When you’re up against a struggle, that shatters all your dreams And your hopes have been cruelly crushed by Satan’s manifested schemes And you feel the urge within you to submit to earthly fear Don’t let the faith you’re standing in seem to disappear
Praise the Lord, He will work through those who praise Him Praise the Lord, for our God inhabits praise Praise the Lord, for the chains that seem to bind you Serve only to remind you that they drop powerless behind you When you praise Him
Now, Satan is a liar, and he wants to make us think That we are paupers, when he knows himself, we’re children of the King So lift up the mighty shield of faith, for the battle must be won We know that Jesus Christ has risen, and the work’s already done
Praise the Lord, He will work through those who praise Him Praise the Lord, for our God inhabits praise Praise the Lord, for the chains that seem to bind you Serve only to remind you that they drop powerless behind you When you praise Him
When you praise God, things begin to happen. Consider 2 Chronicles 20:22. In this passage, Jehoshaphat was facing a great army, and instead of leading his troops into battle, he appointed singers to go out ahead of the army, praising God. And yes, they won the battle.
When “life” happens, you might feel scared, worried, or fearful. Often, your first thought isn’t to praise God. You might eventually think to pray, after your emotions calm down, but to give God praise seems awkward, weird, or unnatural many times. Praise, if anything, affects your heart. It can calm you down and turn your attention to the One, perhaps the only one, who can actually change the circumstances. Praise is a powerful tool or weapon we who believe in God forget about, unfortunately. But now that you know, try it.
At the time of this writing, we just celebrated Easter last weekend. One of the songs we sang mentioned Friday and Jesus’ dying. Even he himself said, “It is finished.” One would think if Jesus said it, then it must really be over. But what about that coming back to life after three days part he used to talk about? It must have been difficult to wait and see if he was telling the truth or just dreaming.
What are you waiting to see what God will do? Lead you to a job or your spouse? Tell you what the next chapter in your life is? Or perhaps heal you? Maybe it’s to provide finances to help you pay a bill. I’m sure whatever it is, it’s difficult to wait. I have a close friend who is and has been waiting for several weeks to get results concerning an issue in his body. I think it is taking a toll on him, even though he portrays faith and bravery.
What is worse, I think, is knowing that God has spoken something, but it has not yet come to pass. I used to ask God, “When will I get married?” All He ever said in reply was, “Soon.” “That’s great! Thanks, God. I’ll put that on the calendar!” According to his watch, I guess it was.
Jesus died on Friday. Saturday must have seemed so dark. Perhaps even hopeless. I believe some of his disciples went back to their old way of life as an answer to the question, “Now what?” You may be on Saturday, in your waiting for an answer from God. Don’t go anywhere. Don’t try to figure out his timing, and for sure don’t take his silence as an answer. Just keep praying, keep asking, and keep believing that He loves you and will take care of you. There is nothing that you can do to force his hand or to speed things up. As if putting an extra $20.00 in the offering plate is going to impress God.
Sitting in the waiting room is hard. If you let the devil play with your mind, fear, worry, dread, and other bad thoughts can creep in. Don’t let them. Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 (NIV) Who wins the battle in your mind, while you are waiting, is key to the victory. You learn a lot about God in the waiting and about yourself. One thing I have learned in life is this: every trial has an end. You just need to make sure that when that day comes, you are still holding the hand of Jesus.
It’s hard to miss the sting of higher gas prices. Every time we fill up, the numbers climb faster than we’d like, and for many, that extra cost means cutting back elsewhere. While the economic impact is real, there’s also a deeper, spiritual layer worth exploring.
1. The Test of Trust
When expenses rise, our first instinct is often anxiety. We start calculating, worrying, and wondering how we’ll make ends meet. Yet Scripture reminds us that our ultimate security isn’t in our bank accounts, but in God’s provision. Rising gas prices can become a modern-day test of trust—an opportunity to lean into the truth that “my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
2. The Call to Contentment
Higher costs can tempt us to grumble or compare our situation to others. But contentment isn’t about having everything we want—it’s about recognizing that what we have is enough for today. This season can be a reminder to simplify, to be grateful for the transportation we do have, and to see every mile as a gift rather than a given.
3. The Invitation to Compassion
When prices rise, those already struggling feel it the most. As followers of Christ, we’re called to notice and respond. Maybe that means offering a ride to a neighbor, helping someone cover their commute, or simply listening to their concerns without judgment. In doing so, we reflect the heart of Jesus, who always moved toward those in need.
4. The Shift in Perspective
Gas prices may be out of our control, but our perspective isn’t. We can choose to see this moment not as an inconvenience alone, but as a spiritual checkpoint—asking ourselves: Am I trusting God with my daily needs? Am I using my resources to bless others? Am I letting gratitude outweigh frustration?
