Faith

Stepping Out in RED Shoes! 

- Day 140 -

Step 4:

Don't go by what you see.

Your eyes can deceive you!

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for

and assurance about what we do not see."

Hebrews 11:1

It all sounds so easy...   "Just trust God and believe!"  but it's not always so easy.  Some tests take years to pass with flying colors.  Or... you finally pass the test, only to find out that's the kindergarden level.  The next test is the first grade level, then the second grade level...  all the way up to the Master's Degree program!

Somebody just said the other day...

"How do you eat an elephant?"

Answer:  One bite at a time!

We all want to operate at the Master's level, but more often than not, we can't pass the first grade exam.  So what are you to do?  You start!

You start at the bottom and you work your way up!

I just talked to a friend today who is disappointed that she isn't on the mountaintop of her dreams. "You're climbing up the side of the mountain."  I said.  "You've never been closer!  God doesn't just BOOM!  Give it to you.  It comes with blood, sweat and tears!  Hard work.  Determination.  Sacrifice.  Late nights of study.  There's a price for that dream!"

Rarely do dreams happen overnight.   Sometimes when you look at the lives of others, you think they just "got it!"  It dropped into their lap!   No... if you talked with them, you'd find out that there was a journey that started long before they reached their mountaintop.

It starts with a dream -- a vision -- a hope.  

You see it in your mind!  Then you pray until you know it's meant to be.  When you know it's God's will -- it's done!  Well... it's a done deal in the spiritual realm.  Seeing it manifest in the natural realm is the journey!

Faith is not believing He can,

it's knowing He will!

If you've followed me any length of time, you know there are a handful of visions I am walking out by faith.  As strong as my faith may appear, there are times here and there when discouragement knocks on my door.  I try not to answer it, but he's persistent, and he yells through the door!  LOL.

Lately however, I've chosen to ignore the banging on the door and have been pushing forward -- trusting and believing.  Just this past weekend, my pastor preached one of those messages  "just for me."   He talked about acknowledging God even in the times when you know you're not such a spiritual giant, for " In my weakness, He is strong!"  Paul said.

At the end of the service , 

we all went to the altar and shouted out by faith... 

" I am strong!" 

As I stood their, calling out  with all my heart, God showed me another piece of my future.  Oh my!  Here we go again... it's the same test -- next level.  I didn't even get my grades back yet from the last test! 

"Will you own it?"  He said.  

"Will you pray it through?"  

"YES!"  I answered  

"YES!   I will!"

It's amazing what you'll say in the presence of the LORD!

He showed me that a new message and ministry is coming.  

"The Yellow Brick Road"  is already moving to the back 

to make room for what's next and I am embracing that!

So here's what's really great.  As I wiped away my tears and went back to my seat, a lady I didn't know asked if she could take me to lunch.  She wanted to get to know me better.  I agreed.  As we sat across the table from one another, the first thing out of her mouth was...  "I don't know what it is... but when I look at you, this song keeps playing in my head.  Do you know it?"  

"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" 

by Elton John.

I smiled.  "Oh that's just a Word of Confirmation to me from the LORD." 

I responded.  "Thank You!"

She knew nothing about me.  She didn't know about the book, the red shoes, nothing!  With confirming words like that -- all the time -- how can I help but keep believing?  There's too much evidence in my Spirit.  That said...

Step 4 is about focusing whole-heartedly 

on what you see in your heart, 

knowing it will surface eventually in your life

and waiting for as long as it takes to manifest!

In RED shoes, 

Gail

Lord... Thank you for the continual confirmations!  Help me to stand strong -- no matter what -- trusting and believing that the manifestation will come at the appointed time!  In Jesus' Name... AMEN!