God

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Life Is Better Together – Why We Need Each Other

We were created for community! God’s design for His people is that we live, grow, and serve together. In “Life Is Better Together,” we’ll explore why biblical fellowship matters and how we find joy, strength, healing, and purpose when we choose connectedness over isolation.

Friends, have you ever found yourself feeling like you had to go it alone, that your burdens were yours and yours alone to bear? Our world often says, “Make it on your own!” But the Bible proclaims a radically different message: we need each other!

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another…

Today, we’ll see that God designed us to live in community. We will look at why this matters, explore what stands in our way, and discover practical steps to build the kind of shared spiritual life that Christ intended.

I. Created for Community

From the very beginning, God’s design has been rooted in relationship. In Genesis, after creating Adam, God looked upon him and declared:

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” (Genesis 2:18 NIV)

Imagine this: Adam dwelled in paradise with God, surrounded by beauty and peace. Yet, God Himself determined something was missing—relationship. Adam needed someone with whom to share the journey.

A. God’s Design
God is relational. Even before creation, Father, Son, and Spirit shared eternal fellowship—perfect unity. We are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27 NIV), which means we’re created for meaningful connection, too.

B. Isolation was Never God’s Intention
God remedies Adam’s aloneness with Eve. Out of that first couple comes the family, and from family comes community. The very foundation of life as God designed it is relationship.

C. We Reflect God Best Together
Love, by definition, requires another person. You can’t demonstrate kindness, forgiveness, or grace when you’re alone. It’s in community that we learn to love sacrificially—to forgive, to encourage, to spur each other on.

Have you ever tried clapping with one hand? It just doesn’t work. But bring two hands together—and suddenly you have applause, rhythm, and music. That’s what happens when God’s people come together.

II. The Call to Spur One Another On

Let’s look again at our key passage:
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds…

A. Biblical Model
The word “spur” is strong. It means to prod, motivate, to stir up! The Christian walk is not a spectator sport, but a group hike. We push and pull each other to keep moving forward in faith.

B. Growth Happens in Relationships
Think about it. Iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17 NIV).

New King James Version
As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

When we come alongside others, we help each other grow:
– Accountability—someone to ask how we’re really doing.
– Encouragement—someone to cheer us on when we falter.
– Learning—wisdom is passed from one generation to another.

C. Meeting Together is Essential
…not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another (Hebrews 10:25 NIV).

Being together isn’t optional for followers of Jesus. It’s the difference between coal staying hot in a fire or cooling when alone.

Picture a fireplace—when the logs are stacked together, they create a blazing fire. Separate them, and each one smolders out. Community keeps our faith burning bright.

III. Encouragement and Support in the Christian Journey

Let’s be honest: life isn’t always easy.
…encouraging one another (Hebrews 10:25 NIV).

A. Everyone Faces Struggles and Doubts
From job losses to family challenges, from health scares to personal crises—none of us is immune. Even the strongest saints need a neighbor to lean on.

B. Your Presence Matters
Do you know the Greek word for []“encourage” (parakaleo)? It literally means “to come alongside.” God puts us in each other’s lives for a reason. You might be the answer to someone’s prayer for hope today!

C. The Church as a Place of Strength
The early church understood this. (42) They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (44) All the believers were together and had everything in common… (Acts 2:42, 44 NIV).

Church should be a spiritual hospital, a training camp, and a family reunion all rolled into one.

I once heard of a family who went through a crisis. Their faith community rallied—meals delivered, prayers prayed, shoulders offered to cry on. Years later, the family testified, “We saw Jesus in our friends’ faces.”

IV. Barriers to Community – And How to Overcome Them

If community is so wonderful, why don’t we all just jump in? The truth is, many things stand in the way.

A. Busyness
Let’s face it: schedules fill up fast. We start prioritizing soccer games, Netflix binges, or work projects—and gathering with others gets squeezed out.

Q: What are you prioritizing over connection with your church family?

B. Past Hurts
Maybe you’ve been burned before. It’s tempting to pull away when community wounds us. But God calls us to risk again—to trust that with His help, healing is possible.

C. Cultural Pull Toward Individualism
We celebrate “self-made” people. But Christian maturity isn’t developed in isolation. Paul reminds us:
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12 NIV).

D. Intentional Commitment
…not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing… (Hebrews 10:25 NIV).
To build relationship, we must show up—again and again. It takes intentionality.

I heard someone say, “I don’t need to go to church to be a Christian!” That may be true—just like you don’t need to go home to be married. But if you stay away too long… things get cold real fast!

V. Practical Ways to Live This Out

A. Prioritize Gathering
Make worship, small groups, and gatherings a regular part of your schedule. Don’t let other priorities crowd this out.

B. Encourage Each Week
Look for someone to bless—send a note, make a call, pray for someone specifically this week.

C. Get Involved
Serving alongside others forms deep bonds. Whether it’s ushering, teaching, cooking, or visiting—the more you serve, the more connected you become!

D. Pray for God’s Eyes
Ask, “God, show me who needs encouragement, and help me to see them through your eyes.” Then take a step.

Think of community as a garden. It takes planting, watering, weeding, and patience. But the harvest is worth it.

  • Who has made a difference in your life?
  • Who might God want you to encourage this week?
  • Are you willing to push past comfort, busyness, or hurt, to step into the fullness of Christian community?

God’s vision for us is not just to believe, but to belong. To be His family, loving and supporting one another.

Call to Action:
This week, take one tangible step—reach out to someone, commit to regular gathering. Be the answer to the “why” behind “we need each other.”

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help us see one another as gifts. Give us courage to gather, grace to forgive, and eyes to notice the lonely and struggling among us. Knit us together into a community that shows the love of Christ to a watching world. Amen.

Your Sister In Christ,

Pastor Kris Belfils

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Faith Through The Fire!

When the Fire Comes

Have you ever faced a season so challenging, so hot with pressure, so overwhelming that it felt like you were walking through fire?

Let me start with a story. Several years ago, wildfires ravaged vast areas in California. One elderly couple, returning to the charred remains of what was once their home, walked through the ash and debris with heavy hearts. But amid the total devastation, they found something remarkable—an old, fire-baked ceramic plaque still sitting on the fireplace. It read, “God is faithful.”

And He is.

You see, the fires of life—those spiritual, emotional, financial, or physical trials—threaten to consume us. But they also reveal to us something invaluable: God is not absent in the fire. In fact, God is there like He has always promised.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.” (Isaiah 43:2 NKJV)

Notice it doesn’t say IF you pass through deep waters—it says WHEN. Every believer must walk through difficulty. But here’s the promise: you won’t walk through it alone.

Let’s explore four truths about trusting God through the trials we face.

I. God’s Promise: He Is With Us in Trials

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…” (Isaiah 43:2 NKJV)  

“The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” (Psalm 34:18 NKJV)

Let’s be real—when you’re in the middle of hardship, you may feel like God’s a million miles away. But that feeling is not the fact.

According to Isaiah and Psalms, God is not distant in our trials—He is near. In fact, He’s often more evident during our suffering than in our smooth sailing.

Think about your own life. When did you feel you grew closest to God? It wasn’t when everything was easy. It was when everything seemed to fall apart—and you found He was holding everything together.

The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego comes to mind. Thrown into the fiery furnace because they wouldn’t bow to an idol, they should have perished. But what did King Nebuchadnezzar see?

He said, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire? But I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” (Daniel 3:24–25 NKJV)

In the fire, they met Jesus.

Think about that. The fire that was meant to destroy them became the place where they encountered the very presence of God.

Let that sink in. The place designed to burn you down might just be the place where God shows up and walks with you.

II. God Shapes Our Faith in the Fire

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” (James 1:2–3 NKJV)  

Let me make a confession—my first reaction in trials is rarely joy. I doubt I’m alone. But James says we are to count it all joy when we fall into trials?

Why? Because God is not just protecting us—He’s perfecting us.

“…that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory…” (1 Peter 1:7 NKJV)

Think about gold. It’s purified through fire. Gold doesn’t fear the fire—it needs it. The fire doesn’t change the gold—it reveals it.

Your faith is the same. Trials don’t create your faith; they show the quality of your faith. And in fire, impurities rise to the surface—fear, doubt, pride—and God refines us.

A quote from A.W. Tozer puts it this way:  

“It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.”  

