The Groomsman’s Journal
“He who has the bride is the Bridegroom; but the groomsman who stands by and listens to Him rejoices greatly and heartily on account of the Bridegroom’s Voice. This then is my pleasure and joy, and it is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:29-30 Amplified Bible
Week Two: The Bridegroom Speaks About Questions
The Bridegroom’s Word, Written on your Heart
The Bride asks: “Jesus, My heart is cluttered with unanswered questions. They cast a shadow of doubt, blanketing my mind with anxiety and layering my soul with fears. I wait, anticipating Your answers and when You don’t respond to me right away, my mind goes crazy with doubts. I don’t understand Yourways. I wonder why? Why, my Lord?” What has the Bridegroom spoken to you concerning His response to your inquisitive heart? What has He said to you about the questions you have when it comes to His plans for your life season?
WEEK TWO: DAY ONE AND TWO
My Questions
I want to understand; Arrogant in attitude; motives are selfish; fretful; anxious in nature; motivated by unbelief; stir up my mind and soul; give me an uncertain will; cause unbalanced emotions; evoke fear in my soul; are the same as a voiced unbelief; doubtful, disrespectful, impatience; stir up attitudes of unbelief;
God’s Plans
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For me to trust Him completely
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God’s plans are complete
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To keep a good attitude at all times
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To be respectful to Him even when I don’t understand
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God’s plan is not trite
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God’s plan for me embraces the eternal
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Purposeful, encompassing the all of today, tomorrow and forever
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Increase my belief and faith
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God’s plan is to rid me of insecurity
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Perfect love relationship which yields no fear in me
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God’s plan for me is finished and good
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God’s plan for me is to trust His wisdom always
“Truth In” Application To My Life
No To Fretting
I do fret, especially when my expectations lead me away from God’s plan and when He reroutes me and it shakes my faith up. I can see at these times of uncertainty, this is when I need to guard my heart from disrespectful questioning of God. No matter what I am “growing through” my life should always honor God in my thoughts, motives, attitudes and actions.
No To Fear
Fear will always lead me to fretting and worry and these two fleshly devices continually stir up my soul emotions with doubt that leads to despair and despair that leads to disrespect of God. It is okay to question God with a pure heart motive, but not okay to interrogate Him with an arrogant spirit. When I don’t understand what God is doing, this is the time to pray for an increase in faith. Bowing in surrender and submitting all my expectations at the feet of Jesus is always better than questioning Him.
No To Unbelief
Why? Because I AM! How can we even form the words WHY if we love God completely? This grips my soul today. Why? Because I AM! Where there is unbelief it is followed by doubt and acted out with disrespect towards You, Lord God. Change my heart to complete belief in You! I agree, that uncontrolled-undisciplined anxiety generates fear that will encase my soul in doubt and slow my active faith into a dead end.
No To Doubt
Lord, I need to check my heart for disrespect every day and make sure when I question You, it is not out of unbelief, motivated by doubt and never with an arrogant attitude. When I step out in humility and ask God a question, it will always be with a motive of learning more of Him, and desiring to be more like my AWE-GOD.
No To Disrespect
Waiting for answer from God should be done in trust and with respectful heart attitudes. No answer from God is not a trite thing, it is providential and purposeful and when our reality does finally embrace His solution, we will seize the eternal mystery in our today and be in AWE of it, and very grateful that we waited on Him and did not interrupt the flow of His peace by our arrogant, disrespectful questioning of His Way, which always works out for our best.
No To Pride
I need to guard my heart better with God’s Word. My soul attitude is really influenced by unbelief. I realize when unbelief is the compelling motive behind my questions, that my attitude is muddied with self-seeking pride. The Bridegroom asked: Do you think you have sufficient wisdom from your life-experiences to create the all-inclusive perfect plan for your life?! No I don’t! But when my attitude gets stirred up by the doubts I entertain in my mind, I can step out on a false front of pride with my own concocted wisdom and quickly do I fall.
DAY ONE – TWO
Matt.14:27-33 But immediately He spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I! Do not be afraid!” 28 Peter replied to Him, “Lord, if it is really You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 He said, “Come!” So Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the effects of the wind, he was frightened, and he began to sink, and he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus extended His hand and caught him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those in the boat worshiped Him with awe-inspired reverence, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!” Amplified Bible
“FleshOut” My Questions – My Attitudes
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Lord is this really you? Fear is stirred up when we question if God is with us.
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My questioning of God’s way is a spoken doubt that negatively impacts my faith.
