1.You are not alone in wanting things to be different and asking God to change your situation

2. There is a place to attach our hope but it’s not to our desire for changed circumstances.

3. Though my story took the most unexpected twists and turns through the darkest valleys I’ve ever known, God’s plan was good.

TRUTH FOR TODAY

Psalm 62:5, “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.” (NIV)

6 Relationship Lessons From Samson and Delilah

1. "Self-discipline is the key to relationship success."

2. "Lust is not love."

3. "Listen to wise counsel."

4. "Believe when people show you their true colors."

5. "Looks can be deceiving."

6. "God never fails to reveal red flags."

Most people struggle with things from their past because they do not allow the Spirit to renew them in the present. Their destinies are stolen or destroyed because they were unaware of how spiritual strongholds develop. Strongholds are built up through various methods, providing Satan with a base of operations.

We are well aware of Satan's sinister tendencies. However, it extends beyond that. Satan's troops want to establish long-term strongholds where they may rule and hold people prisoner, adding to the everyday harassing, tempting, or hit-and-run attacks. Demonic powers look for individuals and situations where they can flourish with minimal resistance.

Spiritual strongholds are conflicts, stances, and ideas opposed to God's intentions. These mental patterns are based on what we know and believe and inevitably shape our actions. The Bible uses the term to describe harmful thought patterns, arrogant attitudes, or messages from the outside world that have left a lasting impression on Christians' minds and hearts. Over time, these beliefs can become strongholds in the spiritual realm that people need to destroy using the truth of God's Word.

Samson, a powerful individual, capitulated to a stronghold. Like many Christians, Samson was born to win, yet the Philistines took him as a prisoner. Samson's life offers a wealth of lessons.

He was a strong man who would eventually turn into a man of sorrow. Samson's story is a picture for the downtrodden Christian: our sin is the biggest obstacle to receiving God's power. And despite having God's strength, we frequently fall short of our potential.

Samson had (literal and figurative) “climbed into bed” with the world, and as a result, the world had a firm grip on him. His obsession with Delilah and his love for her served as his stronghold. He lost his spiritual vigor because he had turned away from dedication and obedience to the Lord due to her great influence over him. This stronghold, which appeared like an angel, was a demon.

Judges 16

Today I glorify God in my life and walk in authority. I surrender my thoughts, will, intellect, emotions and imagination in complete obedience to the Word of God. I believe the Word and I speak in faith. I command all strongholds and mental thought patterns not in Gods will for my life broken and cast out! I declare circumstances are changing in my favor & I have what I say!

My body belongs to God and I make my flesh obey the Word. I am healed mentally, emotionally and physically. I resist the temptation to sin or to go back to my old way of living. The devil is under my feet & nothing shall by any means harm me. No plague shall come near my house. I am anointed! I overcome all attacks and any setback of the enemy by the blood of Jesus & the Words of my mouth. No weapon formed against me shall prosper!

Trust is tough. Trusting in God when everything around us continues to go downhill is hard. Many times we may be tempted to quit trusting and take matters into our own hands. Yet, because we know better, we continue to resist that temptation and instead choose to trust.

It’s much easier to trust when we are on the mountaintop of everything going the way that we expected or planned. However, it’s another story in the valley of “I lost my job and can’t find another”, “I’m sick and I’m not feeling better”, or “I don’t have enough money for the month.” In those valleys, trust is tough because we don’t have any idea of how things are supposed to work out.

When we watch those who trust in “chariots and horses” with everything they need—we can get a little off track. Those who trust in their worldly goods, experience, education, and/or talents may seem on the surface to have it all together. If we aren’t careful, we may find ourselves envying them instead of recognizing the truth of their desperate spiritual state.

When we are in the valley of despair, our little light of hope and trust in God can help us make it to the other side. Our faithfulness in prayer, Bible study, fasting, and service to God’s people may seem useless in the eyes of the world. However, in the eyes of God—it’s priceless!

