When we decide to have faith, does God meets us where we are, sending signs and providing hope that we didn’t notice or feel before? Kerryn shares.
“You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did” (James 2:22).
Financial challenges have created the need to renovate our house for sale. As my middle son and I both have MCS (multiple chemical sensitivities) we needed to move out in mid-November last year. I’m staying with a friend and our son is with relatives, both who live as chemically-free as possible.
When more stressors arise than “normal” like this, my coping tank goes to empty. Hope dwindles and the circumstances can feel like they’re crushing me.
It’s easy to feel despondent.
Recently God has been showing me that He gives us His “God filters” to look at life differently. They’re kinda like a spectacular pair of kaleidoscope glasses that help us to see God’s world through His heightened color, beauty, and miraculous interventions.
I wasn’t fully “getting” what He was saying to me until today, when I read a very short devotional. A section of a sentence jumped out at me!
“. . . learn to live your life fueled by faith . . .”
The God filter He wants for me is fueled by faith.
The moment I have faith, God filters what I see and hear. Then I can actually begin to see the incredible interventions He’s placing in my life to help me. Sometimes it’s the smallest thing, but it can make a huge difference.
When I see with God filters fueled by faith my circumstances take a twist. Incredible things just seem to happen that solve problems, bring comfort, or simply take me out of the blah state I’m in. This brings about thankfulness and lifts my spirits. He wants us to experience the joy of seeing Him delighting in surprising us.
It helps me to pray boldly knowing that God cares. He really does!
Prayer: Lord, help me to live my life fueled by faith. Place Your God filters over my eyes, so that I can see the ways that You delight in helping me. Amen.
About the Author:
Kerryn Wright was living with her family among the gum trees in South Australia. Currently she’s living with a friend while they sell their family home. She was a special education teacher prior to chronic illnesses. Her husband is carer for three of their family, who have chronic illnesses and disabilities. God has always guided them through life’s challenges, often in surprising ways.
What heightened awarenesses have you had of God’s interventions when you’ve worn “God filters fuelled by faith?” Are those moments only for short periods in our lives when we need them or do you think God wants this for us daily?
This is “Let The Waters Rise” with the group MikesChair. It is a great reminder that we can trust that God is faithful. Even when the storms hit, even when God may feel out of reach, we can know that God never leaves our side and is holding onto us. No matter what you are going through, your circumstances will not lessen the power of God. So let us trust. Hugs, -Lisa
THANK YOU SO MUCH
KERRYN… GOD TEACH ME TO LIVE A LIFE FUELED BY FAITH. AND
GOD IS AMAZING. NOT ONLY HE TEACH ME ; I EXPERIENCED
GOD’S GRACE AND LOVE ❤…
MANY THANKS TO YOU LISA.
GOD BLESSED YOU MORE… ??
Thanks for your comments Venus! 🙂
Yes, God sure is AMAZING!! Wonderful to hear how God encourages you.
Venus, I’m glad you thanked Lisa. She does an AWESOME job at preparing our devotionals to go online & then chooses great music clips to go with them 🙂 God bless. Lotsoluv Kerryn
Kerryn – your play on words about Faith being our fuel from God is wonderful.
How many times do each of us feel we are depleted of all energy, like a car stalled and out of gas?
That depletion colors every part of us: out thoughts, our feelings, our motivation to “keep going”.
I loved how you expressed, “He wants us to experience the joy of seeing Him delighting in surprising us.”
And often it does come by surprise. I can be praying and trusting and feeling no change. Then – hard to know at times how the change in thoughts, feelings, or motivation came except from Him.
“Fueled by Faith”. Truly is is a transfusion from God’s heart. Thanks for new ways to think about his love and care.
xo Lynn
Thanks dear Lynn. 🙂
You always give me a slightly new perspective to look at when you post your comments….. love that!
I’d say ditto to your comment: “I can be praying and trusting and feeling no change. Then – hard to know at times how the change in thoughts, feelings, or motivation came except from Him.” Sooooo true!!
It was a message that was a revelation for me. One of those God moments that I just had to share with others. As usual, I needed my own devotional today to remind me of how God wants me to look at & live life….. with His God filters on that are fuelled by faith! (We Aussies spell fuelled with double “l”!!) God bless. LOTSoluv Kerryn
Lovely to see your writing here Kerryn as I know you’ve not been up to writing much lately 🙂
“The moment I have faith, God filters what I see and hear” – so true and seems so simple, why don’t we always do that? We should have learned how our faith changes all we see, hear, think and do, but often just slow learners!
Thanks for this reminder that was timely for me just now.
