Last night at the jail, we talked with the girls about the fact that the only thing keeping them from a relationship with God is themselves.

We talked about how He longs to be their Father, their Protector, their Provider.

We talked about the truth that there is no one on this earth who can make the choice for us to say the words,

"I believe Jesus is the Son of God, and I want Him as my personal Savior."

Three more girls accepted Him last night and we are going back tonight to baptize them!

Praise the Lord!

As I was reading this morning, I was struck by these words that were delivered through Isaiah from God to King Ahaz.

Isaiah 7:9b

"Unless your faith is firm,

I cannot make you stand firm."

Wow.

They line up with what we were talking about last night so beautifully, and I'm going to share these words tonight during the baptisms.

I believe we all long to stand firm.

We lean on God for the strength to do this.

But, I love that even in that leaning God has placed some responsibility on us.

We have to be firm in our faith.

That means we can't be double-minded even in our times of trials.

James reiterates this truth when he says,

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 

he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

Today, as you venture into Saturday, remember that God longs to help you stand firm in your faith.

But first, your faith must be firm.

Commit yourself today to having a firm faith.

Not a faith that teeters back and forth between believing and questioning...........

When you can say,

"I believe that God is for me even when life seems against me,"

WATCH OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God is right there waiting to help you STAND FIRM and pour wisdom all over you!

Look at the James passage above again........

God doesn't promise to always answer our worldly requests when our faith is firm, but He does promise to give wisdom generously WITHOUT FINDING FAULT!

I love that!

More than anything in this world, I desire to know Him more!

And I believe that everyday He draws me just a little closer to His heart.

He longs to draw you closer today too!

Believe!

Ask God to help you with your unbelief just like the father in the book of Mark asked Jesus to help him with his unbelief when he was pleading for healing for his son.

Understand that healing for that father's son happened in the story, but eventually that boy still went Home to be with Jesus,

so don't lose your faith when God's answer to your prayer doesn't match your request here on earth.

Even though it's hard.

Real hard.

I know.

Have a firm faith anyway......

and see what God will do!