That sounds harsh, doesn’t it? But what Tozer is getting at is the truth that deeply tested faith becomes deeply rooted trust.

Sometimes we pray, “Lord, make me more like You.” But then we freak out when fiery trials come. Scripture assures us: the fire is doing just that—it’s shaping us.

What if we stopped seeing fire as punishment and started seeing it as preparation?

III. God Has Purpose in Every Trial

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NKJV)  

I know it’s hard to hear when you’re in pain, but it’s true: God has a purpose for your trial.

Romans 8:28 reminds us that all things—yes, even the bad ones—are ingredients in God’s mixing bowl to bring about good.

“But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10 NKJV)

Not all things are good. Cancer isn’t good. Divorce isn’t good. Abuse isn’t good. But our God is a Redeemer. He can take broken pieces and create something beautiful.

Job understood this at a gut level. After losing his children, his health, his wealth, and even the support of his wife and friends, Job declared—

 “He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10 NKJV)

Imagine watching someone make a cake. Would you want to taste a raw egg by itself? Probably not. What about a spoonful of flour? Gross, right? But when the ingredients are mixed together and placed in the oven—they become something sweet.

Your life is the same. God is mixing the good, the bad, the ugly—and yes, the heat is necessary—to produce something that will nourish others and glorify Him. We have to realize life isn’t always about us. Our lives can minister to others. 

He is not a careless chef. He is the Master Baker. Trust the hands you’re in.

IV. Responding to Trials with Trust

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5 NKJV)  

So… how do we respond when life gets hard? Do we panic, try to fix everything, control people, stay up all night, overthink? Or do we lean in to trust?

Trusting is hard when we don’t understand. But Scripture tells us—we’re not meant to understand; we’re meant to believe.

It doesn’t say, “Understand all His ways.” It says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart…”  (Proverbs 3:5 NKJV)

Did you know that the first thing swimmers are told when drowning is to stop flailing? The struggle makes them sink faster. But the moment they stop fighting and learn to float—it saves them.

Maybe that’s a word for someone today. Stop flailing. Be still.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10 NKJV)

Stillness doesn’t mean pretending it doesn’t hurt. Stillness means we choose surrender. We say, “God, even when I don’t see a way—I know You are the Way.”

Let your trials draw you closer, not harden your heart. Trust the God who walks beside you.

Faith That Endures the Fire

Let’s return to where we started:

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you… the rivers shall not overflow you.” (Isaiah 43:2 NKJV)

No matter what fire you’ve walked through—or are walking through now—you are not walking alone. He is with you.

Not only that, but you are being shaped, refined, and renewed.

And if you wonder whether God really sees you, listen to what He says just one verse earlier:

“But now, thus says the LORD… ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.’” (Isaiah 43:1 NKJV)

You are His. That’s your identity. That’s your security. And that’s where your faith can stand—even through the fire.

Call to Action

If you’re in a fire today—don’t walk through it alone.

Let the fire forge faith. Let it refine your hope. Let it bring you deeper into the presence of the One who never leaves your side.

Closing Prayer

Father,  

Thank You that fires don’t intimidate You. In fact, You move right into the center of them with us. For every broken heart, every wounded soul, every uncertain step—we ask for Your comfort, Your presence, and Your refining work. Teach us to trust You. Let our faith deepen as we walk through the fire—knowing You walk right beside us. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Your Sister in Christ,

Pastor Kris Belfils

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Waiting Well: Trusting God in Delay

Isaiah 40:31 NKJV

“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”

I. Introduction: The Challenge of Delay

If you’ve ever had to stand in a long DMV line, wait for a table when you’re starving, or sat in traffic with your gas light on, then I can tell—you already know the agony of waiting.

Let’s be real. Waiting is not something we’re naturally good at. We live in a culture of Amazon Prime, microwave meals, and Wi-Fi that better not buffer for more than one second. 

We want things now. 

We want our healing now. 

Our breakthrough now. 

Our spouse now. 

Our promotion now. 

But here’s the truth: God’s timeline is not our timeline, and His ways are not our ways.

Have you ever prayed for something only to wait…and wait…and wait some more?

We find ourselves asking, “God, why are You taking so long?” Or maybe, “God, have You forgotten about me?” But I want to encourage you today with this truth: Waiting is not wasting. When we wait in faith, we grow in strength. God often does His deepest work in us during the delay.

Let’s let Isaiah 40:31 serve as our foundation for this message: “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength…” (Isaiah 40:31 NKJV)

There is promise in the pause. There is purpose in the delay. God does some of His deepest work in the waiting. But there is also a right way to wait—waiting well.

II. Waiting Is Not Passive – It’s Active Faith

Waiting on God doesn’t mean sitting back in despair or folding our arms in bitterness. Waiting, in a biblical sense, is about moving forward with trust and expectation that God is doing something—even when we can’t see it.

Psalm 27:14 NKJV

“Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!”

David, the man after God’s own heart, reminds us that waiting is an act of courage. It doesn’t look passive—it looks brave. So what does active waiting actually look like?

A. Active Waiting Involves:

I. Prayerful Expectation  

We don’t wait in silence; we wait in prayer. Not just pleading, but listening. Not just asking for outcomes, but inviting God’s perspective.

Colossians 4:2 NKJV

“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.”

Prayer changes us. It realigns our hearts with God’s heart. In prayer, we move from “God change my situation” to “God change me.”

2. Obedience in the Present  

Waiting well means staying faithful to what God has last told you. Maybe God called you to serve, to stay, or to give—and you haven’t seen fruit yet. Obedience is the plow that tills the soil of blessing. Sometimes the next step comes after continued obedience in the current one.

3. Cultivating Trust Over Time  

Trust isn’t built in seconds; it’s forged over long seasons. To wait well means you let go of control and surrender the timeline to God.

Let me ask you: Are you waiting with frustration or with faith? Because waiting with faith is what activates strength in the spirit.

III. God’s Timing Is Perfect

God’s clock operates on a sovereign schedule. Sometimes we feel late. Other times we feel like God is late. But hear me: God may be slow by human standards, but He is never late by heavenly design.

God observes from a divine aerial view, while we only see what’s ten feet ahead.

Isaiah 30:18 (NIV) 

“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” 

There’s a blessing in the waiting, not because we love the delay, but because we learn to trust the One who holds time in His hands.

A. God’s Delays Are Often for Our Development

I. To Refine Our Character  

Have you ever noticed that some of the strongest people you know have also gone through some of the longest waits?

James 1:3 NKJV 

“Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”

Waiting reveals what’s in us. It reveals our idols, our impulses, and our priorities. But it also builds spiritual muscle—patience, humility, perseverance.

2. To Prepare Circumstances

God isn’t just working in you; He’s working around you. That delay may mean He’s preparing a person, a place, or a purpose behind the scenes. What you call a “setback” may actually be a set up.

Think of a symphony. Every instrument must come in at just the right moment. If any section starts too early, it ruins the beauty. God is composing a masterpiece in your life, and He will cue your moment at the perfect time.

B. Delay Is Never Denial

Habakkuk 2:3 NKJV

“For the vision is yet for an appointed time…though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come…”

God has not said “no”—He has said “not yet.” And if God gave you the dream, you better believe He’ll bring it to fulfillment.

IV. Promise of Strength and Renewal in the Wait

There’s a beautiful truth tucked inside Isaiah 40:31. The word “renew” doesn’t just mean restore. In Hebrew, it implies exchange. When we wait, we exchange our weakness for His strength.

Let that sink in.

When we’re exhausted, anxious, and tired of waiting, God doesn’t just pat us on the back—He gives us His strength.

A. Levels of Strength in Isaiah 40:31:

I. “Mount up with wings like eagles” – Supernatural breakthroughs  

This is the moment when God moves suddenly and you soar. These are the divine accelerations.

2. “Run and not be weary” – Sustained momentum  

We don’t always get the mountaintop, but God gives us grace to endure the race.

3. “Walk and not faint” – Daily faithfulness in the mundane  

Sometimes the miracle is just making it through another Monday with your peace intact. Faithfulness isn’t always flashy—it’s consistent.

And all three aspects of strength come not before the wait, but through the wait.

V. How to Wait Well

So what can we do right now to make sure we’re waiting well?