Blessings dear friend,
Fiona
Thanks Fiona! 🙂
As I said to Lynn, it was a revelation from God for me that I knew was important to share. I also knew that I’d need to hear it myself again. For as you said “so true and seems so simple, why don’t we always do that? We should have learned how our faith changes all we see, hear, think and do, but often just slow learners!” I’m definitely a slow learner too!!! Sad really cos we obviously know how to live life fuelled by faith…… so WHY don’t we do it?!?!? Sigh! There sure is an element of us making a choice each & every day how we choose to live life! May we all learn how to live with greater faith. God bless. LOTSoluv Kerryn
Dear Kerryn,
I’m glad your faith is being well fuelled as I must admit your circumstances don’t sound great and I’ll put you on my prayer list.
I’ve been very unwell since Dec 12th with what seem like hideous symptons. I can’t feel the outside temperature, I needed oxygen on the plane to Melbourne and lived in the wheelchair on my brief trips away from the air conditioner. I’m slowly improving and my doctor says my organs are good.
We are beginning to see some fairly dramatic conversions to Christ through my support gp Flourish and feel some of this may be attack. Our first meeting for 2016 is Sat week. Please pray.
Sorry I’ve not been in touch for ages – went to UK (with wheelchair) and managed to see family and friends for 2 mths in Aug.. and took daughter for uni exchange there.
Blessings
Jenny
Jenny
Thanks for commenting Jenny! Sooooo lovely to hear from you, my Aussie sister! 🙂
Though I’m very sorry to hear you’re going through such a rough time lately! 🙁 Amazing really that you travelled with your wheelchair! How gracious of God to provide a way for you to still be able to travel….. though obviously it wasn’t easy! I’m relieved to hear that you are improving…. though tough that it’s slow!
I sure appreciate your prayers. It has been tough, but I’m making every effort to focus on the positive, rather than dwell on the negative…. or I spiral down fast.
I pray for God to heal your latest symptoms & to help you out of the wheelchair, as your Flourish group continues to bring people to Christ to grow in their relationship with Him & witness to others. God bless you in your ministry Jenny. LOTSoluv Kerryn
Thank you dear Kerryn,
I thought your insight was amazing! I needed your encouraging words. These words caught my eye, “He wants us to experience the joy of seeing Him delighting in surprising us.” Like a Father who enjoys giving us gifts and the delight on our face when we open them! God is so generous and gracious to pour out His love and unexpected blessings upon us.
Praying for you Ephesians 3:22-23 and that God will provide for your family during these difficult circumstances.
Love you,
Angie
Thanks Angie 🙂
I’m so thankful that this insight from God has encouraged you, as it surely encouraged & continues to encourage me. I smiled when I read: ” These words caught my eye, “He wants us to experience the joy of seeing Him delighting in surprising us.” ” The reason I smiled is that I kept wondering if I should take that sentence out, as it didn’t seem to express fully what I was trying to say, but obviously God interpreted it beautifully in the way you described it! Thanks Lord!
I looked up Ephesians 3:22-23, but Ephesians 3 stops at verse 21! I’d love to know what verses you were praying for me & my family if you have the time & energy to let me know….. don’t worry if you’re exhausted. I REALLY appreciate your prayers for God’s provision for our family, as our house is not sold yet. Lovely getting to know you through your devotionals & comments, Angie. May God bless you abundantly. LOTSoluv Kerryn
Oops! Can I blame it on oxycontin? 🙂 I meant to write Ephesians 3:20-21. May the Lord pour out such a blessing on your family that you can hardly contain it!
Bless you Kerryn,
Angie
Thanks dear Angie! 🙂
I figured they were the verses you meant….. thanks HEAPS! Illnesses & meds sure mess with what we mean to say/write! I come up with some wild & whacky things due to “brain fog” so I understand! 😉 My eldest son is very good at completing my sentences when my brain stops & reinterpreting the wrong word for the correct one! LOL! May God bless you abundantly, Angie. LOTSoluv Kerryn
Kerryn and Jenny, I want to wish you two a belated Australia Day. I think this is the first time I’ve seen that on a calendar. (Inexcusable right?)
What a lovely discussion has been going on here!
What a super thing it is when God surprises us in some small way, as He did with those few words Kerryn. He is so wonderfully creative!
Your “God filters” remind me of blinders they use on horses to keep them from being distracted and perhaps panicked. The Lord wants us to “look unto Jesus”, or keep our eyes on Him, for the same reason. And yet He understands when a physical or mental blow take our attention away.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on being “fuelled by faith” with us Kerryn.
Grace and peace (fuelled by faith),
Beth
Thanks Beth! 🙂
Yes, Australia Day was 26th January. [January 26, 1788 was the date on which Captain Arthur Phillip took formal possession of the colony of New South Wales and raised the British flag for the first time in Sydney Cove.] It was a special day for me this year, as I had my hubby & 2 of our sons over to have BBQ with me while I’m staying at my friend’s house. The last time we’d been together was Christmas Day, so it was a treat!
