Our Only Source
Cynde Layne Wilkerson
 
For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, You came down, and the mountains trembled before you. Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. Isaiah 64:3-5 NIV
 
I often think about how God has made provisions and how many amazing things He’s done that have astounded me and yet, it cannot be compared to what He’s said He has prepared for me. Jeremiah 29:11 says it best, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” I get excited when I envision His glory on my life!
 
From an ordinary man it would be said, “but Cynde, given your current circumstances, how can you be excited about the anticipation of what you wait for and what God has promised you? “Well, my friend, it’s simple, I believe God and I know that He is not slack concerning those things He has promised and He is not a man that He should lie.” So, therein lies my faith and my hope; for my faith is the substance of things hoped for and definitely the evidence of things not seen (Heb 11:1). God is my only source; He knows and sees even when I don't and I believe it and therefore, I will wait for the Lord.
 
The Spirit of God is the source of our sight, the revealer of God’s truth and His will for our lives presently and in our future. It's impossible to see or understand these hidden truths unless we have the Spirit of God in us. Without it, we can only see or understand in the natural, which honestly amounts to nothing. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him (1 Cor 2:10-14)? However, when we are filled with the precious Spirit of God, we begin to see spiritually; then we can truly know and understand who we are and begin to walk in the direction and the purpose of our lives. With the Spirit of the Lord things begin to make sense even when they don’t make sense (I know that sounds crazy) and because of the connection, we get it, especially, when we come to the realization that everything we experience is part of the making of us and that we are an important part of a much bigger plan.
 
God's mercy, grace and His favor in my life never cease to amaze me. I am in awe many times as I experience God’s faithfulness. And no, I am not sitting around doing nothing while I wait because God will not act on our behalf if we are not active in the things of God, regardless of our circumstances. We must still live this life righteously; stay in right standing with the Lord, pray, fast, and continue the work that He has purposed for us to do. We can’t be slack or slothful in the process of our making. My happiness, my joy, my hope is connected to what God has designed for me; what He has prepared and what He is preparing for me in order to be equipped to go forth for kingdom work.
 
We do God and ourselves an injustice, when we don’t allow the Spirit of God to make visible those things that He wants us to know in order to live in the moment. Catch the vision for what is happening right now. Let God work His plan for our lives His way. Let’s be aware of the work He is doing in us and not go ahead of Him to try and see or figure out what He is doing. For without Him, it would be impossible for us to comprehend these things. It’s so wonderful to know that He desires for us to know the things, but we can only know them and see them by His Spirit.
 
Honestly, I can’t speak for you but I am grateful for God being the only source of my life!
 
Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
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Facing Our Goliath
Cynde Layne Wilkerson
I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed. I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet. For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.  Psalm 18:34-39
 
After a titillating message, there was a phrase that stayed with me throughout the day. It caused me to think seriously about the Goliaths in my life that need a swift smooth stone because I have allowed them to hinder me from moving forward in some areas. It was such an “aha” moment and I realized that I am bigger than any Goliath because it is the Lord who and gives me the strength and the power to go up against my enemy.
 
In the story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17), David was sent by his father to check on his brothers and bring food. While he was there, he heard the giant Goliath spewing threats and David saw that the men were afraid and paralyzed with fear by him. I can imagine David looking around and saying what is wrong with you before he said to them, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of living God? If you’re too scared then I will fight Goliath.” Now, David was not even dressed for battle in the natural sense; he was dressed in his shepherd’s clothes, carrying his sling and a pouch that had five smooth stones. Even when offered, he didn’t want all of the armor that came with being on the battlefield; he wanted to use his weapon of choice, the one that he was comfortable with, the one that he was familiar with using. David had skills with that sling! I heard the preacher say, you have to use the weapon that works best for you to go after your Goliath (i,e., prayer, fasting, seeking God; Mark 9:28-29). And while Goliath was yelling, David simply said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel … and as Goliath moved in for the kill, David slung one stone ... 
 
Even though all of the men, including his brothers were afraid of Goliath, David faced him fearless and with confidence knowing the God he served would prevail. God wants us to move in that same vein when it comes to our Goliaths. He wants us free from worry, free from stress and free from the fears of this world. We have to keep our minds as David, knowing the God of our salvation is with us no matter what giants we are facing. Fear will cripple, paralyze and keep us from developing and not just in our spiritual walk but in our natural lives as well. Fear keeps us from moving forward. The scripture tells us that He did not give us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. We must stand firm and not be afraid and have the faith and trust that David possessed.  He knew that no man could come against the all powerful and mighty God. Simply, if God is for us, who or what can be against us. Absolutely, nothing can stand against His power. Look at Goliath, speaking loudly and spurting nonsense because of his size just to intimidate, frighten, and terrorize. However, look where that got him. Our Goliaths appear to be grand in size, while talking loudly and wreaking havoc whenever they can to incite fear in efforts to keep us immobilized. Like Saul and his army, scared to move forward and take on the enemy.
 
As I encourage you with this story, I encourage myself as well.  Let’s go full speed ahead and not run in the opposite direction or allow fear to keep us bound. Let’s begin to face our Goliaths (problems, circumstances, situations) with faith and trust in the God who said He would fight for us and with us!
 
Until the morning, be blessed!
Cynde
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