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My questions take my eyes off of Jesus.
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My questions spoken arrogantly are me yielding to my fears.
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If I stay in followship of Jesus first, I will have less fearful questions.
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I hope that every doubt, every question I have is dispelled by this verse alive in my soul. Truly Jesus, You Are The Son Of God.
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I love that… how God identifies Himself in the face of fear. Take Courage! I AM! Stop being afraid, stop questioning Me.
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When fear presides in my moment I need to have an Omnipresent-Reality Check. Yes! My God Is Always Being. He Is Lord- He Reigns. All questions leave me.
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I like how Peter identified God before He stepped out on the water. Lord Is This You? Jesus said: Come! May it be so in my life. Jesus, may I identify You first before I question You.
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Why do we doubt when the I AM is forever present in our day? From moment to moment His reality-His Truth is reigning! Why do we question God when He is with us?
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Truly You Are The Son Of God! Jesus! May my heart always SHINE with this glory glowing Kingdom Truth as I believe in You and let go of my questions.
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Take courage in the I AM! I am activating my faith in Omnipresent-Omnipotence. AWE-GOD! Always present in power and His truth!
“TruthIN” God’s Precepts
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God is able to calm my negative soul emotions with one command.
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Courage comes as we take our eyes off the life storm and fully face God.
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God’s desire is for us to not be afraid, to not let fear take us over, but let faith reign in us.
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When we cry out to God to save us, He is able and He does.
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God will show up in our storms and show us Who He is and we will be awed.
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God is with us, always and we have nothing to fear.
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Jesus saves us immediately when we call on Him.
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We can step out in faith on any stormy sea and stay above water if we are focused on Jesus.
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My courage is strengthened as I recognize the presence of Jesus and respond in faith.
“Truth In” Application To My Life
Yes To Followship
Walking out into the unknown, my faith will not endure if I start out on the shaky ground of doubt and unbelief . I must step out in faith instead of reacting this way: Lord is this really you? This can’t be the way You are taking me? I can’t do this. This is more than I can handle. Where is my focus? It is more on my circumstance than on Jesus. This is why I lose my way during the tough times of life and end up in a dead end. How do I get dead-ended in despair? I start dancing back and forth between followship and fear. My questioning heart then begins to unsettle my spirit as doubt stirs up a soulish storm which negatively impacts my faith. At this point, I am yielding to my fears instead of submitting wholly-holy to Jesus in followship of Him.
Yes To Guarding My Heart
If I guard my heart during the hard life seasons, I will make the right choice, the first time, staying in close followship with Jesus, keeping Him in my eyesight always. A guarded heart always leans into followship that creates a huge decrease in the fearful questions that derail my faith and create dysfunction in my soul. Lord decrease my leading out fearfully on my own and increase my faith, belief and followship of You.
Yes To Trust
God always has the solution that is best for me and faith is believing in this great truth. Even if at times I don’t understand the expression of God’s answer, I can trust in His love for me. Lord, I reach out my hand to you today, me the one with the little faith and I pray that this will be a new season for me of a faith in You, a trust that grows deeply as I grip the hand of My Almighty AWE-GOD!
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John 14: 1-31 DO NOT let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated). You believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely on God; believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely also on Me. In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places (homes). If it were not so, I would have told you; for I am going away to prepare a place for you. And when (if) I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. And [to the place] where I am going, you know the way. Thomas said to Him, Lord, we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way? Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me. If you had known Me [had learned to recognize Me], you would also have known My Father. From now on, you know Him and have seen Him. Philip said to Him, Lord, show us the Father [cause us to see the Father–that is all we ask]; then we shall be satisfied. Jesus replied, Have I been with all of you for so long a time, and do you not recognize and know Me yet, Philip? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say then, Show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me? What I am telling you I do not say on My own authority and of My own accord; but the Father Who lives continually in Me does the (His) works (His own miracles, deeds of power). Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me; or else believe Me for the sake of the [very] works themselves. [If you cannot trust Me, at least let these works that I do in My Father’s name convince you.] I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father. And I will do [I Myself will grant] whatever you ask in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in (through) the Son. [Exod. 3:14.] [Yes] I will grant [I Myself will do for you] whatever you shall ask in My Name [as presenting all that I AM]. If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever– The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, desolate, bereaved, forlorn, helpless]; I will come [back] to you. Just a little while now, and the world will not see Me any more, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. At that time [when that day comes] you will know [for yourselves] that I am in My Father, and you [are] in Me, and I [am] in you. The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.] Judas, not Iscariot, asked Him, Lord, how is it that You will reveal Yourself [make Yourself real] to us and not to the world? Jesus answered, If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him. Anyone who does not [really] love Me does not observe and obey My teaching. And the teaching which you hear and heed is not Mine, but [comes] from the Father Who sent Me. I have told you these things while I am still with you. But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] You heard Me tell you, I am going away and I am coming [back] to you. If you [really] loved Me, you would have been glad, because I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater and mightier than I am. And now I have told you [this] before it occurs, so that when it does take place you may believe and have faith in and rely on Me. I will not talk with you much more, for the prince (evil genius, ruler) of the world is coming. And he has no claim on Me. [He has nothing in common with Me; there is nothing in Me that belongs to him, and he has no power over Me.] But [Satan is coming and] I do as the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know (be convinced) that I love the Father and that I do only what the Father has instructed Me to do. [I act in full agreement with His orders.] Rise, let us go away from here.