God’s surprises sure are “wonderfully creative” & always special. Blinders are such a great visual to remind us to “look unto Jesus.” I sure need that often, as it’s easy to get distracted by what life throws at me/us!!
As a Canadian, do you spell “fuelled” the same way as Aussies?! Just curious! 😉 Lovely to reconnect with you dear Beth. Sending gentle hugs & prayers from afar. LOTSoluv Kerryn
Kerryn, such perfect timing for me presently. I definitely needed to “hear” and see these words from you and the Lord.
I love this term ” God Filters ” and the thoughts it inspires. Like looking through a “kaleidoscope” filled with the colors of love, compassion and hope! Such a sweet and comforting vision to grant us His peace.
Thank you my friend for sharing this nugget of gold with us all!
Love & tender hugs, Di
Thanks dear Di 🙂
God is good in timing it perfectly for you. God is gracious in the way He does that! LOVED your description “Like looking through a “kaleidoscope” filled with the colors of love, compassion and hope! Such a sweet and comforting vision to grant us His peace.” Amen & amen!!
I’m thankful for this “nugget of gold” from God to share. I always find that the comments written are more “gold nuggets” to help me see new things that are such a gift! I’m always so very thankful for the ways that God speaks to each of us of some new insights we can share together. Special! 🙂 God bless. LOTSoluv Kerryn
Kerryn, thanks for the little history lesson and your other comments.
I didn’t realize you were so far from your family. What a tough thing. I pray the Lord will lead you to a suitable home after the renovating and sale of your present place.
My hubby asked “Siri” on his iphone about the spelling of “fuel(l)ing”. She came up with this. The American English spelling has only one “l” and every other English-speaking nation has two. So the answer to your question is: yes, we spell it like you do.
It’s good to reconnect with you too, my friend.
Luv ya,
Beth
Thanks dear Beth! 🙂
It’s not easy being away from my family, but my hubby comes to visit me twice weekly, which I always look forward to HEAPS! He’ll be here in a few minutes….. YAY! Not a normal kind of marriage at the moment with us living separately, but God is sustaining us & it’s kinda almost like dating again!!
I figured Canadians spelled things similarly to us Aussies! At least we know how to spell!! Ha ha! 😀 God bless ya, sister! LOTSoluv Kerryn
Thanks Kerryn for the reminder of faith filters. It is hard to trust in the “evidence not seen”. I have been trying to accept by faith the “hospital beds” of life as God’s provision for me instead of another loss to chronic illness. I have failed more than succeeded as I am a whiner not a shiner! So glad that God is a God of second chances. Thanks also for the encouragement to write. God bless you. Love, Mercy, Grace and Peace. Jeff
Thanks Jeff! 🙂
I’ve been feeling for you in the grief of loss causing the need for the hospital bed! Gentle hugs to you. It brought back memories of the grief & loss when my Dad declined & needed a hospital bed in 2007, so was praying for you with this latest loss/provision! As you say it’s soooooo hard & like you I can definitely say that “I have failed more than succeeded as I am a whiner not a shiner!” With God filters on fuelled by faith I’m more able to see His provisions amongst the pain & gaining gratitude amongst the grief…… though my hubby may say differently as he has to cope with my whinges!! 😉
I’m sooooo excited that you’re writing! Your words are soaked in the Holy Spirit & I slurp them in to water my dry soul! You are such an inspiration to me & I can’t wait for your first “published” devotional on RM to encourage, inspire & bless thousands of RM readers. God bless you Pastor Jeff. LOTSoluv Kerryn
Kerryn, you’re an inspiration to me the way you look at your present enforced separation from your hubby. I’m glad you have” dates” twice a week.
I love your sense of humour too: “at least we know how to spell!! ” 🙂 (Meaning Canadians and Aussies.)
Gentle hugs,
Beth
Awwweee….. thanks dear Beth! 🙂
I continue to learn that it’s better to look for the positive in this illness journey or I spiral down fast!! It’s still a steep learning curve though! So hubby & I call our visits “dates” & the separation has definitely made our hearts grow fonder! He even bought me a ring for Christmas!! 🙂 I have plenty of down days though & tears of loneliness & separation, but then I think of people starving in other parts of the world, dying in gutters in India & other horrendous situations & wonder what on earth I’m complaining about!! Perspective!
My best friend is Canadian, so clearly we’re of like minds! When we stayed in America for 4 months in 2003 the family we shared deepest with were Canadians too! Have a great week sister! LOTSoluv Kerryn