Final Thought:
The numbers on the pump may keep changing, but God’s faithfulness doesn’t. If we let it, even something as ordinary as filling our tank can become a moment of worship, trust, and generosity.
I was in a Bible study group once, and one subject came up that kind of surprised me. Before I get into the topic, I want to say how much I appreciated and respected those guys in the group. We all had walked with God for various lengths of time and have come from different backgrounds and denominations.
One guy brought up the Shroud of Turin, which was allegedly the cloth that Jesus Christ’s body was wrapped in after he died. He was really into it and talked about how some scientists have proven that it is real and dates back to the age when Jesus was on Earth. (Some scientists have disproven it as being authentic.) Some of the other guys had never heard of this cloth before. I, for one, am a skeptic.
First of all, it’s okay if you have a different opinion than I do. Believing in the Shroud of Turin or not has nothing to do with whether you will make it into heaven or not. I asked the gentleman who believed it was real if it helped his faith or strengthened his faith. I was surprised when he responded that it did.
I’m not a “super saint” or anything, but I believe in Jesus Christ and that he is the Son of God and walked this Earth to show us a better way to live, and that his death on the cross gives us forgiveness of our sins. I believe that without any physical proof. I mean, I have evidence of the changed lives of others and of who I would be without his love in my heart. Only God’s love and his Son could change the heart of man. I have seen all that God has done in my life, the miracles, etc. I believe, period!
Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.” John 20:29 (MSG)
There has been a lot of analysis and study of the shroud, yet the results remain inconclusive. Some scientists place the cloth at the time of Jesus, while others don’t.
My point is this: either believe in Jesus from the word of God or not. Don’t be wishy-washy, for that will only make you weak. Physical evidence shouldn’t matter. It’s intriguing or interesting, but it shouldn’t be necessary. Look how many followed Jesus and saw miracles right in front of their eyes, yet after they left, they most likely allowed the limitations of their mind to reason the miracles away. The result is they stopped believing in Jesus.
Jesus didn’t do miracles to “prove” that he was indeed the Son of God. He did them because people needed them. Remember, God does the supernatural when the supernatural is needed. Jesus’ main mission was to be a savior for the lost, because that was our greatest need.
God’s Spirit is on me; he’s chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor. Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the burdened and battered free, to announce, “This is God’s time to shine!” Luke 4:18 (MSG)
Some people are “poor” in spirit, others are prisoners of their sins, and the blind are spiritually blind.
I used to work with a guy, and he didn’t believe that God was real. After some discussion, I finally asked him, “What would you have to see to believe?” He sat there and thought about how to answer the question for what seemed like eternity. I broke in and said, “Nothing comes to mind, does it? And here’s why: no matter what God did for you to prove his existence, it wouldn’t be enough. Your mind would then try to reason the proof away.” He turned to me with sadness in his eyes and responded, “You’re right.”
Now faith means putting our full confidence in the things we hope for, it means being certain of things we cannot see. It was this kind of faith that won their reputation for the saints of old. And it is after all only by faith that our minds accept as fact that the whole scheme of time and space was created by God’s command—that the world which we can see has come into being through principles which are invisible. Heb. 11:1-3 (Phillips)
I was attending a retreat many years ago. I was a young man at the time and preparing to enter the ministry. During our free time on Saturday afternoon, I went for a hike. The trail took me to the top of a cliff that overlooked some woods below and, further out, the lake.
As I was admiring the beauty of it all, I suddenly heard a voice in my head that said, “If you have so much faith in God and trust him so much, then take a step off this cliff. God will save you” Honestly, it scared me. I wanted to do it to prove I believed in God and by how much.
I inched forward, making my way closer to the edge, and I raised one foot off the ground. I hesitated, but I almost did it. Then I thought that’s nuts! I felt bad as I made my way back down to the retreat center, as if I had failed God.
When I entered my cabin, I saw my friend, Brian. He noticed the strange look on my face and asked, “What’s wrong?” I didn’t want to admit what I had done, but he kept insisting I share with him, so I told him what had happened. Then he told me one of the most profound statements (Steve) I have ever heard. He said, “Mark, God does the supernatural only when the supernatural is needed!” I have never forgotten those words. In short, I would have gotten hurt if not killed, and I’m sure that would have pleased the devil a lot.
Brian’s words are true, and you can see that when you read the Bible. Like when the Israelites walked across the Red Sea on dry ground to escape Pharaoh. (Exo. 14:29) Or when Phillip was transported to another city after baptizing the eunuch. (Acts 8:39) And don’t forget when Jesus calmed the storm by speaking to it. (Mark 4:35-41)
Those were just a few of the supernatural things God did in the Bible. Also, Jesus warns us not to tempt God. In other words, don’t purposely put yourself in a situation tempting God or “testing” God to do something.
