already been transferred to South Carolina for his last 4 year term with the Navy and I was tired of living life without him. It was time. We took it off the market, rented it and the kids and I joined Bill.
Five years later and here we are again. We decided going into this that we would trust God and obey His Word when we found ourselves in darkness. We experienced our months of no movement. It has been hard. Four months is a long time to have your home on the market with nothing happening. It can cause fear and doubt to rise. But we entered a covenant with God. A covenant that we would choose His Truth—no matter what. Believe me when I tell you we have been tested! Satan has said many things to both of us. He reminds us what the market is right now and tells us that people are not looking to buy a home because they are thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas—all truths. Do you see how satan can use the truth of your circumstances to cause you to doubt God and lose your hope?
About a month ago I was sitting at my laptop and praying, “God, we need a verse to stand on concerning our home in Jax. Will you open your Word to me and show me the verse you have designed for this season?” I then did a word search in BibleGateway.com and this was one of the Scriptures that came up.
For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened;
but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack,
that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality.
2 Corinthians 8:13-14
I had never seen this verse before. At least, I don’t remember seeing it. It leaped at me! I knew this is the direction God wants us to go and it is the TRUTH that we can rejoice in. I went to my Bible app on my cellphone, pulled up the verse, highlighted it, saved a screen shot of it and texted it to Bill and our real estate agent with the following words: “This is the verse we are going to stand on, no matter what!” And we have applied this verse as our Truth each time satan attacked us with his.
We have been faithful to trust and obey God’s Word in the darkness. As of yesterday, we are getting an overwhelming amount of movement: 6 showings in one day. And today we received a Full Offer on the house. They love it and don’t want haggle for it. Do you see our verse coming to fruition? Their abundance is the supply for our lack and our abundance (our home) is supplying theirs.
I pray this is encouraging you right where you are! We don’t know what the outcome will be but we choose to stand because we have learned that God’s Word is Always going to be the Truth we can stand on!!
When we choose to walk in covenant with God, we can always Rejoice in the Truth!
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Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your Truth today. How blessed we are to have Your Word to read any time we want to. Father, I ask that You would reveal Yourself to each woman reading this today. Father, I ask that You would meet their needs…financial, physical, and spiritual needs. Lead them to the verse You have for this season in their lives and teach them the power of covenant. Father, I pray that every one of us will Rejoice in the Truth you have given us in Your Word. Encourage and strength my sisters today, in Jesus name! Amen.