“FleshOut” My Questions – My Attitudes
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My questions doubt God’s Providence.
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My questions show I don’t believe in what God has promised.
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I would not doubt or question Jesus if I knew Him better, trusted His heart more.
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I would not be questioning God if I believed in Who He was.
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My questions would be tapered off if I looked at my heavenly hindsight more often.
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My constant questioning of God shows the need to develop a steadfast belief.
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I question even that God is with me. I ask Him constantly, “Where are you God”? With what I know, this is really a foolish question and I know now that it displeases Him.
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I want to know about my life more than I do about His life. If I chose the latter, then I would not have so many questions.
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My questions motivated from the enemies fear and intimidation create in my soul an unsettled cowardly attitude that blames and stirs up angry bitterness.
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When I stay focused on my questions instead of the solution, I have a soul sickened by doubt. My focus remains on self, instead of on God.
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I need to more prepared by the Word of God, then I will have less arrogant questions, less attitude and more truth.
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When I question God I am bucking His Sovereignty, His Providence, and His Purposes at play in my life.
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Running questions over and over in my mind create ruts of panic in my soul, where fear can run through and slam my spirit with doubt.
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My attitude of dissatisfaction causes questioning in my soul.
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If I was satisfied with Jesus alone, then I would have no anxious, worried, questions.
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When I question Jesus, I also question the Father God.
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Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me? I love that question because it aims at the core of my faith. Do I believe in the Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit! Yes I Do. If so, then why do I question God so much, why don’t I just believe!?
“TruthIN” God’s Precepts
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God is always prepared ahead of time.
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The works of God convince us of His Providence in our lives.
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Any question of doubt is answered by Jesus saying He is the way, truth and life to all of our questions.
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Believe in Jesus just because of the daily miracles that are occurring.
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Believe in Him more because He is Who He says He is.
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The foundation to all unbelief is not knowing Jesus enough
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There is the power of God in all who steadfastly believe in Him.
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Jesus has given us all that He is, He holds nothing back from us. Every answer has a solution in Him.
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The answer to our every question is: The Holy Spirit, our Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby.
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The Spirit of Truth is constantly with us.
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In everything of my life, I am not left alone. God does not leave us to our own vices to work things out on our own.
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We are never left comfortless, desolate, bereaved, forlorn or helpless. God is with us. Always.
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When we love God, wholly-holy, He will manifest Himself in our lives.
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Followship has the benefit of God’s love, presence and relationship.
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If we really love God, we will keep His Word and obey Him, trusting Him and Him alone.
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There is no question that Jesus is not prepared to answer us, He is our Solution in the all of our everything.
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God left with us His Holy Spirit of truth to answer every question we may ever have.
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We will not forget anything Jesus has said, the Holy Spirit will remind us.
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God has left us with His Peace and when we are in fellowship with Him, His peace alleviates all fear, anxiousness, and panic.
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Jesus prepared us by telling us everything ahead of time. It is all in His Word. He also left the Holy Spirit to remind us.
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Jesus is in control, no one, even satan has no power over him.
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Everything in our lives, good or bad is according to the power and will of God.
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God demonstrates His love to others through the things He allows in our lives.
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Jesus will satisfy every question and clear up every misunderstanding.
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I love how Jesus calls the Holy Spirit, The Spirit of Truth. He promises us that we will recognize Him and that He will always be with us. I love that because to me it means Truth is always with me and in me. I always have access to God’s Truth and this revelation is just huge to me right now. AWE-GOD!
