Frame it, Name it, Claim it, AND MISS IT!!

Recently, I have had the experience in believing God for an automobile we purchased here in Honduras and also helping someone make a serious decision for their lives.  Obviously believing God in faith for something came up during the process.  Since I was dealing with other people and their hearts, I witnessed a mental process that can get many in trouble.

This is not an article to bash the faith movement that so many of us hold dear to our hearts.  I believe the faith movement has raised the church to a higher level of faith in him.  We have accomplished many great things as a result of it.  Lives have been transformed forever, but unfortunately, lives have been shipwrecked due to them taking an unbiblical approach towards it.

You hear all the time that, “God will give you the desires of your heart.”  They have pens and paper in their hands making long lists of demands for God to meet.  Many are well meaning Christians, but do they really understand what they are saying and doing?  Are they really reading the WHOLE scripture or the parts that they want too?

4  Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.  5  Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.  Psalm 37:4-5 (KJV)

When I read this scripture I see something that many don’t want to see.  This is about an intimate relationship with God, not an association with God.  Intimacy with God is about surrender; not my desires but yours only in my life.  When you have brokenness before God to the point of surrender and you don’t want ANYTHING but his will and plan for your life something beautiful occurs.  His desires are now your desires.  That is when I believe this scripture comes to life and true for you.

The bible encourages us in Romans 12:2 to renew our minds, and then we will know his perfect will for our lives.  It’s about us conditioning our mind to the point where our thoughts are his thoughts.  We are consumed with him so much that we breathe and live our lives through him.  Then we will be searching for:  his spouse; his place of employment; his home to live in;............on and on.  It will be about what is best for us because he said so.

While searching for a vehicle my wife gave me a long list of features she wanted.  Not throwing her under the bus, but I looked at the list and said to myself, “We haven’t even discussed this list, but she is expecting me to stand in faith with her.”  I just smiled and said, “Honey, you expect to find this vehicle in Honduras?  How about we seek God and ask him what we should be looking for?”  I didn’t want the vehicle of OUR desires; I wanted the vehicle of HIS desires.

All I knew was we needed a 4x4 diesel vehicle to get into the mountains.  I didn’t care about anything else!!  We started searching and honestly, I was getting very frustrated because I was looking for a truck and they were extremely expensive for what you get.  All along I was praying saying, “God show us the way.”  Well, that night I asked my friend if we should be considering a SUV vs. a truck.  So, I started searching the internet with prayer and God led me to a vehicle that I have never seen before.  Guess what, it was a 4x4 diesel.  At that moment I knew this type of vehicle was it.

Long story short, we had an open heart and allowed God to lead and guide us to the exact vehicle HE WANTED for our lives.  He knew what was best and he knew where that vehicle was.  Today we own a wonderful Nissan X-Trail 4x4 diesel.  Did it meet any list that we would have created?  Maybe a few things, but you know what, I don’t care.  All I know, it’s what he wanted and it’s the best option as far as I am concerned.  We are joyful to have it and it meets ALL of our NEEDS!!

In conclusion, we need to get to such a place in our lives that nothing matters, ONLY what God wants in our lives matters.  Your heart will be so full of God that his desires will be your desires.  Ultimately, you will attain such a level of thankfulness in your life that it will propel you towards peace and joy like no other!!  God will keep raising you from “faith to faith” and “glory to glory.”



Shawn Paul
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