A. Be Anchored in Word and Worship

Get in your Bible. Find Scriptures that speak to God’s promises and speak them over your circumstances. Did you know that our Worship shifts atmospheres. Even in silence, your song becomes a weapon.

B. Build Community Support

Waiting can feel isolating. The enemy loves to whisper lies when you’re alone. Surround yourself with people who remind you of God’s faithfulness. Find a Life Group. Stay connected. That’s why coming to church is so important.

C. Watch for God’s Hand in the Small Things

Sometimes we miss God because we’re expecting Him to shout, but often times He comes in a whisper. It’s in the text from a friend, the song on the radio, or the sunrise you didn’t deserve to see.

Elijah waited for a dramatic display—and God didn’t come in fire, wind, or earthquake. He came in a still small voice (1 Kings 19:11-12). Sometimes the whisper is the wonder.

VI. Conclusion: The Reward of Those Who Wait

Let’s land the plane right where we started:

Isaiah 40:31 NKJV

“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength…”

Waiting doesn’t have to deplete you—it can deepen you. Waiting doesn’t mean punishment—it points to preparation. And waiting doesn’t mean you’re forgotten—it means you’re being formed.

What if the waiting is where the blessing begins? May we be a church that doesn’t just wait… but waits well.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 NKJV

“He has made everything beautiful in its time.”

There is beauty in divine timing. I encourage you to lean into the wait with faith. It’s not wasted time; it’s a sacred space where God molds your heart, sharpens your purpose, and strengthens your spirit. The door will open in His perfect timing. Let us choose to wait well. 

Your Sister In Christ,

Pastor Kris Belfils

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Fear Not: Trusting God In Uncertain Times

Let me start with a little confession—I am not a big fan of roller coasters. One time, on a youth group trip, I got talked into riding one of those sky-high looping monsters. As we were slowly climbing to the top—click, click, click—I could feel fear creeping in. My stomach was in knots. My mind raced. And despite being surrounded by friends, I felt utterly ALONE in that moment. Ever been there?

Now, roller coasters are one thing—but life has its own terrifying heights: job loss, doctor reports, broken relationships, financial uncertainty, or global crises. Fear, in all its forms, is one of the most universal human experiences. And yet, over and over again, Scripture tells us, “Do not be afraid.” In fact, it’s one of the most repeated commands in the Bible. One theologian said, “Fear not” appears in the Bible 365 times—one for every day of the year.

But here’s the tension: How do we “fear not” when we live in a world filled with things that seem fear-worthy?

Today, we’re going to walk word by word through Isaiah 41:10 and discover how to move from fear to faith—how to live grounded, even in uncertain times. If you have your Bibles or Bible apps, would you turn with me to Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)?

Isaiah 41:10 (NLT) —  

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”  

I. God’s Command: “Don’t Be Afraid”  

Isaiah 41:10a – “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you…”

I want you to notice something powerful: “Don’t be afraid” is not a soft suggestion—it’s a direct command from the Almighty God. This isn’t a pep talk. It’s a command wrapped in a promise.

Why does God command us not to fear? Because He knows how easily our hearts drift into fear, especially when we feel alone, uncertain, or overwhelmed.

Fear feeds on isolation. It tells us lies like “You’re by yourself in this,” or “No one understands,” or “You’re in too deep.” And this is where God counters that lie:

“Don’t be afraid, FOR I AM WITH YOU.” 

The presence of God is the antidote to the power of fear.

King David knew this well. In Psalm 23:4 (NLT), he writes:  

“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.”

Not if I walk through the valley—but when.  

Fear is not about circumstances—it’s about focus. []Are we focused on the darkness of the valley, or the presence of the Shepherd?

God never promised we wouldn’t have valleys—He promised we wouldn’t walk through them alone.

Let’s pause and reflect: What valley are you walking through right now? Does fear have a grip on your heart? Have you forgotten who is walking with you?

II. God’s Identity: “I Am Your God”  

Isaiah 41:10b – “Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God…” Some translations state “Dismayed.”

Discouragement is the natural next step after fear has taken root. When we fear long enough, we start to lose hope. We become emotionally drained. Spiritually depleted.

But God inserts a personal declaration right here:  

“I am YOUR God.”

He is not just a God. He is not just the God of Abraham or Moses or the prophets. He says to YOU: “I AM YOUR GOD.”

This personal belonging reminds us that our identity is not rooted in our problems—it’s rooted in God’s promises.

Jeremiah 32:27 (NLT) reminds us who is speaking here.  

“I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?”

Let that sink in. The Creator of the cosmos—the One who spoke galaxies into existence—says, “I am your God.” And then He asks, “Is anything too hard for me?”

Let me tell you about a woman named Maria who was diagnosed with cancer. At first, fear rushed in like a flood. But one of the things she clung to was this truth: “I am your God.” She said, “If this God carried Daniel through the lion’s den, and carried Paul through prison, He can carry me through chemo.” Her faith can remind all of us that our God is not distant and impersonal—He is close and relentlessly personal.

So let’s ask ourselves honestly: Who or what have we allowed to become our god in difficulty? Anxiety? Control? Our own efforts?  

God is saying, “Put your trust in Me—I am YOUR God.”

III. God’s Provision: Strength, Help, and Support  

Isaiah 41:10c – “I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

This verse moves from command to identity to provision. It’s not just “Don’t be afraid” and “I’m God”—but it’s this: “I am WITH you and I’m WORKING for you.”

Let’s break down these three divine assurances.

a. “I will strengthen you”  

This isn’t just physical strength—it’s emotional resilience, spiritual energy, courage to take another step.

In 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT), Jesus tells Paul:  

“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”  

So Paul responds, “So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9b NLT)

God gives you boldness in the moments you feel most broken.

b. “I will help you”  

This promise is active. God is not passive. He doesn’t sit on the sidelines of your life.

Psalm 46:1 (NLT) says:  

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.”

Always ready. Not sometimes. Not maybe. Not if you earn it. Always.

c. “I will hold you up with my victorious right hand”  

This is not just about surviving the storm—it’s about overcoming it with His strength.

Romans 8:37 (NLT) declares:  

“No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.”

God is not offering you just a hand-up—He’s offering His victorious right hand. The same hand that raised Jesus from death is the hand holding you.

Conclusion: Will We Trust…?

Fear is real. We’ve all felt its icy grip.

But here’s the hope: God is greater than our fears.

• His presence extinguishes fear.

– His identity strengthens courage.

– His provision guarantees victory.

So here’s the question:  

Will we choose fear, or will we trust the One who commands us, “Fear not”?

Let me finish with a beautiful call from Isaiah 43:1 (NLT):  

“But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, ‘Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.’”

You are not abandoned. You are ransomed. You are named. You are His.

• Invitation to Trust

Right now, I want you to take a moment in God’s presence. With open hands and bowed heads, identify where fear has taken root in your life.

Is it your health? Your future? Your marriage? A dream that feels dead?

Then hear God’s whisper to your heart today:  

Isaiah 41:10 –

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will hold you up.”

Let’s respond to that promise. Let’s lean into His presence instead of our panic.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word today. Thank You for reminding us that You are greater than fear. For every heart that’s burdened today, would You lift it? For every weary soul—would You strengthen? For every discouraged person—would You hold them up with Your victorious right hand? We choose to trust You… not our fears. You are our God. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Blessings,

Pastor Kris Belfils

Laughter Is Good Medicine!
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Laughter Is Good Medicine!

LAUGHTERI’ve recorded this message on video if you would like to watch it HERE or by clicking onto the picture above.

I’m sure you have heard the saying: “Laughter is good medicine!?” Is it true? Where did that phrase come from?

This teaching video is designed to bring some laughter to your day and quite possibly a “skip in your step!”

Proverbs 17:22 KJV
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Proverbs 17:22 The Passion Translation
A joyful, cheerful heart brings healing to both body and soul.
But the one whose heart is crushed
struggles with sickness and depression.

Proverbs 17:22 NLT
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

Cheerfulness is shown by always being ready to greet others with a welcoming word, offering words of encouragement, being enthusiastic about the task at hand, or having a positive outlook on the future. Such people are as welcome to others as pain-relieving medicine.

