FRUSTRATED FAITH Part 2
The question of “Why”, can steal your attention.
Romans 8:5-6 “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” (ESV)
Whatever has your focus will have your attention and whatever has your attention will dictate your direction. As we discussed in part one of this “frustrated faith”, we know there is tension and pressure in every season. When you battle tension and pressure, you may find yourself frustrated. When you are frustrated, this leaves you vulnerable. Before long, you can catch yourself in a frustrated purpose. This can pull you from the vision, the purpose, and your convictions. This is when satan tries to get you to doubt the vision. If he can do that, then he can lead you to doubt your purpose or ultimately your identity. Don’t let satan convince you to be mad at God for your prolonged season! Don’t allow satan to convince you to envy others for being better learners than you. You can sabotage your purpose and your identity with the wrong perspective.
Proverbs 4:25-27, “Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.” (ESV)
Perspective is a choice regardless of the experiences and circumstances. Your perspective will either produce frustration or Joy; and your perspective will always dictate your direction. A misguided perspective will cause you to put limits on an unlimited God. It will cause you to put a timeframe on God and a timeframe on the vision. We all have been here, good and bad, we have all made choices in our perspectives. You are not alone, even John the Baptist got frustrated as we read in Matthew 11. John sent word in his disciples to ask Jesus if He was the Massiah. Here John was Jesus’ cousin and he baptized Jesus! He should have known Jesus was the Massiah. He did know, but in this moment while he was in prison, he was frustrated. He was experiencing a lot of tension and therefore he began to question. In verses 4-6 we read Jesus answered John’s disciples with His purpose, what God is doing, and gave confirmation. When Jesus answered them with his purpose, he was teaching us to stand in our purpose and not to back off. Jesus also gave the answer of what God IS doing! Much of the time we look at what God is not doing and forget what he has done. Remember that He IS working even if we do not see it. In Jesus’ answer to John’s disciples, he also was giving John confirmation for his expectation. Jesus confirmed John’s expectation with his experiences.
So, how do we get to this place of having our experience match our expectations? By locking your eyes on the vision giver, lock your eyes next on the vision, and stand in your trust of God’s word.
When was the last time you came to God and said, I am yielded to you Lord? When your eyes are locked on the vision Giver. You stand and keep standing. In your conviction, trust, purpose, and faithfulness you keep standing. How do we continually stay locked on Him? Simple, die to yourself daily. Yield to God, surrender to Him. Your eyes will be locked on the vision and God your provider, as you take your stand and die to yourself daily.
Jeremiah 1:12, “And the Lord said, “That’s right, and it means that I am watching,* and I will certainly carry out all my plans.”
Do not lose hope in the vision, promise, dream, it will come in its appointed time. You can trust that God is working and will see it through. Even if you cannot see it, it will surely come.
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