Simply Lou

Have you ever been told something super crazy, radical even, or maybe a little overwhelming?

Have you ever been told something like that, by God?

What about this... 

Has God ever told you to ask him for something, said, crazy, radical, or overwhelming?

Has he ever told you to believe him for that specific thing you were to ask him for?

The answer for me is, yes. 

Here's the story...

*I'll try to keep this short, but no guarantees*

Nearly four years ago I heard God tell me something specific (this specific thing will not be shared at this time). At first, I somewhat brushed it off as just a "thought" that came to mind; that was until God didn't leave me alone about it. Life went on just as usual but one day, he said it to me, again. This time, however, he told me to ask him for that specific thing he told me. He didn't stop there though... He then told me to believe him; believe that he would give me the very thing he told me to ask him for. 

*Interjection*

If you have ever been in this kind of situation with the Lord, you can probably imagine the hesitation I felt. I wanted to be obedient to God, but this just seemed crazy. Ya feel me?

What if I'm not hearing God correctly? What if I'm wrong? What if it doesn't happen?

What if?

So many thoughts were jumbled around in my head. At the time, I hadn't told anyone; mostly because it was a little bit scary to think about, let alone speak about. Little did I know, though, that God was speaking to my cousin about the very same thing. One day while sitting on her back porch, drinking coffee (duh!) and talking life as we usually do, she out of the blue said something along the lines of, "Loren, I feel like God told me [same thing God had spoken to me], and maybe you are suppose to ask him for it." 

My thought? She did not just say that.

It wasn't until a while later that I told her that God had been telling me the very same thing. It was in that moment that I knew, without a doubt, what I was suppose to do.

*Side-Note*

This girl has been with me every step of the way. She sometimes gets a bad rep, but some people just don't understand. God knew I wouldn't be able to go through this alone, and I'm so thankful I have her to keep me grounded me in the Truth, encourage me when its tough, and pray with/for me always!

At the time, I had no idea the journey that God was about to take me on. It's been nearly four years since then and there has been so many ups and downs along the way. There's been confirmation of his Word and promise over and over, and yet discouragement like no other. It hasn't always been easy. I haven't always wanted to ask God for that specific thing. I haven't always fully trusted and believed that what he has promised me will actually happen, because the honest truth? It sometimes just seems impossible. But...

This is what I know to be true, and what I hope that anyone reading this or anyone going through the struggle of waiting on a God-Promise to be fulfilled will understand and be encouraged by...

God is always faithful. 

God is a promise-keeper. 

God is more than able to do the impossible. 

God will bless you beyond anything you can imagine. 

God loves you. 

Ask Specifically.

"Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks." Philippians 4:6 (NCV)

 "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24 (NIV) 

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you."

 Matthew 7:7 (NLT)

"And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him."
1 John 5:15 (NIV)

"You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father."
 John 14:13 (NLT)

"In that day you will not ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you anything you ask for in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy."
John 16:23-24 (NCV)

 Trust Completely. 

"Trust the Lord with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding. Remember the Lord in all you do, and he will give you success."

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NCV)

"Jesus answered, 'You don’t understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later.'”

John 13:7 (NCV)

"When everything was hopeless, Abraham [replace with your name] believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn’t do but on what God said he would do."

Romans 4:18 (MSG)

"Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.'”

Mark 10:27 (NIV)

"Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God."

Romans 4:20 (NLT)

"Then Jesus said to the disciples, 'Have faith in God.'"

Mark 11:22 (NLT)

"I know that you can do all things and that no plan of yours can be ruined." 

Job 42:2 (NCV)

"As the Scripture says, 'Anyone who trusts in him will never be disappointed."

Romans 10:11 (NCV)

"Let us hold firmly to the hope that we have confessed, because we can trust God to do what he promised."

Hebrews 10:23 (NCV)

"You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”
Luke 1:45 (NLT)

Wait Expectantly.

"Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him..."

Psalm 37:7 (HCSB)

"In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly."

Psalm 5:3 (NIV)

“'Yes indeed, it won’t be long now.' God’s Decree. 'Things are going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of the other. You won’t be able to keep up. Everything will be happening at once—and everywhere you look, blessings! Blessings like wine pouring off the mountains and hills. I’ll make everything right again for my people'..."

Amos 9:13-14 (MSG)

"Then Joshua addressed the people: 'Sanctify yourselves. Tomorrow God will work miracle-wonders among you.'” 
Joshua 3:5 (MSG)

"Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete."

2 Corinthians 1:20-22 (MSG)

"For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!" 
Isaiah 64:4 (NLT)

"I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds. Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples."

Psalm 77:11-14 (NIV)

If you're still with me, here's little something else to remember:

Even if it seems impossible, believe.

Even if His timing isn't your timing, believe.

Even if people around you are saying otherwise, believe.

Even if it doesn't look the way you thought it would, believe.

Even if you want to give up, believe.

Even if you don't understand what's happening, believe.

Even if you're hurt, believe.

Even if circumstances and difficulties arise, believe.

Even if the waiting gets tough, believe.

"Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think!" 

Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)

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