I love it when I am with my sister or a good friend and we end up laughing over silly things. Leaving them and heading home I feel relaxed, refreshed, and at peace. It’s funny how that works but that is how we all are created. I use to be frustrated that my bad emotions would have a negative affect on my health. In the case of positive emotions, which I include being happy and laughing in this category, I am thankful that my emotions affect my health. It affects me mentally, emotionally, and even physically.

The average adult laughs 17 times a day while a child laughs 300 times a day. There is a reason why we have always heard that laughter is the best medicine. Both humor and laughter can be effective self-care tools to help us cope with stress, especially in the workplace. Finding humor and laughter in stressful situations can give us a sense of perspective on our problems. And it’s good for our health. (https://www.uspm.com/does-a-laugh-per-day-keep-the-doctor-away/)

Here are just a few health benefits related to laughing…
-Improves your mood – can lessen depression, anxiety and help you relax.
-Improves your immune system – positive thoughts from laughter release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses.
-Laughter boosts the number of antibody-producing cells, which leads to a stronger immune system.
-Activates multiple organs – stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles.

Laughing is much more than an emotional response to something funny, it also brings a physical response. Laughing exercises several muscles in the body, including your abdomen, back, shoulders, and facial muscles. Also, laughter is a great workout for your respiratory system! Much like physical activity, such as running, which increases the endorphins that are released by your brain, laughter has the same effect on your body.

-Laughter causes you to gulp in large portions of air, which brings oxygen to your blood.
-Laughter strengthens the immune system.
-When we laugh our bodies release hormones and chemicals that have positive effects on our system. One of these chemicals is endorphins, the feel-good hormone.
-One minute of laughing burns the same number of calories as 6 to 10 minutes on a treadmill.
-Laughing raises your mood; joyfulness through laughter is the fastest way to create a positive state of mind.
-Laughing is good for the heart and improves blood circulation.
-Laughter can reduce pain and aid the healing process.
-Laughter creates and strengthens human connections.
It feels good to laugh.


Ways to Laugh More


1. Set the Intent to Laugh More. Make a resolution, or set the intent, of laughing heartily as often as you can. Setting a goal to laugh more is as important as setting the goals to get more exercise, eat healthier, and drink more water.

Tell yourself: “I resolve to laugh more”.

2. Include Laughter in Your Morning Routine. Many of us have a routine that we follow every morning to help set us up to have a great day. How about adding laughter to your morning routine?

One way you can do this is by getting a year-in-a-box calendar that will give you a quick laugh when you glance at the joke for the day. Choose a year-in-a-box calendar that tickles your fancy and put it right next to your alarm clock.

Another idea is to get yourself a joke book and read one joke every morning.

3. Smile More. Yes, I know: smiling is not laughing. However, smiling also has a myriad of benefits. When you smile, happy changes begin to take place automatically, both internally and externally. In addition, you can think of smiling as a warm up for laughing.

One way to remember to smile more is to have smiling cues sprinkled throughout your day. There are a number of ways to do this, including getting yourself a coffee mug that makes you smile. That way, every time you get yourself a cup of coffee you’re reminded to smile.

Here are three more cues you can use to remember to smile:
-Smile as you step into the shower.
-Smile every time you’re about to enter your home.
-Smile every time you open the refrigerator.

4. Read the Funnies. If you’re one of those people who still reads the newspaper offline—like me—don’t skip the funnies. After reading about everything that’s going wrong in the world, a little levity will do you good.

5. Befriend a Funny Person. Some people are just naturally funny. They may have a way with words, or they may have a wacky way of looking at the world. These people are gems. If you find one, befriend them immediately.

6. Have a Favorite Comedian. There are lots of great comedians out there, but almost everyone knows of at least one comedian who really appeals to their own particular sense of humor. Choose your favorite comedian and look for some of their comedy routines on YouTube.

7. Follow a Funny Sitcom. Although I advocate watching less TV so that you have more time to read—or work on projects that are important to you—I’m not one of those people who argue that you shouldn’t watch any TV. Just make sure that you’re watching shows that you really enjoy.

8. Have More Fun on Date Night. Keep your relationship strong by laughing more with your partner. On date night, go to a comedy club. If you want to stay in, make some popcorn and watch a funny movie.

9. Read a Funny Book. I often recommend that you read the classics, but you should also read books just because they’re funny. A genuinely funny book is one of life’s greatest pleasures.

10. Find a Little Kid You Can Hang Out With. Little kids haven’t forgotten how to laugh yet. They’ll laugh at just about anything, and there are few things more infectious than a little kid’s laugh.

11. Get a Pet. More specifically, get a dog. Dogs make us laugh because. . . well, just look: (Insert video of funny dog here)

12. Play Fun Games With Friends. Playing competitive party-style games with a group of friends you enjoy hanging out with will have you laughing in no time.

13. Learn to Laugh at Yourself. Most of us take ourselves too seriously, which limits our ability to find the humor in difficult situations. In addition, it can make us uptight and overly sensitive to what other people may be thinking of us.

Learning to laugh at yourself takes some of the pressure off, and it will allow you to be more authentic and vulnerable (both of which are desirable character traits). Here are two ways learn how to laugh at yourself:

Give yourself permission to be silly. At the right moment, being silly is a plus.


Look for the funny side of things. When you’re upset over something, ask yourself: “How is this situation funny”? Humor is a great way to deal with adversity and can even turn a negative into a positive.

14. Take Up Something New. When you try something new–whether it’s to draw, perform a karate kick, or learn to roller blade— your initial attempts will likely be clumsy and even ridiculous. That is, funny.

And, since in the point above you learned how to laugh at yourself, taking up something new is very likely to result in lots of laughs.

15. Have a Favorite Comic Strip. My favorite carton strip of all time is Calvin & Hobbes. I have all of Bill Waterson’s Calvin & Hobbes books. When I need a pick-me up I grab the pile of books, sprawl out on my bed, and look through them.

16. Put Laughter Quotes Up On a Bulletin Board. Put up a bulletin board where you’ll be sure to see it often, and fill it with laughter quotes. Here are some to get you started:

“Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand.” — Mark Twain
“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.” – e. e. cummings
“If laughter cannot solve your problems, it will definitely dissolve your problems; so that you can think clearly what to do about them.” – Dr. Madan Kataria

17. Do More of What Makes You Laugh. When was the last time you had a really good laugh? What were you Doing? Do more of that.

18. Start a Joke Jar. Get your whole family to laugh more by starting a joke jar. Do the following:

Get a nice jar and some scraps of papers.
Find some funny jokes and write them down on the scraps of paper. Ask your family members to do the same.

Put the scraps of paper with the jokes written on them in the jar.
At dinner time have someone reach into the jar, take out a joke, and read it out loud.
Here are some family-friendly jokes to get you started (they’re Easter oriented since it’s almost Easter):

Q: What do you call a rabbit with fleas? A: Bugs Bunny!
Q: Why shouldn’t you tell an Easter egg a joke? A: It might crack up!
Q: What kind of book does a rabbit like at bedtime? A: One with a “hoppy” ending.

Haha

Thanks for stopping by!

Pastor Kris

How To Overcome Fear of the Coronavirus!
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How To Overcome Fear of the Coronavirus!

Fear, we all have to deal with it, sometimes everyday, in our life. Fear can paralyze us if we allow it too. Fear does serve a useful purpose in that it is a vital response to physical and emotional danger—if we didn’t feel it, we couldn’t protect ourselves from legitimate threats. But if we allow it to rule above our faith, and what God wants us to do for His Kingdom, the devil wins. Remember that the devil is full of fear.

I’ve heard the saying, “Fear is nothing more than faith in the devil.” Ouch! I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to ever have faith in the devil! We are serving the enemy when we fear and pull away when God wants us to push forward and persevere and expect a breakthrough.

It’s amazing what we lose in life by listening to fear instead of listening to God. Choose to listen and obey God’s voice and not your fears. You will gain so much and stay on the right path.

Everyone struggles with fear!

What fear can cause
Fear can cause us to reduce the size of God and elevate the size and opinion of man.
Fear can cause us to reduce the size of God and elevate the size of our problem.
Fear can cause us to lead people in the wrong direction.
Fear causes us to stay quiet when we should clearly speak up.
Fear causes us to be passive about an issue that The Lord has clearly brought to our attention.
Fear causes us to seek consensus rather than really seeking the voice of The Lord.
Fear causes us to not engage the broken, the hurting, the misfits and the neglected.
Fear causes us to refuse to embrace change. (Fear of the unknown)
Fear causes us to try and control things and take matters into our own hands rather than trusting The Lord and trusting others.
Fear causes us to conceal sin and shame in our lives when God’s Word is so clear that we should ask others for help.
Fear causes us to seek the easy decision, what’s comfortable rather than seeking the right one.
Fear makes us choose wrong choices.

