200th Soul H2OI’ll get to my Are You In The Middle? Devotion below, but I have to settle something first 🙂

Here’s a link to the Facebook live I taped on Monday, August 28th 2017 where I drew the ballots for the 200th #SoulH2O Contest and read this devotion, with a bunch of extras!  I wish I could have you all in a room and study right alongside you.
Hope this video leaves you strengthened to hold on in the middle and stay true to the end.

Congratulations To:
Nicole Kauffman–Blogger at http://www.couragehopelove.com
Katie Reid–Blogger at http://www.katiemreid.com
Soul H2O Readers–Stephanie Hewer and Ana Calderon

Are You In The Middle

Romans 8:37

At the end of 2016 I began praying for 2017.  I was asking the Lord to give me a word to declare over the year and I felt Him whispering VICTORY in my ear.

My first reaction was elation, but it was quickly replaced with a holy fear.  As soon as I thought about it my naivety was displaced with reality.  Victory is not achieved by sitting in your lazy boy with the remote in your hand.  Victory is won on the battlefield.  I knew that God was promising me Triumph, but gaining ground would involve a fight…not a physical one of course 🙂

Psalm 44:3 

It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.  NIV

For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.  KJV

I didn’t want to accept this word, but God confirmed it through a set of circumstances and used this verse, Romans 8:37 to seal the promise.

[tweetthis]Victory is won on the battlefield[/tweetthis]

So here it is, August 28th and I’m in the middle.  It’s just past the middle of the calendar year and victory isn’t in sight, not even if I squint my eyes.  I was reading Holley Gerth’s upcoming release, Fiercehearted for my next Ellen’s Pick book review and this paragraph encouraged my heart.  I’m guessing it will do the same for you!

“But that middle place is the hardest—it’s the furnace and the refinery and what remakes us.  It’s the labor and the sweat and the groaning.  It can’t be skipped or minimized, diminished or forgotten.  It matters and is to be honored.
But it is also not the end.”1
~Holley Gerth

So, if you’re in the middle and can’t see the victory God’s promised, does it make the promise any less true…any less reliable?

No, Despite ALL these things
It’s not the end!
OVERWHELMING VICTORY
is ours through Christ!

Last week I talked about how long it took for God’s promises to Abraham, David and Joseph to come true.  Paul wrote about Abraham’s faith in God’s promises and this is what he said:

Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God,
but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
being fully persuaded
that God had power to do what he had promised.
Romans 4:21-22 NIV

Romans 4:21

 

If you’re in the middle like me, don’t give up….don’t give in.  Strengthen your faith, build your courage and be fully persuaded that God will do what He said!  Victory is on the way!

[tweetthis]Victory implies your battle’s already been won.[/tweetthis]

Prayer

Father…I thank You for Your promises.  Please help me not give up in the middle but to see how You’re at work refining me…preparing me for the future and let me trust you to the end so I can see the victory you have in store.   In Jesus Name…Amen

HOPE TO SEE YOU TODAY
Facebook Live at 12:15pm EST 
on my Personal Facebook page 
TODAY: Monday, August 28, 2017
  1. Gerth, Holley. Fiercehearted: Live Fully, Love Bravely (Advanced Reading Copy).  © 2017 Holley Gerth.  Revell Books: Grand Rapids, MI. pg.56

Drawing From The Well-Blue

  1. Romans 8:37
  2. Psalm 44:3
  3. Romans 4:20-21
  4. Luke 1:37

#DARE2SHARE
POST IN THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW AND BOLSTER THE FAITH OF SOMEONE ELSE!

IF YOU LIKED THE REFRESHING IN THIS #SOULH2O DEVOTION, YOU LOVE MY LATEST SOUL H2O DEVOTIONAL BOOK: 40 THIRST QUENCHING DEVOTIONS FOR WOMEN.

blogger prayerYOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP WITH:
MONDAY Monday Meditations – Laura J. Davis, #SoulSurvival – Donna Riedland
TUESDAY Cheerleaders of Faith #RARaLinkup – Kelly Balarie,
WEDNESDAY Coffee For Your Heart – Holley Gerth, Word Nerd Wednesdays — Liz Giertz
THURSDAY Heart Encouragement Thursday – Crystal Storms, Chasing Community – Barbara Bradford Ottinger
FRIDAY Dance With Jesus Linkup – Susan B. Mead, Grace and Truth Linkup – Arabah Joy, Counting My Blessings – Deb Wolf, Fresh Market Friday – Crystal Twaddell ELLEN’S PICKS– Ellen Graf-Martin

Sherry Stahl