“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Matthew 6:24-26
I’ve read these verses so many times they’ve become like second nature. I’ve taught Bible studies on relying on God using these verses. And I’ve encouraged my family through the truth in these verses so many times. But still, every time my plans don’t work out or I can’t see how we are going to make our goal or pay rent or the road ahead looks hard; I worry and start to get sick to my stomach. I know in my heart God cares more for me than “the birds of the air” but in my humanness and weakness, I doubt He will come through for me. I know this is hard to believe that someone who lives in a foreign country completely by faith would have doubts or anxiety about God’s provision but I am just as human as the next person. Then I get mad at myself and ask “how can you so easily forget what God has done for us?” I know I am not alone in my struggle. I know believing God will care for you is a hard lesson to learn but I think to myself “isn’t the distance God has brought you so far enough evidence that He will always come through?” And the answer is that it is but we as humans still on this earth easily forget. We need a constant reminder of how good God is! That He truly is enough for us! That God is the only source of joy and peace!
I believe that is why Paul in everyone of his Epistles repeats how Jesus saved him or how beautiful Christ was to him. God also commanded the Israelites in Deu. 11:20 to write His words on their doorposts of their houses and on their gates so that their children would follow after God. How often do I tell my story of God’s love for me? Do I meditate on God’s promises to me? Life is a war and what person goes in to a battle with out a shield? In Eph. 6:16, Paul tell us to take up the Shield of Faith to extinguish the darts of the evil one. Our shield is our Faith but we have to renew our faith by remembering what we believe and why. I will sometimes lose faith then I stop believing because I start to doubt either WHO God is or WHAT God has promised He would do for me. One of my favorite verses is Lamentations 3:22-23 “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”
God is never disappointed in me! This is sometimes hard for me to believe but it’s true. God’s mercy and faithfulness is always there for me. No matter how faithful I am. God is alway ready to renew my faith when I doubt! He is always ready to pull me up into His arms and chase my fears away! He always provides and cares for me. I will never let myself forget my Beloved’s love for me or His amazing grace!
My latest fear was that Brooke and I would not be able to get an apartment here in Colombia or would not be able to afford a good one. After a month and half it seemed like we would never get one. But two days ago God blessed us with a beautiful apartment beyond our wildest dreams! And we have already purchased our beds and they will be delivered in a couple of days! God is so good! We are praying for a couch, table and washing machine. But I know God is able!!!
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Matthew 6:24-26 
I’ve read these verses so many times they’ve become like second nature. I’ve taught Bible studies on relying on God using these verses. And I’ve encouraged my family through the truth in these verses so many times. But still, every time my plans don’t work out or I can’t see how we are going to make our goal or pay rent or the road ahead looks hard; I worry and start to get sick to my stomach. I know in my heart God cares more for me than “the birds of the air” but in my humanness and weakness, I doubt He will come through for me. I know this is hard to believe that someone who lives in a foreign country completely by faith would have doubts or anxiety about God’s provision but I am just as human as the next person. Then I get mad at myself and ask “how can you so easily forget what God has done for us?” I know I am not alone in my struggle. I know believing God will care for you is a hard lesson to learn but I think to myself “isn’t the distance God has brought you so far enough evidence that He will always come through?” And the answer is that it is but we as humans still on this earth easily forget. We need a constant reminder of how good God is! That He truly is enough for us! That God is the only source of joy and peace! 
I believe that is why Paul in everyone of his Epistles repeats how Jesus saved him or how beautiful Christ was to him. God also commanded the Israelites in Deu. 11:20 to write His words on their doorposts of their houses and on their gates so that their children would follow after God. How often do I tell my story of God’s love for me? Do I meditate on God’s promises to me? Life is a war and what person goes in to a battle with out a shield? In Eph. 6:16, Paul tell us to take up the Shield of Faith to extinguish the darts of the evil one. Our shield is our Faith but we have to renew our faith by remembering what we believe and why. I will sometimes lose faith then I stop believing because I start to doubt either WHO God is or WHAT God has promised He would do for me. One of my favorite verses is Lamentations 3:22-23 “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” 
God is never disappointed in me! This is sometimes hard for me to believe but it’s true. God’s mercy and faithfulness is always there for me. No matter how faithful I am. God is alway ready to renew my faith when I doubt! He is always ready to pull me up into His arms and chase my fears away! He always provides and cares for me. I will never let myself forget my Beloved’s love for me or His amazing grace!