So what do we do with our fear? I don’t know how you have dealt with fear in your past, but it is my heart to help you overcome any fear, and to realize God is bigger than anything that comes against you.

How to overcome fear

1. Overcome fear with faith.

Fear is the opposite of faith.

A.W. Tozer states:

Fear is of the flesh

and panic is of the Devil!

A.W. Tozer

It seems when we entertain thoughts of fear, and allow it to settle in our spirit, panic will set in. Many people have had panic attacks in their life all due to fear. Most of the time the fear is something we think will happen and not a factual outcome.

The Bible says, that Satan is like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8). He roars that he might make us afraid. The roar of a lion can actually paralyze its prey causing it to be its easy target. If Satan can create fear in us, we become an easier prey for him to destroy.

God offers us faith as Romans 12:3 says, “For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him.”

Everyone is given the measure of faith as a born again Christian. You have faith, you don’t need to pray for it. I don’t need to pray for faith, I just need to use the faith that I have. The more I use the faith that I have, the stronger it will get. Faith can grow and the only way it grows is if you use it. Faith is a powerful force that resides on the inside of our spirit. When it is released tremendous things can happen.

We have to have faith to get up in the morning. We have to have faith to raise our children, or drive in traffic, or get married and stay married. So also we need faith to overcome our fears. Faith is a decision we make about where we are going to put our trust. Our trust has to be in God and His Word. He is for you and not against you. He has great plans for you. He brings opportunities for you to walk in and wants you to walk in them fearlessly.

We can release our faith in three different ways: by praying, by saying, and by doing. Stop saying how you feel or think and start saying what God says about your situation. Allow your faith to arise in times of being afraid. The shield of faith is your best weapon to overcome the lies and roars of the enemy.

Eph. 6:16

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

This includes a shield of faith — “thureos” in Greek — a shield large enough to provide full protection from attack, covering the believer from head-to-toe during hand-to-hand spiritual warfare. Ultimately, the Lord is described as our Shield (as aforementioned). No matter who rises up against us, He covers us.

2. Remind yourself Who is with you!

God is and has always been with you. Even though you can’t see Him, even though you can’t feel Him, He is with you!

Isaiah 41:10
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

And Scripture tells us to cast our care on Him!

Psalm 55:22
Cast your cares on the Lord
and he will sustain you;
he will never let
the righteous be shaken.

3. Set Your Mind On Things Above!

Phill. 4:6 – 7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

This is what the Lord showed me concerning the Coronavirus:

Coronavirus: Is an enemy we cannot see yet we place our fears deeply in it. The results or evidence of the virus is: sickness, quarantine, panic, anxiety, Stress, and Death!

Faith In God: A Superior being we cannot see yet we place our trust in Him and the results or evidence of God is: peace, love, healing, joy, happiness, and LIFE and so much more!

What we focus on and what we put our trust in will be our God. I don’t know about you but I would rather put my trust, faith, and focus on God and not give place for anxious thoughts, panic, stress, and ultimately death. God is bigger than this virus! God is bigger than our fears concerning the virus and concerning anything that scares us. Fear of the unknown is tremendous. But we overcome this fear simply by placing our trust in God and believing that He is always with us and we can continue to live full abundant lives in the midst of this storm we are all facing!

4. Be courageous.

Courage is not the absence of fear, but courage is actually forward motion in the presence of fear.

God wants us to be strong and courageous. He spoke this to Joshua many times before he crossed over the water to possess the promised land.

Joshua 1:6 – 7 Amplified Bible
“Be strong (confident) and of good courage, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only you be strong and very courageous, that you may do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.”

Joshua was just getting ready to face the giants in the land and to possess the promises God gave Moses forty years earlier. He needed courage to be encouraged to go even in the face of any fears he may have experienced.

Hebrews 13:6 Amplified Bible
“So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?”

What can man do to me? Our flesh screams daily for being comfortable. Our spirit should be tenacious to overcome our flesh and to press forward with the new God has waiting for us.

The Webster dictionary speaks of being encouraged as: “to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope.” This is what we need to do for ourselves. We need to encourage ourself in the Lord. I have written on this in my article, “How To Encourage Yourself In The Lord.” It is the number one article on my Blog (krisbelfils.wordpress.com). Daily I have people reading that article and they found it by searching the internet on “How To Encourage Yourself.” Everyone of us need to be encouraged daily. If we lose our courage, we have lost the war.

Courageous is: possessing or characterized by courage; brave (dictionary.com).

We need to have brave hearts in this journey of life. Anyone can give up and retreat. It takes a courageous person to press on in the midst of fear or discouragement.

This is not a time to give up. It’s not a time to retreat and think all is lost. It is a time to be strong and courageous and get a glimpse of who God is in your life. He is Bigger than anything and everything you face!

I encourage you today to put your hope and trust in God and not in the Coronavirus. The Coronavirus only brings sickness, disease, anxiety, panic and death. God came to give us life and to have life more abundantly! We will get through this season. It is only a season! Life will go on after this season, and so will we!

Your Sister,

Pastor Kris Belfils

Promises of Psalm 103
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Promises of Psalm 103

Psalm 103 PromisesGod has promised us so many things in His Word. There are almost too many to count. We read these promises everyday when we read God’s Word. Often we never give it a second thought.

But if we would take the time to really look at these rich verses, we will become amazed, strengthened, and feel secure in our life daily. We need to be reminded of God’s compassion towards us through His promises. Let’s live our lives embracing these powerful promises. It is a broad place to stand. No sinking sand, only solid ground.

Psalm 103 NLT

I would like to show you all God has promised us in this powerful Psalm. King David wrote this and it was his song of praise of all God has done and is doing. It talks about the Father’s love towards us. Amazing to get in your spirit and embrace it daily.

The beginning of Psalm 103 is a cry of praise to a powerful God. David knew where His strength came from.

Psalm 103:1 – 2 NLT
Praise the LORD, I tell myself; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, I tell myself, and never forget the good things he does for me.

I love this because David was a man after God’s own heart. He understood and cherished His relationship with God as the most precious relationship he could ever have. David was quick to praise even in challenging times. He begins with praise and then starts telling of all of the wonderful things God has done and is doing.

Promises of Psalm 103

  1. Forgiveness for all our sins and does not punish, but loves us.

Psalm 103:3a, 10 – 12 NLT
He forgives all my sins… He has not punished us for all our sins, nor does he deal with us as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our rebellious acts as far away from us as the east is from the west.

This is the first of many promises David mentions. Note the importance of placing it first. It shows that David knew he needed forgiveness and how important it was for his life. All other promises pail in comparison. Placing it first above all other promises in this chapter shows David’s priority of needing forgiveness of all his iniquities.

God forgives us of all the wrong we have done. He doesn’t hold a grudge against us. Once God forgives, and He forgives because of what His Son accomplished on the cross, we are forgiven. No matter what you tell yourself, or others tell you; you are forgiven.

Did you know God is more ready to forgive then we are ready to repent? A broken spirit is the quickest way to spiritual wholeness. It almost sounds contradictory. Being broken and contrite before God will always open the door for God to heal and restore to wholeness. Being hard hearted, stubborn, or prideful does the opposite. It pushes you away from God because you are trying to do things on your own and haven’t given God control. It is His kindness that brings us to repentance.

Psalm 51:17 tells us that the sacrifice God wants is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, GOD WILL NEVER despise. Don’t stay in the place of bondage any longer, tell God you are sorry and ask His forgiveness. Repent means to not only ask for forgiveness, but to turn completely away from ever doing it again. You will feel free once you ask God to forgive you and walk away from it.

When we confess our sins and trust Jesus Christ, our sins are wiped away. They will not be held against us. We are freely and fully pardoned by the Lord and should forgive ourselves as well.