“Truth In” Application To My Life
The Solution Is Jesus
Jesus is the solution, He is the way, the truth and the life of every question I could ever ask Him. My answer is always found in Him. When I steadfastly believe in God, then I am not questioning Him constantly, I am focused on His Kingdom and the Work of His Kingdom more than I am on me. My self-focus needs to decrease by knowing God’s heart, by believing Him, by focusing on Him, being about His business and letting Him work out my life according to His Will.
Submission To Jesus
Do I believe He is in control of my life? Do I trust Him? Lord I believe, increase my belief. More of You, less of me. More of trust and faith in You, less of dependence on what I know. Increase my faith Jesus. Jesus has given us all that He is, He is wide open to us, have we done the same? Am I submitted wholly-holy to Jesus as He is to me? Submission goes both ways. Respect goes both ways.
Got Questions?
My relationship with Jesus should be 100 percent give-give. He has given me 100 percent, I too must reciprocate with the same. There are no questions that remain unanswered, the answer is in the Holy Spirit Who is in us. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth in me. The Holy Spirit is my Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby, He is the answer to my every question.
True Followship
True followship does not question God. The more I know Him, the more I love Him, the more I obey Him, the more He is with me. My wholly-holy followship of God comes with benefits of His love, presence and personal relationship. I will have no questions that He is not the whole answer to them. Answers and understanding will not be something I seek, I will seek Him. Love is trust and trust leads to obedience that is wholly-holy led by faith and belief in Jesus Christ, our Savior, our Lord. There are no unanswered questions when Jesus is present and active in relationship with us, there is only trust, faith and belief in the Solution to all things, Jesus Christ.
Impactive Faith
God has given me the gift of His Peace. It is in the taking of this gift, that my questions no longer have any power of fear or anxiety over me. In wholly-holy relationship with Jesus, there is His promised peace, it blankets my soul and assures my understanding that He is in control. As I stay in vital-vertical relationship with the Father God, Jesus and The Holy Spirit in me, this active relationship brings the Presence of God alive in me and this intimate trust quiets every question with a sweet impactive faith.
Jesus Is Always Working For Us
Jesus did not leave us unprepared. He left His living Word and the Holy Spirit, therefore there are no unanswered questions, and there should be no dread, doubt, anxiety, worry or fear in us. The Sovereign power of God is at work in my life, His purposes are in play right now in every situation, whether good or bad, God is in it, God is working out His good for me and His Kingdom. There are no questions that don’t have a good solution. Wait. Trust. Believe.
Kingdom Purpose
Everything that touches our lives has Kingdom purpose, we should not question, we should point people to Jesus. He is the Solution. He is the understanding that we seek. We don’t need an answer, we need Jesus. The Providence of God has a twofold purpose. God is for us and God is for His Kingdom. The first part I need to decrease my care about, the second part, I need to increase my focus on. I am deeply rooted to this world, it is time to let go of my questions that are all about this world and dig my life roots deeply in God’s Kingdom.
Increase In Me
I love that my AWE-GOD is always being. God always has a plan for us, His Kingdom purposes are always in play all around us. “Have I been with all of you for so long a time, and do you not recognize and know Me yet?” Lord help me to live my life so in love with You, knowing You more each day so You never have to say that to me. I hope so Lord. Increase my faith, increase my love for You, Increase in me.
Post A Sentry
“If anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these….” Lord it is my hope to steadfastly believe in you from moment to choice, I hope huge to be found in Your wisdom and strength. God has given me His peace to be the guardian of my soul, keeping out anxiety, agitation, fear, doubt, intimidation, loneliness and hopelessness. Today I have decided to post the sentry of God’s peace. God’s peace is my gate-keeper. I will cling to the Infinite Love of my AWE-GOD and act in full agreement with the sovereign will of God in my life as I run this course, with His Kingdom purposes at play all around me.
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James 1:1-8 Testing Your Faith
James, a servant of God and the Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, to the twelve tribes of Israel who are spread across the earth: I send you my warmest welcome! Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line—mature, complete, and wanting nothing. If you don’t have all the wisdom needed for this journey, then all you have to do is ask God for it; and God will grant all that you need. He gives lavishly and never scolds you for asking. Wisdom, as James understands it, is the ability to live life well and make good decisions. Wisdom doesn’t come from old age or hard knocks. Wisdom begins with knowing and depending absolutely on God, who is never stingy when it comes to wisdom for those who seek it. He supplies all the wisdom we need when we ask. But when we try to go it alone—without God—trouble is around the corner. The key is that your request be anchored by your single-minded commitment to God. Those who depend only on their own judgment are like those lost on the seas, carried away by any wave or picked up by any wind. Those adrift on their own wisdom shouldn’t assume the Lord will rescue them or bring them anything. The splinter of divided loyalty shatters your compass and leaves you dizzy and confused. The Voice
“FleshOut” My Questions – My Attitudes
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Unbelief feeds my questions with an attitude of fear.
