Faith in Action: Overcoming Doubts and Pursuing Dreams

Devotional

Day 1: Embrace Imperfection to Fulfill God's Calling

Waiting for perfect conditions can often paralyze us from pursuing our dreams. Ecclesiastes 11:4 reminds us that if we wait for the wind to be just right, we will never sow, and if we watch the clouds, we will never reap. This is a call to action, urging us to trust in God's timing and take steps forward despite imperfections. When we allow fear or doubt to hold us back, we miss out on the opportunities God has placed before us. By embracing imperfection, we open ourselves to the adventure of faith, trusting that God will guide us through the uncertainties of life. [12:44]

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: What is one dream or goal you have been putting off due to waiting for the "perfect" moment? How can you take a step of faith towards it today, trusting in God's timing?

Day 2: Find Strength in God's Sovereignty

In moments when encouragement from others is lacking, we must learn to encourage ourselves in the Lord, just as David did. This goes beyond mere positive thinking; it is about finding strength in God's faith, grace, and power. Trusting in God's sovereignty means believing that He is in control, even when circumstances seem overwhelming. By focusing on His promises and character, we can find the courage to face challenges head-on, knowing that God is with us every step of the way. [14:18]

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9, ESV)

Reflection: When you face discouragement, what specific promises of God can you remind yourself of to find strength and encouragement in Him?

Day 3: Align Your Faith with God's Glory

Our faith should be centered on God's glory, not our own. David's story teaches us that expecting God to work in our lives for His purposes aligns us with His will and opens the door for His miraculous intervention. When we seek to glorify God through our actions and decisions, we invite His presence and power into our lives. This requires a shift in perspective, focusing on how our dreams and goals can serve God's greater plan rather than our personal ambitions. [16:23]

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24, ESV)

Reflection: How can you reframe a current goal or dream to focus on glorifying God rather than seeking personal recognition or success?

Day 4: Overcome Giants with Faith

The giants of delay, discouragement, disapproval, and doubt can be defeated through faith. By choosing to trust God, we allow Him to work powerfully in our lives, regardless of our circumstances or abilities. Faith is not about ignoring the challenges we face but about believing that God is greater than any obstacle. When we place our trust in Him, we can overcome the giants that seek to hold us back and move forward with confidence in His promises. [22:26]

"For the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory." (Deuteronomy 20:4, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a "giant" in your life that is causing you fear or doubt. How can you actively choose to trust God to help you overcome it today?

Day 5: Unbelief Limits God's Work

Our unbelief can limit God's work in our lives and the lives of those we love. When we allow fear or doubt to take root, we hinder the fulfillment of God's dreams for us. Instead, we should encourage and support each other in faith, believing that God can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. By fostering a community of faith, we create an environment where God's power can be unleashed, transforming our lives and the lives of those around us. [21:38]

"And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief." (Matthew 13:58, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where unbelief may be limiting God's work. How can you take a step of faith to trust Him more fully in this area?

Sermon Summary

In Ecclesiastes 11:4, we are reminded that waiting for perfect conditions will prevent us from ever starting on our dreams. Today marks the end of 50 days of transformation, and it is the perfect time to pursue new dreams. When faced with discouragement, doubt, or disapproval, we must trust in God and follow His calling. David's story exemplifies this as he faced Goliath without any encouragement from those around him. Instead, he encouraged himself in the Lord, finding strength in God's faith, grace, and power. This is more profound than mere positive thinking; it is a deep trust in God's sovereignty and plan.

David's faith was not just about personal victory but about glorifying God. He expected God to help him for His glory, not his own. This faith factor is crucial in pursuing our dreams. God acts according to our faith, and we must choose to trust Him, regardless of our abilities or circumstances. Our faith can either limit or unleash God's work in our lives and the lives of those we love. We must not let unbelief hold us or others back from God's dreams.

We have control over how much we trust God, and this faith can defeat the giants of delay, discouragement, disapproval, and doubt. By saying yes to God, we embark on an adventure of faith, trusting Him to guide us through life's challenges. We must use the tools we have, encourage ourselves in the Lord, and expect God to help us for His glory. This journey requires us to invite Jesus into every area of our lives, allowing Him to be our guide and strength.