Forgiveness is not based on the magnitude of the sin, but the magnitude of the forgiver’s love. No sin is too great for God’s complete and unconditional love to wash away. The Bible does, however, mention one unforgivable sin–harboring an attitude of defiant hostility toward God that prevents us from accepting his forgiveness. Those who don’t want his forgiveness place themselves out of its reach.

Forgiveness means that God looks at us as though we never sinned. We are blameless before Him.

2. He heals us.

Psalm 103:b Amplified Bible
…Who heals [each one of] all your diseases.

Sin can make us sick, literally. Healing can come if we repent of our sin and receive God’s forgiveness. But that is not the only reason we get sick. Life happens. Our bodies do not last forever. accidents happen. God is not bound by the limitations of this world. He can overcome any threat in our lives—physical, mental, spiritual, or emotional.

Luke 5:12 – 13 NLT
In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he fell to the ground, face down in the dust, begging to be healed. “Lord,” he said, “if you want to, you can make me well again.” Jesus reached out and touched the man. “I want to,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared.

Jesus has the ability and the willingness to heal us. We are not bothering God when we pray for healing; we are expressing our faith and trust in him.

God’s healing can reach every level of our lives. His healing brings a joy and freedom that cannot be contained.

3. Redeems, rescues, and ransoms us from death.

Psalm 103:4a NLT
He ransoms me from death …

Amplified Bible
Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption…

We all are born into a sinful world. We all should perish and go to hell. But by Christ’s redeeming love, He rescues us from death and we will never perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

The Lord gives us absolute assurance: “I will rescue those who love me.” (Psalm 91:14) This passage does not give us license to be reckless. But it gives us the promise that when people and circumstances turn against us, God is for us.

Psalm 50:15 NLT
Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.

God promises to rescue us not only for our welfare, but for His glory. I love that! His name is at stake, and it will give Him all the glory. It is a win – win situation.

Psalm 72:12 – 14 NLT
He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. He feels pity for the weak and the needy and he will rescue them. He will save them from oppression and from violence, for their lives are precious to him.

No situation is too difficult for the Lord. The greater our need, the greater the depth of his love and compassion is for us.

4. He crowns us with mercy and loving-kindness.

Psalm 103:4b, 8, 17 – 18 Amplified Bible
Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy;…The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy and loving-kindness… But the mercy and loving-kindness of the Lord are from everlasting to everlasting upon those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, and His righteousness is to children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!

The promise is like a glorious crown that decorates the brow. A crown becomes a metaphor of the quality of God’s nature. God has tender mercies toward us “sinners.” It shows of His compassion towards us.

Only God can make something beautiful that was once wretched. Everyone of us are precious jewels that God has made from lost souls like you and I. We are forever-beautiful because of all that God has done in our life. How many of you are thankful for God’s loving-kindness? Me too.

The gift of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, is God’s ultimate expression of His love for us. Though he gives many other blessings, he can give no greater gift. The gift of the Holy Spirit is also an assurance of God’s love. Though it may be difficult to prove objectively, the Spirit gives solid assurances in our hearts.

Psalm 23:6 NLT
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.

God’s love pursues us everyday. We can be certain that God will continually shower us with his mercy and guard us in his love.

Psalm 31:7 NLT
I am overcome with joy because of your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul.

God understands our weaknesses and struggles without condemning us. He gives us joy to replace our anguish. Anguish means: excruciating or acute distress, suffering, or pain (dictionary.com).

God cares when we are in distress, or anguish, and has a remedy. He replaces it with His joy.

Obeying God will help bring healing, restoration, and fresh growth in our lives. We obey God because we are already loved, not in order to be loved. And as we obey, we are promised joy.

John 15:10 – 11 NLT
When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love. I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

Did you know that our obedience expresses our love for God? The more we obey God’s word, the more we truly love him and want to follow his ways.

5. He fills my life with good things so our youth is renewed.

Psalm 103:5 Amplified Bible
Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation] with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle’s [strong, overcoming, soaring]!

Wow! What a promise! God satisfies us with good things. What does that mean?

John Gill’s expedition of the entire Bible states about this verse:
With the good things in the heart of God, with his favour and lovingkindness, as with marrow and fatness; with the good things in the hands of Christ, with the fulness of grace in him, with pardon, righteousness, and salvation by him; with the good things of the Spirit of God, his gifts and graces; and with the provisions of the Lord’s house, the goodness and fatness of it; these he shows unto his people, creates hungerings and thirstings in them after them, sets their hearts a longing after them, and then fills and satisfies them with them.

Only God can give satisfaction to our souls. God is good. He is a good Father. His heart is good. His favor is good. His loving-kindness is good. His grace is good. His forgiveness and righteousness and salvation is good. Being filled with Who He is renews us and gives us strength just like an eagle.

Isaiah 40:29 – 31 Amplified Bible
He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound]. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted; But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.

I believe being filled with the Holy Spirit gives us energy to do what God calls us to do. Many times I have been quickened by the Holy Spirit and have suddenly gone from being extremely tired to feeling as if I could run around the city. This is a good reason to keep ourselves filled with God’s Spirit; we need all the energy we can get! God can empower you to face everything you need to do with renewed physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual strength.

The Holy Spirit will not energize us to be mean, hateful, selfish, or self-centered. He will give us strength and energy to do the things God has called us to do and to be kind, loving, diligent, and focused in the process.

6. God gives righteousness and justice to those treated unfairly.

Psalm 103:6 NLT
The LORD gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly.

He sees that justice is done to the oppressed. He is on their side. His law, his commands, his judicial decisions, his providential interpositions (just at the right time), are in their favor. This does not mean that it will he done at once; or that there will never be any delay; or that they may not suffer even for a long time – for this occurs in fact; but the meaning is, that God has their true interest at heart; that at proper times, and whenever and whereever there are any dealings of his in the case, his acts are in favor of those that are oppressed; and that there will be sooner or later such interpositions (cause to intervene) on their behalf as shall entirely vindicate their cause.

God only allows injustice to happen for so long, or a season, and then He intervenes. He is our defense in times of unjust treatments or false accusations. When we stand up and try to defend ourselves, we only end up looking bad and self-centered. But when we allow Christ to be our defense, the matter is settled. It doesn’t matter what man thinks, it only matters what God thinks. Again, He is our defense.

7. God knows we are weak and only dust.

Psalm 103:14 – 16 NLT
For he understands how weak we are; he knows we are only dust. Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone—as though we had never bee here.

Reading these verses can almost make you depressed, but they are there to remind us that we are weak and frail.

Barnes Notes states:
For he knows our frame – Our formation; of what we are made; how we are made. That is, he knows that we are made of dust; that we are frail; that we are subject to decay; that we soon sink under a heavy load. This is given as a reason why he pities us – that we are so frail and feeble, and that we are so easily broken down by a pressure of trial.

He remembereth that we are dust – Made of the earth. Gen_2:7; Gen_3:19. In his dealings with us he does not forget of what frail materials he made us, and how little our frames can bear. He tempers his dealings to the weakness and frailty of our nature, and his compassion interposes when the weight of sorrows would crush us. Remembering, too, our weakness, he interposes by his power to sustain us, and to enable us to bear what our frame could not otherwise endure.

We don’t have to try and figure things out all by ourselves when we go through trials or temptations, God knows what we are made of…. dust. We can lean on God for His guidance and help. He wants us to lean on Him and cry out to Him. The promise is that in verse 17 God’s love remains forever with those who fear him. He is faithful to His covenant, to those who obey His Word.

This is only one chapter in the entire Bible that has so many promises in it. Thinking of God’s great love for us overwhelms me. His presence engulfs me. We are so blessed to serve a powerful, risen, all knowing and loving God. He keeps His promises from generation to generation.

Embrace God’s promises in Psalm 103 in your life today. They are for you and I to live by and stand on daily.

Your sister in Christ,

Pastor Kris Belfils
http://www.KrisBelfils.com
http://www.HopeFellowshipSpokane.com
http://www.KrisBelfils.WordPress.com

Unlocking the Power of God’s Promises
by

Unlocking the Power of God’s Promises

Unlocking the Power of God Promises WPGod promises you and I many things, and unlike people who promise and renege (go back on a promise), God never will. He always fulfills what He promises.

God’s promises are seeds of faith, hope, and love. They are not given as options to enhance our lives occasionally, but as means that God can use to change our lives permanently. They are bridges that take us from the bondage of our old life to the freedom of our new life in Christ. They transport us from despair to hope.

