You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair
~Joyce Meyer
We have been trying to sell our house since March.
The first offer was $40k below list price. We rejected it.
The second all cash offer was negotiated to a decent price. As we proceeded down the path, it turned out the guy offering to buy the house for his girlfriend lied about having the cash to buy it and had to back out of the deal once he had to show proof of funds.
The third offer was negotiated to a price that we liked better than the second offer. The buyer was pre approved for financing, had the house inspected, we fixed the requested repairs, and we thought we were on our way to closing. But our realtor called saying the buyer's employer cut his pay by 20% and he no longer could afford to buy our house.
Since relocating in March, we have been paying two house payments, two gas bills, two insurance bills, two electric bills, two home insurance payments, and two water bills.
But this post isn't about complaining. This post is about praising God for testing times that prove character.
Lori shared last week about the peace that comes when we surrender. Yesterday Christy warned us not to allow the past to robs us of our future.
Today I encourage you to look trouble right in the eyeball and dare to praise God and believe in His promises for you!
This scripture about Abraham always emboldens me.
Roman 4: 19-22 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,21being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Notice what I underlined in vs 19. Abraham faced the fact that his and Sarah's bodies were well beyond childbearing years. He faced it! He wasn't in denial. He didn't ignore the fact.
Faith is engaged only when you consider the circumstances head on. You operate from a position of power when you fully know what is going on and can still fiercely say
I WILL NOT DIE, BUT LIVE; AND PROCLAIM WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE
Psalm 118:17
I WILL PRAISE THE LORD AT ALL TIMES. I WILL CONSTANTLY SPEAK HIS PRAISE
Psalm 34:1 (my favorite verse)
Take that devil! That is how we grow in faith.
When we sold our first house, I wasn't bold at all. We bought our house right before the housing market tanked and when were relocated, we were upside down on the house and had a huge balloon payment due in a few years. We sold that house at a $50k loss. Back then, I faced that number--$50,000--and crumbled under its weight. I wasn't strengthened in faith like Abraham. I wanted to be but I couldn't get past how big that number was. I didn't consider how BIG my God was. Fifty grand is a lot of money...that we didn't have. I panicked and my panic never left me.
When we got notice that we were moving from our second house, this time I was determined to keep my eyes on a BIG God. For me, that meant my eyes where wide open during the whole process. I looked at the details and disappointments of the first offer, the first fall through, and then the second fall through and was able to say
My God will supply all of our need according to riches in glory Phil 4:19
And He is. You may have not noticed what I wrote before, so I'll highlight it again
"Since relocating in March, we have been paying two house payments, two gas bills, two insurance bills, two electric bills, two home insurance payments, and two water bills."
We have paid EVERY bill that has come from the old house and the new one AND we are not racking up debt to do it.
My great big GOD is supplying for us! This is proving to me that this time... I am being like Abraham. My faith is strengthened in this trial. This story isn't over and I am not going to wait until it is over before praising God for who he is, what he is doing, and what he has done!
If you are waiting for God to do something in your life...line the path to that promise with praise, thanksgiving, and unshakeable faith.
In all things we give thanks. Not everything is good but your goodness can be seen if we look for it, expect it, and fight for it. Disappointment hurts and brings us down, but praise and faith lifts us back up. God, I pray for those who are waiting. I pray they are strengthened in the waiting process. Silence the lying tongue of the enemy and open their ears to the truth of your word. Amen
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