Key Takeaways

1. Trust in God's Timing: Waiting for perfect conditions can paralyze us from pursuing our dreams. Trusting in God's timing and taking action despite imperfections is crucial. We must not let fear or doubt hold us back from what God has called us to do. [12:44]
2. Encourage Yourself in the Lord: Like David, we may not always receive encouragement from others. In those moments, we must find strength in God, trusting in His faith, grace, and power. This is deeper than positive thinking; it is a bedrock trust in God's sovereignty. [14:18]
3. Expect God to Work for His Glory: Our faith should be centered on God's glory, not our own. By expecting God to work in our lives for His purposes, we align ourselves with His will and open the door for His miraculous intervention. [16:23]
4. Faith Overcomes Giants: The giants of delay, discouragement, disapproval, and doubt can be defeated through faith. By choosing to trust God, we allow Him to work powerfully in our lives, regardless of our circumstances or abilities. [22:26]
5. Unbelief Limits God's Work: Our unbelief can limit God's work in our lives and the lives of those we love. We must not let fear or doubt hold us or others back from God's dreams. Instead, we should encourage and support each other in faith. [21:38]
** [21:38]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[12:44] - Embracing Imperfection
[13:12] - Ignoring Dream Busters
[14:18] - Encouraging Yourself in the Lord
[15:02] - Beyond Positive Thinking
[16:23] - Expecting God's Help
[17:14] - God's Battle, Not Ours
[18:14] - Trusting God for His Glory
[19:24] - A Personal Journey of Faith
[20:06] - The Power of Belief
[21:02] - The Impact of Unbelief
[22:13] - Choosing Faith Over Fear
[23:03] - A Prayer of Trust
[25:20] - The Power of Scripture Memorization
[26:04] - New Scripture Memorization Resource

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to Ecclesiastes 11:4, what is the consequence of waiting for perfect conditions before starting on a dream? [12:44]
How did David respond when he received no encouragement from those around him as he faced Goliath? [13:59]
What does David declare to Goliath about the source of his strength and victory? [16:38]
What does Proverbs 7:2 suggest about the importance of God's words in our lives? [25:20]

Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of "encouraging yourself in the Lord" differ from simply having a positive mental attitude? [14:18]
In what ways does David's expectation of God's help for His glory challenge common perceptions of personal achievement? [16:23]
How might unbelief in one's own life limit the potential of others, according to the sermon? [21:38]
What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between faith and the challenges or "giants" we face in life? [22:26]

Application Questions

Reflect on a dream or goal you have been hesitant to pursue. What steps can you take this week to move forward despite imperfect conditions? [12:44]
Identify a situation where you need to encourage yourself in the Lord. What specific scriptures or prayers can you use to strengthen your faith in that area? [14:18]
Consider a time when you expected God to work for your own glory rather than His. How can you realign your expectations to focus on God's purposes? [16:23]
Think of a "giant" in your life that you are currently facing. How can you apply faith to overcome this challenge, and what practical steps can you take? [22:26]
Reflect on any areas of unbelief that might be limiting God's work in your life or the lives of those you love. How can you address these doubts and support others in their faith journey? [21:38]
How can you incorporate scripture memorization into your daily routine to strengthen your spiritual life, as suggested in Proverbs 7:2? [25:20]
What specific area of your life do you need to invite Jesus into as your guide and strength? How will you make this invitation a reality this week? [25:02]

Sermon Clips

I love this verse in Ecclesiastes 11 look up here on the screen verse four says if you wait for perfect conditions you'll never get anything done how many of you agree with that verse yeah if you wait for perfect conditions you're never going to get started on your dream someday I one of these no today's the day we're ending 50 days of transformation this is the day to start the new dream this is the day to go after it and when everybody else is saying you can't do it discouragement and when you're full of doubt you're going to trust God and when there's been a delay and people have held you back and when people disapprove you just say sorry I've got to do what God's asking me to do. [00:12:33]

It is interesting to me that as David's going to take on a giant that everybody else is scared to death to take on he didn't get any encouragement from anybody not a single word of encouragement as he's going out on this show his dad didn't encourage him his mom didn't encourage him his brothers didn't encourage him the Army the soldiers who are scared to death didn't encourage him the king whose reputation is on the line didn't encourage him nobody gave David any encouragement what did he do he had to encourage himself in the Lord. [00:13:25]

Do you do that sometimes nobody else is going to encourage you and you're going to have to encourage yourself in the Lord now this is very very different from Simply Having a positive mental attitude ude no no this is far more deep when you encourage yourself in the Lord there is a Bedrock trust in God's faith God's grace God's provision God's security God's kindness God's power you're trusting in God it's not just a positive mental attitude now I'm not against positive thinking I mean considering the alternative I think you ought to be a positive thinker because the alternative is negative thinking and that's worse. [00:14:18]