2 Peter 1:3 – 4 NLT
As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living and godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness! And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises. []He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in his divine nature.

When we fill our mind with the promises of God, God fills our lives with what we need. The promises empower us to overcome the doubts that erode our confidence. They open our eyes to the power and possibilities in Christ. They show us a new way to respond to life’s challenges and heartaches. They are God’s guides to our spiritual growth and vitality.  As you study these promises, here are four specific ways that they will encourage and strengthen you.

4 Ways God’s Promises encourage and strengthen you

1. God’s promises remind you of God’s love for you.

One of our greatest hindrances in times of trouble is our doubt that God is interested in our situation. Deep down, most of us assume that God doesn’t really care about our “little” problems because he is preoccupied with “bigger” things. But Jesus teaches us quite the opposite.

Luke 12:6 – 7 NLT
What is the price of five sparrows? A couple of pennies? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid’ you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.

2. Let God’s promises enlarge your vision of what God can do.

When we take our eyes off of God, everything else is magnified. When we magnify God, everything else assumes its proper proportion. God’s promises are like corrective lenses, bringing our circumstances back into proper focus. They help us see life from an eternal perspective.

Romans 8:35, 38 – 39 NLT
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death? … I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The Angels can’t, and the demons can’t. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away. When ever we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If we live our lives claiming God’s promises, nothing that life throws our way can come between us and God. Nothing can get in God’s way. Difficult circumstances are often when God reveals his infinite love and care for us most powerfully.

Psalm 138:8 The Passion Translation
“You keep every promise you’ve ever made to me!
Since Your love for me is so constant and endless,
I ask You, Lord, to finish every good thing
that You’ve begun in me!”

3. Let God’s promises overcome the power of discouragement and pessimism.

God’s promises break the spell that holds us in bondage to the lies, distortions, and deceptions of the devil. Many of us have a tendency to expect the worst. We assume that bad things will happen and brace ourselves for disaster.

We lose perspective because we look at our situation in the light (or the dimness) of human limitations and obstacles. But when the power of one of God’s promises breaks in, it’s like someone has turned on a bright light. We snap out of it and realize we have forgotten the most important factor in any situation: the God factor. As Paul says…

Ephesians 3:20 NLT
Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.

4. Let God’s promises show you new ways to respond in faith.

When we are stressed, we tend to lose our sight of the many possible responses to our situation. God’s promises expand our repertoire by reminding us that we can respond differently because of who we are and what we have in Christ. When we hear Paul say from prison,

Philippians 4:13 NLT
I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.

We realize that our joy is based on our trust in God’s power, not our outward circumstances. God’s promises remind us that God works in ways we cannot imagine. We read in …

Leviticus 26:8 NLT
Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand! All your enemies will fall beneath the blows of your weapons.

A similar promise is found…

Joshua 23:10 NLT
Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the Lord your God fights for you, just as he promised.

The Israelites watched God destroy the armies of Pharaoh without their having to lift a finger.

God used David to overcome Goliath with a single smooth stone. God enabled Gideon’s three hundred soldiers to defeat the armies of Midian, and the Lord used one hundred and twenty disciples to establish the church in Acts.

The power of God working through his promises enables us to attempt the unthinkable, to endure the unbearable, and even to forgive the unforgivable.

The power of the promises is rooted in the character of God and the power of his word. When we plant the seeds of the promises in our heart, they will bear fruit that will nourish us through life’s toughest time. As the Lord promises in …

Isaiah 55:10 – 11 NLT
The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my words. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

Trust God’s Promises

Let’s look at some promises on trusting God. This really is the beginning or foundation of standing on God’s promises. If we don’t trust God, we won’t believe His promises. If we don’t trust God, His Word will mean nothing to us.

2 Samuel 22:31 – 33 Amplified Bible
As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried. He is a Shield to me because I trust and take refuge in Him. For who is God but the Lord? And who is a Rock except our God? God is my strong Fortress; He guides the blameless in His way and sets me free!

God’s ways are perfect. His Word has been tried and is true. He is a Shield to us and we can trust Him, take refuge in Him, and depend on Him. There is no one, nothing like our God. He is immovable and a place to hide in times of trouble. We are blameless because of His Son, and we are set free from sin, depression, distress, and so much more all because we trust in the Lord and stand on His promises.

Psalm 2:2 Amplified Bible
I am blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) because I seek refuge and put my trust in the Lord.

We are blessed when we trust the Lord. It brings us peace and assurance that we don’t have to try and figure things out, but that we can rely on the Lord to help us in any situation.

Psalm 18:2 – 3 Amplified Bible
The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my God, my keen and firm Strength in Whom I trust and take refuge, my Shield, and the Horn of my salvation, my High Tower. I call upon the Lord, Who is to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.

There is always a result for our trusting in God and His word. In this case, God promises to be Lord, a Rock, a Fortress, A Deliverer, Strength, Refuge, Shield, Horn (projection) of salvation, a High and strong tower where the righteous can run to and are safe. We shall be saved from our enemies when we trust in the Lord for protection. All of these are promises for trusting in God.

Psalm 20:7 Amplified Bible
Some trust in Chariots, and some in horses’ but I remember (trust) the name of the Lord my God.

People have false security in so many things; Jobs, money, relationships, cars, their home, their education, how thing think, their own abilities, and so much more. If we replaced the words Chariots and horses, with some of the things I just mentioned, it would read like this:

“Some trust in jobs or money, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” “Some trust in education and their own abilities, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

What this verse is saying is that anything earthly that you trust in can and will fail, but the name of the Lord will never fail us. Relationships will fade, homes can get burned up, education doesn’t promise you a job or income, cars, or our own abilities will fail us, but God will never fail. He is trustworthy.

Psalm 31:14 – 15 Amplified Bible
I trust in, rely on, and am confident in You, O Lord; I say, You are my God. My times are in Your hands.

God is the one who created us. He knows our beginning and our end on this earth. Our times are truly in His hands. We can be confident that He has our best interest at heart. Who else to trust in then our Creator and sustainer. It is a win – win situation. God wants us to trust and rely on Him, and in turn He takes care of us.

Psalm 56:3 – 4 Amplified Bible
When I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?

There is something more important then life on earth; Eternal life in Heaven. Because of this, if man steals from us, tortures us, belittles us, ignores us, it doesn’t matter, they can NEVER take God away from us, no matter how hard they try or threat. People can take our cars, our homes, and even our friendships on earth, but they can NEVER take our relationship with God from us. That is why Christians have been targeted all over the world. We have something that no one can take away. We have a promise from the ultimate Promise Giver that brings life and freedom in the face of turmoil. It is something the world doesn’t understand until they make the same decision we have; Accept Christ as their Lord and Savior and live for Him on this earth. Giving God control brings FREEDOM!

Proverbs 3:5 – 8 Amplified Bible
I lean on, trust in, and am, confident in the Lord with all my heart and mind and I do not rely on my own insight or understanding. In all my ways I know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He directs and makes straight and plain my paths. I am not wise in my own eyes; I reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil. It shall be health to my nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to my bones.

These are my favorite verses in the Bible. I have lived by them all my Christian life. Don’t lean on and rely on anything or anyone else but the Lord. Put your whole heart, mind, and passions into it. Trust God’s wisdom. Don’t rely on your own understanding or insight. Whatever we do, wherever we go, God is with you, so keep Him first and foremost in your thoughts and life. Don’t get haughty and think you know everything, because you don’t. Fear and worship the Lord and turn away from anything evil. Turn away from anything that doesn’t please the Lord, anything that goes contrary to His Word.

Proverbs 29:25 Amplified Bible
The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever leans on, trusts in, and puts his confidence in the Lord is safe and set on high.

Amen, Amen, Amen! Don’t fall in the trap of being afraid of people. Don’t get snared in trying to win their approval. Who is man that we want them to approve of us anyway? God is the only one we should desire for His approval. Put your confidence in God and He will set you on high. He will lift you up. He will even prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies (Psalm 23). That is the God we love and serve. Man will let you down. People will disprove of you. It is okay, because you have God’s approval. Nothing else matters.

Nahum 1:7 Amplified Bible
The Lord is good, a Strength and Stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows (recognizes, has knowledge of, and understands) those who take refuge and trust in Him.