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God will test my faith. Will I react out of my flesh or respond out of my spirit?
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I am so busy questioning God about what I see, that I never stop to ask Him for the wisdom I need.
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My questions clearly show my double-minded and divided heart and they bring forth out of my soul an unstable restlessness.
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When I am bent on questioning God’s designs for my life, I am being led by my fickle feelings that are being fed by dysfunctional thinking. This is not a good attitude to be in when I am making decisions.
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An undivided heart is a divided loyalty between God and this world and it shows itself clearly in the unending questioning of God.
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Divided loyalty is tossed back and forth between doubt and faith as I question God on things I should trust Him for.
“TruthIN” God’s Precepts
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The testing of my faith is good for me, it builds my endurance and leaves me with peace.
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God’s wisdom lacks nothing.
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Tests cause my endurance to strengthen and grows my faith.
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The question God loves is when I ask Him for wisdom.
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God lavishes wisdom on those who ask Him for it.
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Ask God for wisdom when your heart attitude is wholly-holy trust.
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A loyalty distributed between God and this world fosters a divided heart and a shaky faith.
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God does a thorough work in us and He uses tests and trials to help us to grow up, mature into Kingdom readiness.
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God’s Joy cannot co-exist with doubt and does not activate in a dubious soul, divided in non-pleasant ways by truth and lies.
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If I want God’s joy during a trial, I must keep a mind stable in truth be reliable in faith, certain in trust and active in hope.
“Truth In” Application To My Life
A Tested Faith
When God tests my faith, I am either going to trust Him or doubt Him. Fear or Worry? Belief or Trust? Anxiety or Joy? I need to listen to Jesus’ voice daily because there is no time as this life season, it is unique to all mankind. I need the wisdom of God, I need to submit my life to God’s voice, instead of taking so much time and energy to question Him on things I am not yet meant to understand.
Prepare To Endure
God wants to prepare me to endure and grow through my life seasons without doubt and fear, to trust Him wholly-holy and bring great honor to Him and His Kingdom in times such as these. I need to submit myself to God and let Him “flesh out” my soul. I need to be openhearted to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to replace my fear, anxiety, doubt and questions with His truth that replenishes my soul with faith, belief and trust. Basically said, I need less of me and more of God.
Attitude Of Joy
Joyful is the last thing I would think of if I was enveloped in a trial. The Lord is speaking to me about questions so here is one for me to ponder. Why is that so? I know God, I know He is working in the unseen for my good. So why don’t I approach trials with an attitude of joy and great expectation in God? How do I change this in me Holy Spirit? I think I need to flip-flop my thinking from being centered on this world to being a part of the Kingdom.
The Kingdom Is My Home
The Kingdom is my home. What do trials do to help me in my home town? When God tests me, it is to prove my faith, to develop in me Kingdom Characteristics. Do I endure? Do I have steadfastness? Do I have patience? Thus the test! It is really a joyful thing when someone cares about you as much as God does about us, seeing that we lack in nothing. This is the why of our trials and this should make us feel secure and joyful. God Cares.
The Bridegroom’s Voice is a book penned by KimberlyMac as Jesus spoke to my heart His Kingdom perspective to “flesh out” our souls and prepare us by putting His “Truth in” our spirit, truth which will help us endure this life season and bring honor to God and His Kingdom. The above is taken from The Groomsman’s Journal of KimberlyMac from The Bridegroom’s Voice week two where the Bridegroom shares with the Bride His perspective of our questions. The above journal is my response to the truth Jesus has shared with me from day one and two in our conversation on questions.
***I highly suggest you purchase a copy of The Bridegroom’s Voice and start your journey with the Bridegroom, Jesus, listening to His Voice, fleshing out your soul and letting Him put His Kingdom truth in your spirit. You too can have a Groomsman’s Journal.
***If you are on the Journey with The Bridegroom’s Voice, please leave a comment to share with others from your Groomsman’s Journal. Thanks for being an encourager. God bless you MUCH, KimberlyMac