[00:00:00] Let us pray, pray together on our knees
[00:00:07] Let us pray, pray together on our knees
[00:00:14] When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun
[00:00:21] Oh Lord, never see all the knees
[00:00:27] Welcome to the Bible Speaks with Elgin Carelock
[00:00:30] The Bible Speaks is a weekly ministry of Harvest International
[00:00:33] Our prayer is that the Bible Speaks will encourage you in your study of God's word
[00:00:38] You will be able to contact Elgin at the address given at the end of this broadcast
[00:00:44] And now, here's Elgin
[00:00:46] But because the Lord loved you and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn into your fathers
[00:00:52] That the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand
[00:00:55] And redeemed you out of the house of bondment from the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt
[00:01:02] Deuteronomy 7 verse 8
[00:01:05] Brothers and sisters, I welcome you wherever you are
[00:01:09] Whenever you're listening from wherever you are to another edition of Words of Inspiration
[00:01:16] And today we are keeping in our conversation from Deuteronomy 1
[00:01:22] Where the Lord is telling the children of Israel that it was time to turn and take their journey
[00:01:30] So today I wanted to speak with you on the topic of Get Off Your Butt
[00:01:36] The inspirational scripture coming from Proverbs 18 verse 9
[00:01:42] Which reads, a lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things
[00:01:48] Now before you get upset with me and write letters
[00:01:52] The butt I am referring to are the excuses we give for not doing what God told us to do
[00:02:00] Or what we have been called to do
[00:02:02] We say, I understand what the Lord requires
[00:02:07] But I know I should tithe 10%
[00:02:10] But the Bible says to love our enemies
[00:02:14] But it is those butts that keep us from living the life God intended and Jesus died for
[00:02:21] It puts in a perpetual situation of procrastination and ultimately disobedience
[00:02:29] It is clear that God expects diligence and regards laziness as detrimental to both individuals and a community's well-being
[00:02:39] The biblical perspective encourages believers to see work as opportunities to demonstrate faithfulness
[00:02:47] Contribute to the needs of others and express gratitude for the ability God has given
[00:02:53] In doing so, work, whether secular or spiritual, is elevated to an act of worship
[00:03:00] And a means of participating in God's ongoing creation and provision
[00:03:06] Two famous butts in the Bible are Moses and Jeremiah
[00:03:11] In Exodus 4 verse 10
[00:03:14] Moses says to God, oh Lord, I have never been eloquent
[00:03:19] Neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant
[00:03:24] I am slow of speech and tongue
[00:03:27] In Jeremiah 1 verse 6
[00:03:30] When God calls Jeremiah to be a prophet to the nations
[00:03:34] Jeremiah responds, oh Lord God, behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth
[00:03:43] The good thing is we know that they ultimately did what God wanted
[00:03:48] They didn't let their fear keep them from doing great things for God
[00:03:53] But how do we overcome the fear and doubt that keeps us from becoming all that God would have us be?
[00:04:00] Overcoming fear and doubt is a crucial step for anyone seeking to fully embrace and fulfill God's purpose for their life
[00:04:10] These emotions, while natural, can become significant obstacles in our spiritual journey if left unchecked
[00:04:18] Here are some biblically grounded strategies for overcoming these barriers
[00:04:24] Strengthen your faith through Scripture
[00:04:27] Regular engagement with the Bible is essential
[00:04:30] Scripture not only provides reassurance and encouragement
[00:04:34] But also reminds us of the countless instances where God has enabled ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things
[00:04:43] Pray for courage and clarity
[00:04:46] Prayer is a powerful tool in battling fear and doubt
[00:04:50] It involves not only speaking to God but also listening for his guidance
[00:04:55] Through prayer we can ask for the Holy Spirit to provide the courage, wisdom and strength we need to move forward
[00:05:03] Seek Godly counsel and community support
[00:05:08] Connecting with the supported faith community can provide encouragement and wisdom
[00:05:14] Fellow believers can offer practical advice, share their own experiences of overcoming similar challenges
[00:05:21] And provide biblical counsel
[00:05:24] Act in faith
[00:05:26] Sometimes the best way to overcome fear and doubt is by taking action
[00:05:31] As you make small steps in obedience to God's calling, your confidence in his provision and your understanding of his will can grow
[00:05:40] Each step of faith is an opportunity to see God's faithfulness in action, which in turn diminishes fear and builds trust
[00:05:50] Reflect on God's past faithfulness
[00:05:53] Reflecting on how God has worked in your life previously can bolster your faith and reduce doubt
[00:06:01] Try keeping a journal of answered prayers and God's blessings
[00:06:06] And setting aside time to remember specific instances where God has provided or protected you
[00:06:13] And it will serve as a powerful reminder of his ongoing faithfulness
[00:06:18] Brothers and sisters, by integrating these practices into your life you will find that overcoming fear and doubt become more manageable and spiritually enriching
[00:06:31] Ultimately these steps help foster a deeper reliance on God which is essential for living out the fullness of what he has planned for you
[00:06:41] Thank you again for spending this time with me and I look forward to our discussion on tomorrow
[00:06:47] Until then, God bless
[00:07:17] Ocala, Florida 34478
[00:07:20] Again, that's Harvest International, Post Office Box 6690, Ocala, Florida 34478