The Lord is good! He is strong and Who we can cling to in trouble. He knows everything about us, and understands us even when others don’t. We can take refuge and trust in Him always.

Hebrews 2:13 Amplified Bible
My trust and assured reliance and confident hope is fixed in Him.

Fix your hope, your confidence on the Lord. He is the best foundation to stand on. All other ground is sinking sand. God will never put you to shame for trusting in Him… Never! His name is at stake.

Psalm 25:3 NLT
No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced (put to shame), but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.

Psalm 25:3 GNT
Defeat does not come to those who trust in you, but to those who are quick to rebel against you.

There is no better life than a life following God. It is so fulfilling, so joyful, so reassuring, and everlasting. The promises of God have so much power in them.

We need to search God’s word and allow the rich and wonderful promises water our faith, refresh our soul, and lead us into the life Christ made possible for each one of us today.

Your sister in Christ,

Pastor Kris Belfils
www.KrisBelfils.com
www.HopeFellowshipSpokane.com
www.KrisBelfils.WordPress.com

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I Pinky Promise

PinkyPromise3When you and I were children, there was a saying we’d often hear. I’m going to say the first half of the saying and let’s see if you know the 2nd half:

“Cross my heart and (hope to die)”
What was that child saying?
They were saying they’d made a promise, and if they were to break that promise they would expect something bad to happen.

Actually, the original phrase is a little longer:
“Cross my heart and hope to die. Stick a needle in my eye.”

The only thing kids could think of that was worse than dying was sticking needles in their eyes – and I would tend to agree. Kids understand the importance of promises. In fact parents have learned that they need to be very careful what promises they make to their kids.

When I really want someone to promise me something I put up my pinky and say, “I Pinky Promise?” If the other person wants to make the promise, they will put up one of their pinky fingers and connect it with my pinky finger and shake on it and say, “I pinky promise.” If they “pinky promised,” in my mind, they would keep their promise. But often they didn’t.

As my girls were growing up I learned that if I told them that…
• I was going to do something for them
• I was going to take them someplace
• I was going to get something for them.
and then (for whatever reason) I didn’t do that, you know what they’d say to me?
BUT YOU PROMISED!

As children we learned that promises are important and need to be kept. God understands that and so He has repeatedly told us throughout the Bible that if He makes a promise He’ll keep it. And in the Bible one of the most significant kind of promises God made were called “Covenants”.

God has made many promises or covenants with us. But, unlike people in our life, he keeps his promises. God has “Pinky Promised” all of us many promises and He is true to His promises!

1 Corinthians 1:20 NIV
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.

Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

A promise is a declaration of some benefit to be granted.

The Webster’s Dictionary gives us this: One’s pledge to another to do or not to do something specified, narrowly, a declaration which gives to the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of a specified act.
Ground for hope, expectation or the assurance, often specified of eventual success.
That which is promised—To engage to do, give, make, obtain: to make to another a promise of; also, to give one’s promise to assure as “He will go, I promise you.” To show or suggest beforehand.

The word “promise” is used more than 100 times in the Bible, there are other terms implying the same thought. The Old Testament is a record of God’s promises to patriarchs, kings, prophets, Israel, lowly saints, and to the world at large. The Hebrew noun, []dither, is generally rendered “word,” but “promise is found in…

1 Kings 8:56
According to all that He promised: there hath not failed one word of all His good promise.

Nehemiah 5:12 – 13
That they should do according to the promise.

Another Hebrew word for “promise” is omer, meaning “saying.” This is the term used in “Doth his promise fail for evermore?” (Psalms 77:8) Also, Psalm 68:11 “The Lord gave the word.”

Psalm 105:42 RV
He remembered his holy word. (Holy saying)

This reminds us that God’s Holy Word is always a Holy promise (a pinky promise). From cover to cover of the Bible it is filled with God’s promises for us. One could say it is God’s promise book for all people.

2 Timothy 3:16a NKJV
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God…

It’s divine promises must be God-breathed, and therefore impossible of not being fulfilled. Knowing this information makes me say farewell to any doubt and trust my God fully and completely.

Furthermore, His promises are backed by His faithfulness which runs like a golden thread through His Word. All writers of the Bible magnify God for His unfailing faithfulness to all generations. That’s a pinky promise if I ever saw one!

Deut. 7:9
Know therefore that the Lord thy God, He is God, the faithful God, which kept covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandment to a thousand generations.

Hebrews 10:23
He is faithful that promised.

1 Thess. 5:24 “Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it.

God’s faithfulness, then, is our special ground of encouragement as we apply His promises.

Lamentations 3:23
Great is Thy faithfulness.

Looking just at the names of God, each one designates a promise:

-El Shaddai – Lord God Almighty
-El Elyon – The Most High God
-Adonai – Lord, Master
-Yahweh – Lord, Jehovah
-Jehovah Nissi – The Lord My Banner
-Jehovah-Raah – The Lord is my Shepherd
-Jehovah Rapha – The Lord that heals
-Jehovah Shammah – The Lord is there
-Jehovah Tsidkenu – The Lord our righteousness
-Jehovah Mekoddishkem – The Lord who sanctifies you
-El Olam – The everlasting God
-Elohim – God
-Qanna – Jealous
-Jehovah Jireh – The Lord will provide
-Jehovah Shalom – The Lord is peace
-Jehovah Sabaoth – The Lord of Hosts

Let me pick one of those names, Jehovah Jireh, and share a promise:

Philippiains 4:19
My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Let’s look at one of God’s promises and dissect it today:

Psalm 34:17 NKJV
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears…

One of the biggest advantages of being righteous is the privilege of crying out to God or calling out His name with the assurance that He will deliver us. It is a privilege to call upon God; a privilege of prayer. There is no blessing superior.

Can you imagine what a world this would be if we couldn’t cry out to God for help? How sad, how helpless, how wretched if there were no God for the guilty, the helpless, the broken, the suffering, or the sinner to call to.

More scripture on calling out to God.

Isaiah 65:24
It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.

Psalm 91:15
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.

Psalm 145:18 – 19
The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.

Jeremiah 33:3
Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.

…And delivers them out of all their troubles.

He often delivers them from trouble in this life.
He will deliver them literally from all trouble in the life to come.

The promise is not that they shall be delivered from all trouble on earth, but the idea is that God is able to rescue them from trouble here; that he often does it through prayer; and that there will be, in the case of every righteous person, a sure and complete deliverance from all trouble here after.

There are a few verses that go along with Psalm 34:17.

Psalm 34:6
This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.

The word “poor” here does not mean “poor” in the sense of a want of wealth, but “poor” in the sense of being afflicted, crushed, forsaken, desolate. The word “miserable” would better express the idea than the word “poor.”

…And the Lord heard him – That is, heard in the sense of “answered.” He regarded his cry, and saved him.

Psalm 34:19
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

This is not to say the righteous have more afflictions then the unrighteous. But the righteous do have suffering and trials. The good news is that God sustains us in our trials. He supports us and makes beauty from ashes. He turns trials into triumphs!

As a Christian, we are never alone in the middle of any trial. God is always with us. Even when we go through deep waters, we are not alone.

Isaiah 43:2 NLT
When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

Isn’t it amazing to realize all these verses are actually promises from God to help us in our everyday life? I love it! God tenderly holds us with these verses to reassure us that we have help in all situations. They are “Pinky Promises” from God that He never ever stops fulfilling!

I am excited for this new series we are embarking on. I need to get the promises of God in my heart and I believe you do too. We will grow and learn as we look as some powerful promises together.

Let me leave you with a quote from Dwight L. Moody:

“Take the promises of God. Let a man feed for a month on the promises of God, and he will not talk about how poor he is. You hear people say, ‘Oh, my leanness! how lean I am!” It is not their leanness, it is their laziness. If you would only read from Genesis to Revelation and see all the promises made by God to Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob, to the Jews and to the Gentiles, and to all His people everywhere — If you would spend a month feeding on the precious promises of God — you wouldn’t be going about complaining how poor you are. You would lift up your head and proclaim the riches of His Grace, because you couldn’t help doing it!”
Dwight L. Moody

Your sister,

Pastor Kris Belfils
www.KrisBelfils.com
www.HopeFellowshipSpokane.com
www.KrisBelfils.WordPress.com