The scripture “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” is found in Deuteronomy 6:16. In the context of the New Testament, this verse is referenced in Mathew 4:7, where Jesus responds to the devil during His temptation, emphasizing the importance of not testing God. This principle is crucial for believers, as it teaches that true faith does not require testing or proving God’s existence but rather trusting in His divine authority and promises. (Source: Bible Hub.)
God will take care of you. Consider Psalms 91. Trust him but also use wisdom and common sense when walking with your God.
“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep.” — John 4:11
“The well is deep”—indeed! The well of human nature is even deeper than the Samaritan woman knew. Think of the depths inside you, the depths of your thoughts and your feelings, of your hopes and your fears. Do you believe that no depth is too deep for Jesus?
Imagine that there is a fathomless well of trouble inside your heart. Then Jesus comes and says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1). Do you reply, “But, Lord, the well is too deep. You’ll never draw quietness and comfort up from it”? It’s true; he won’t. Jesus doesn’t bring anything up from the wells of human nature. He brings it down from God above.
If we’re looking inside ourselves for the answers, diving into the wells of our incompleteness, we’ll only succeed in placing limits on God. Sometimes, we limit God by forgetting what he’s done for us; sometimes, we limit him by remembering. We remember how far we’ve allowed him to go for us in the past, and we think that he can never go any further. But God has no limits; God is almighty. As disciples, we must believe this fully. To believe in God’s almightiness means believing in the very thing that seems to challenge it. We find it easy to believe that God can sympathize with us, but when it comes to something we’ve already decided is impossible, we shrug and say, “God can’t do everything.” God’s ministry is infinitely rich; we impoverish it when we talk like this.
The reason some of us are such poor specimens of discipleship is that we don’t believe in an almighty God. We have Christian attributes and experiences, but we aren’t abandoned to our Lord. Beware of the satisfaction that comes from sinking back and saying, “It can’t be done.” You know it can, if you look to Jesus.
I write a lot about the subject matter above. I thought you all might enjoy hearing from one who walked with God about 100 years ago on this matter, but yet his words are still relevant today.
When you are expecting a package from Amazon, do you ever track the package? Like, actually watch the little Amazon van move on a map. I can’t get it to work on my phone, probably because I suffer from techunsavvy syndrome, but I can on my desktop PC. It’s kind of cool to watch as the driver gets closer to your house and the number of stops before you go down until you see, “You’re the next stop.”
That’s when I get excited and go sit on the stairs to watch out the window. Can you tell I am retired? You should see the delivery guy’s face when you open the door just as he is about to set your package down. As if, “How did you know?” I usually have to say, “Go ahead. Take the picture to prove it was delivered.”
For believers in God, it seems as if the most challenging aspect of our faith is waiting for God to answer our prayers or wondering whether He has heard us at all, because we don’t see anything happening. Wouldn’t it be cool if somehow, we could “track” our answered prayer or “package”? If we could see that we were the next stop on God’s route. Or if our answer was “Out for delivery.” That would certainly make things easier and more comforting, but would it be faith?
It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him. Heb. 11:6 (MSG)
A few years ago, I prayed and asked God to heal my finger of Dupuytren’s disease. He did, but I did not see total healing for four months. God’s latest miracle in our finances took almost 6 months to be delivered. A tracking program would have been helpful. But though I did not know “when” I chose to believe anyway.
If you have prayed and asked God for a miracle and have not seen the answer delivered yet, do not despair. God has heard you, and I assure you, He is acting on your behalf in a way that will not harm you but in a way that will help you believe in bigger miracles in the future. And when you testify to God’s goodness and greatness in your life, it will, in turn, help someone else to believe for a miracle in their own life.
Believing in God is more than a religious choice—it’s a deeply personal decision that shapes how we see ourselves, others, and the world around us. For many, faith is the anchor that holds steady in life’s storms, offering hope, direction, and peace when everything else feels uncertain.
1. A Source of Unshakable Hope
Life can be unpredictable, filled with challenges that test our strength. Believing in God provides a hope that isn’t dependent on circumstances. It’s the quiet assurance that no matter how dark the night, there’s a dawn ahead—because God’s promises are constant.
2. A Guiding Moral Compass
Faith in God shapes our values and decisions. It encourages compassion, honesty, forgiveness, and humility. When we believe in God, we’re reminded that our actions have meaning beyond the moment, influencing not just our lives but the lives of those around us.