As press our way through the valley, our trust is embolden by the knowledge of who God is and what He can do. There’s nothing impossible with Him and He knows exact moment of our miracle. We can count Him as faithful to follow through with His promises even when trust is tough.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, sometimes I struggle with trusting in You even though I know You are well able to answer above and beyond my requests. Help me to remain faithful in the valley. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The story of Joshua leading the Israelites to bring down the walls of Jericho is a powerful account that demonstrates the faithfulness and might of the Lord. Before Moses died, he declared that Joshua would be his successor and lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. Upon crossing the Jordan, Jericho is the first city the Israelites conquer with Joshua as their leader.

What moves me the most about the Israelites' part in this story isn't so much their willingness to take that first crazy step of obedience. It how they kept taking steps of obedience. Step after step after step. Even though nothing appeared to change.... even though there wasn't a single sign of cracking or crumbling in those massive walls... they kept marching. Its hard to keep going when we don't see God move the way we thought He would. It sometimes difficult to trust that He's working behind the scenes.

1. we walk by faith and not by sight

2. take God at his word

3. hold fiercely to his promise.

Trust is the belief that someone or something is reliable, good, honest, effective, etc.

Remember the woman with the issue of blood how she had to trust God despite the pain. God want us to trust him in everything and to know that he will never leave us nor forsake us.

The woman with the issues of the blood can be find in Matthew 9: 20-22, Mark 5: 25-34c and Luke 8: 43-48 .

She had a medical condition that controlled her life for 12 long years. She to call the physician and use all her money still no one was able to the woman what was wrong. The woman heard about Jesus coming she pressed her way through the crowd to get to Jesus..... Why because she knew if she could touch the hem of his garment she will be healed and made whole. The woman had tenacious faith.

Sometimes despite our best intentions, we can struggle with trusting in God. We may fear that He may disappoint us—so we reserve a portion of our hearts instead of complete trust. Yet, in order for us to continue to be and do all that He wants for us—demands total trust—no holding back. How do we learn to TRUST in God?

T – Take God at His word.
“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” (Numbers 23:19)

Many of us have been lied to by people we trusted; therefore, it’s hard to take God at His word. However, God never lies to us. He tells us what we want to hear and what we don’t want to hear. Our Lord is worthy of our trust in His word. If we know His word, we begin to build our trust in Him.

R – Reflect on God’s goodness in the past
“But you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this.” (Deuteronomy 24:11)

Trust is cultivated as we begin to reflect on how God has been good to us in the past. We are a forgetful people at times. When God has answered a prayer in a way we didn’t expect, we immediately rejoice, but sometimes soon forget before we’ve moved on to the next thing. But remember the uncertainty of situations and how God moved in your behalf. This will be your encouragement to trust Him moving forward.

U – Unlock your faith beyond human limitations.
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

We are people of faith—those who walk by faith and not by sight. We are those who believe that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. It’s our faith in a God we can’t see, but we can know by His Spirit that calls us to hope and believe. Our faith needs to be unlocked from human limitations and move towards the liberty of impossible dreams.

S – Surrender desired outcomes to God’s will.
“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

Our trust will more solid as we surrender our desired outcomes to God. Sometimes we limit our faith when we tightly grip what we want to happen in our lives. We have to learn to let go and let God do His will in His timing and way. God knows us better than we know ourselves. He’s got a plan and it’s for our good.
T – Turn your eyes to God.
“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” (2 Chronicles 20:12)

Many times when it’s difficult to trust, it’s because we have our eyes on everything and everyone but God. We see what has happened to other people and begin to doubt how God will come through for us. We turn our attention to those who lack the faith and spiritual insight to believe for the impossible. However, if we turn our eyes to God—we look to Him to provide the answers to the problems, the solution to the puzzles of life, and the peace of closure in chaod.

Each of us are a work in progress. Our trust in God will be stretched and challenged in every season of our lives. Trusting in the Lord with all of our hearts is entirely possible as we mature in our Christian walk.