There are some problems in your life that are so significant and some Giants so big all the positive thinking in the world isn't going to make a difference at all the Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow have a nice day is just pretty shallow when you're facing the deepest darkest problems of life when you've had a son who struggled with mental illness for 27 years all the positive thinking in the world is worthless well just feel better put a smile in your face think good thoughts believe have fun so no no you need something far deeper that in the deepest darkest days of life you need a Bedrock trust in God's grace in God's love in God's power in God's sovereignty in God's plan and you have to encourage yourself in the Lord. [00:15:02]

David did expect I expect God to help me for his glory I expect God to helped me for his glory this is what David did this is what you must do in going after your dream it is the fa Faith factor I love what David says to Goliath as he runs onto the battlefield David runs onto the battlefield shouting and he says says this David shouted to Goliath you come at me with sword and with spear and with javelin but I come to you in the name of the Lord Almighty and today the Lord will conquer you not me the Lord will conquer you and the whole world will know that there is a God and everyone will know that the Lord doesn't need weapons to rescue his people it is his battle not ours. [00:16:23]

What are you expecting God to do in your life without even knowing you I can tell you this God is doing exactly what you expect him to do no more and no less because every time God moves out of heaven and moves on Earth and does a miracle it's because somebody believed the Bible says according to your faith it will be done unto you the Bible says the just shall live by faith the Bible says without faith it is impossible to please God the Bible says whatever is not a faith is sin according to your faith that would be done to you you get to choose how much God does in your life life it's based on how much you choose to trust him. [00:17:14]

I have a choice to trust God and you do too whatever is not a faith of sin he say I expect God to help me for his glory I made this decision when I was a young man and in the mountains of Northern California one night I got down on my knees and as a young man I said God I'm not the smartest guy I'm not the most educated and I'm not the best looking and I'm not the most talented but God by your grace I'm going to trust you and I don't have to know or understand why you tell me to do what you wanted me to do but I will do anything anytime anywhere in faith even when it doesn't make sense to me. [00:18:14]

What an adventure my life has been I would have never imagined as a teenager that one day I would stand and speak to a crowd like this much less to all of our campuses around the world because this this group right here is about five times bigger than the town I grew up in I'm a country boy with a slingshot and God says I will use anybody who will trust me and say I expect God to use me not because of who I am but for his glory that God knows and the world knows that there is a God. [00:19:24]

I've often thought how would history be different if my wife had said no if she'd been afraid and scared and said let's don't do it there would be no Saddleback Church there would be no purpose-driven life there would be no movement of churches in 160 Nations there would be no peace plan thousands of people that are going to heaven now would not be headed to Heaven you have no idea how much you're un belief could be limiting somebody you love is your unbelief limiting your wife is your unbelief limiting your husband is your unbelief limiting your child don't be Jessy don't hold them back when God has a great dream for their life it's not your dream for them it's God's dream for them. [00:21:02]

There are a lot of things in your life you don't have control over you didn't choose your natural Talent you didn't choose when you would be born where you would be born you didn't choose your race you didn't choose your gender you didn't choose your talent but you do get to choose how much you're going to trust God and it is that Faith factor that will defeat the Giants of delay and discouragement and disapproval and doubt and if you will say yes to God he will take you on the adventure of your life it doesn't really matter what's happened in your life if you say I want the rest of my life no matter how how many years I've got to be God's 100%. [00:22:13]

Dear God you have helped me many times in the past you've helped me through things I thought I'd never get out of but you did help me and if you've helped me in the past I know you're going to help me in the future help me to remember that and draw my confidence from that even when people discourage me or disapprove of me or even when people misunderstand me help me to use the tools that you've given me now to not wait for a perfect time and a perfect place and a perfect tool but to use the slingshot and the stones that are I have right now help me not to wear somebody else's armor but to just go in your your strength and Lord help me to ignore the dream Busters and help me to start every day with a time alone with you so that I will encourage myself in the Lord. [00:23:03]

Help me to expect you to help me not for my glory but for yours that the whole world will know that there is a God and that everyone will know that the Lord doesn't need weapons to rescue his people Lord I've been tired because I've been trying to fight battles as if they're mine it's your battle I want to relax and trust you to give me the victory Jesus Christ I invite you into every room in my life the living room the bedroom the bathroom the kitchen I want you to run every area of my life I want you to be the manager and the Lord From This Day Forward and I thank you in advance that the Giants will fall and the dream will come true and I pray this in your name amen. [00:25:20]

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