3. Comfort in Times of Pain
Suffering is part of the human experience, but belief in God offers comfort that pain is never wasted. Many find strength in knowing that God can bring purpose out of hardship, turning trials into testimonies.
4. A Sense of Belonging and Identity
Believing in God reminds us that we are not accidents—we are created with intention and love. This truth gives a deep sense of belonging, knowing we are part of something greater than ourselves.
5. Motivation to Live with Purpose
Faith inspires us to live intentionally, to serve others, and to make choices that align with eternal values rather than fleeting trends. It shifts our focus from “What can I get?” to “How can I give?”
Final Thoughts
Believing in God doesn’t mean life will be free from struggles, but it does mean we never face them alone. It’s a relationship that brings peace in chaos, clarity in confusion, and joy in the everyday moments.
If you’ve ever wondered about faith, maybe this is your invitation to explore it—not as a set of rules, but as a journey toward hope, love, and purpose.
But Jesus looked at them and said, With men this is impossible, but all things are possible with God. Mat. 19:26 (AMPC)
I grew up in church. I heard all of the great testimonies of what God did, like the time He parted the Red Sea and the children of Israel walked across it on dry ground when Pharaoh’s army in Egypt was chasing them. That is just one of hundreds shared with us in the Bible.
I have no problem believing every one of them. Perhaps I have the gift of faith. Yet others try to minimize or explain them. It’s as if they try to use their own intellect to understand God. That never works! God cannot be minimized or reduced to fit within the limits of our minds! Honestly, it seems like a feeble attempt to minimize the power and importance of God. I think doing that helps them reduce the reason they should accept him and his Son, Jesus.
That kind of thinking, for those who have accepted God and his Son, Jesus, hurts them from believing God can do anything to help them in their own time of need. The times when they need a “walk across on dry ground” miracle in their own lives.
Recently, this topic came up in my men’s Bible study group. The gentleman sitting next to me turned and said, “Mark, your God box is bigger than most.” I looked at him and said, “Are you kidding me? I don’t put God in a box at all!”
Believing in God, as I do, has allowed me to see so many miracles in my own life. Sometimes, I’ll share them in some of the blogs I write. I’m not special, but when I read in the Bible that “with God, all things are possible,” I simply believe it. Doing so allows me to ask God in prayer for anything, even miracles. Does He always answer? No, or at least in the way I want Him to, or by the deadline I try to impose, but I trust God to do things His way.
I challenge you, today, to take God out of the box. Allow Him to roam free in your life. To stop imposing your own limits on Him. Then, take him at his word. Ask for dry ground. Ask him for directions and guidance. Ask, and believe for that miracle that only God can do. If you do, you will be amazed at what He does. And then, the next time you need anything, you will turn to the God who can do anything!
“She died because not enough people prayed.” I heard those words once in my spirit after a friend of mine passed away with cancer. I have never mentioned this until now. Why? Because I wasn’t sure if it was scriptural or something I made up. But after years of reading God’s word, I might be able to say it is.
Prayer, combined with faith, is a powerful force. Jesus said in Matthew 17:20, even a little can move mountains. We read in James 5:16 that the prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective. These are verses about one person praying. But what about groups of people praying?
Matthew 18:20 states that when people pray together that Jesus is in their midst, therefore, making their prayers more powerful.In Acts 1:14, we see where the early church joined together in prayer daily.
When I was a child, perhaps I was about nine years old, one Sunday morning, there was a commotion in church while the pastor was preaching. I don’t recall her name, so let’s call her sister Hawthorne, an older woman cried out, stood up, and then collapsed. We had several firemen who attended our church, and they rushed to her aid and started CPR. She had died. Of course, as time passed, about fifteen minutes, more and more people were looking at what was going on than listening to the pastor.
Reverend H.D. Pieratt finally noticed and, being the man of God that he was, asked, “What is going on?” One of the firemen responded, “Sister Hawthorne has died.” He asked, “Did you pray?” When the reply came back, “No,” he said, “Church, let’s pray.” We did. As soon as “Amen” was said, sister Hawthorne got up. She said she was fine but was encouraged to go to the hospital anyway.
There is power in corporate prayer! Then I have to turn my attention to the scripture in Deuteronomy 32:20:
“How could one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them,and the Lord had closed them up?”
Deuteronomy 32:30 emphasizes the power of divine assistance, illustrating that with God’s help, even a small number can achieve great victories against overwhelming odds.
So, do I believe that some situations, needs can only be accomplished if enough people know about it and pray? Yes! Is there a certain number? I don’t think so, but when someone has a need, we should spread the word, not as gossip, but as a call to prayer, so that we will be obedient in making our request known (to man) and to God, so God can fight for you!
brady, mark a. 