Category: Prayer

My Faith Is Weak—I Need More Faith

Sheri YatesLeave a comment

blog image

We all have the faith of Jesus Christ. That’s what Scripture says. You cannot come to God without Him. He actually gives you the faith to believe in Him. The faith you have isn’t your own. You didn’t muster it up. You’re not some great person of faith. Yes, sometimes He gives people a spiritual gift of faith, but it’s still from Him. He is the author of it.

If you and I have the same faith because God gave it to us so we could know Him and love Him, then how do we make our faith work more effectually? Some people have more effective faith than I do. I look at them and think, “How is that? How is that possible?” I believe it comes from their relationship with God. They’re seeking Him and pursuing Him. They’re reading His Word, chomping it up, ingesting it, and believing what it says with childlike faith. It stirs them up.

I received a gift from a friend of mine. It’s a candle. I don’t burn candles in my home. I haven’t burned them since I had kids. I don’t want to risk the accidental knocking over and fire or wax in the carpet. It was a gift my friend gave to me, but it’s never really been used. It just sits there. I think that’s what faith is like. God gives it to you, and you either light it and use it, or you don’t and it just sits there.

So how do we light the candle of our faith? I believe the answer is in Hebrews 11:1. It says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (KJV). I believe hope is the fire for your faith. Hope is your part, and faith is God’s part. God gave you the faith; now, can you keep up your hope? Can you keep yourself focused on the promises of God? Can you keep yourself focused on this amazing promise: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NIV)?

Jesus also said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1 NIV). He wouldn’t give you a command you could not keep. I believe that when you let your heart be troubled, you lose your hope, and it’s not there to spark your faith. We need to learn, remember, and put our hope in the promises of God. 

“Listen carefully: I have given you authority [that you now possess] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and [the ability to exercise authority] over all the power of the enemy (Satan); and nothing will [in any way] harm you.” (Luke 10:19 AMP)

I keep my eyes on this truth. It keeps stirring me up. It builds up my hope. It makes my hope grow and become active and alive so it can light the candle of my faith—the faith that God has deposited in me. It’s not really my faith, so I cannot boast in it! I refer to it as my faith, but it’s really not. It was a gift given to me by God. It’s His. He deposited it. When I place my hope in Him, it lights and connects. The faith He has given me ignites, and sparks fly!

Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Jump into your Bible. As you read, your hope in the Lord will grow and SOAR! 

Love, 
Sheri 

Help Me with My Unbelief

Sheri YatesLeave a comment
How do you defeat doubt? I believe faith is on one side and doubt is on the other. Doubt creeps in when we start to think, “Hey, I prayed this prayer, and it didn’t work. God didn’t answer. He didn’t come through for me. I asked Him to do this, but it didn’t happen. Is His word really true or not?” We start looking around and trying to solve this problem. We wonder, “Why didn’t this work? Why didn’t God come through on this promise? If He didn’t come through on this one, then maybe it’s not true at all in any case.” We start to question and doubt the fullness of the truth in the word of God.

On February 6, 2006, I lost my mother to a 31-month battle with cancer. At the time, I believed Jesus died for healing. I believed God was the healer. I knew He was, and I knew He gave me the faith to believe it. Still, I wasn’t quite there yet. I wasn’t completely convinced. I still had doubt because I had never seen anybody live it out. I’d never seen anybody living that way. I hadn’t even heard anyone teaching it before 2003. Actually, before 2003, I didn’t even have a clue that God is as good as He is. Trying to learn all of that quickly in a microwave was very difficult for me because I couldn’t get over the hump that God was mad at me and that He sometimes takes loved ones. “Sometimes He needs them more than we do,” people told me. Those things I heard in the past caused me to have doubt.

How do you overcome doubt? How do you defeat doubt so your faith can fully flourish? The only way I know how to do that is to keep inputting the word of God into your heart and your mind to renew your mind fully. Your mind has to be renewed. You have to take all of those old sayings that people have spoken into your ear and overcome them with the truth. The only way to do that is to hear the word of God again and again and again until it becomes more alive and true in you and to you than anything else anyone has ever said to you. Faith comes by hearing the word of God.

Take a look at Matthew 17:21 and Mark 9:29. It’s the same message in two different gospels. If you really look at these portions of Scripture and read them in context, you find that the disciples were trying to perform a miracle. They were trying to cast out a demon, but it wouldn’t go. It would not obey them. It wouldn’t leave. The people were probably saying things like, “Why can’t your disciples do this? You can do it, Jesus. Why can’t they? What is going on?” Jesus basically told His disciples, “Really? You’ve followed Me all this time. You’ve seen Me do it. You know I have given you the authority. You’ve walked it out. I have given you the great commission. You know this is what you’re called to do, but you’re not doing it. Your faith is so tiny. Your faith is so little.”

Jesus said, “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21 NKJV). I have heard many Christians interpret that verse to mean that the only way the demon would flee, that the miracle could happen, was if the disciples stopped to pray and fast. Yet, that’s not what Jesus did. Jesus didn’t stop to pray and fast. He rebuked it, and it left. He said, “Get out,” and it was gone. Boom. It obeyed. So what was Jesus really talking about?

He was talking about your weak faith. How do you defeat doubt? You pray and fast. When you’re not overcoming by God’s word and living the truth of His word, when doubts are defeating you moment by moment and your imagination is spinning out of control in a negative pattern, fast and pray. Many people think fasting and praying moves God and makes Him do what you’ve asked Him to do, like, “Oh, I’m so proud of her. She fasted and prayed. Look how great she is. I’m going to go ahead and answer her prayer and remove this demon.” No, no, no, no, no. No. That is not what happens.

The process of fasting and prayer moves you and me. It moves us. It moves our hearts into alignment with God’s. It moves the doubt we have. It moves the reliance on our flesh and on our self. It moves our efforts out of the way so God’s efforts can flow freely through us. It puts down our carnal nature and picks up the Spirit of God. If you’re fasting and praying or doing the right things or walking around the building seven times to try to get God to move on your behalf, that does not move God. It moves you.

Defeat doubt by picking up God’s word and reading it until you fall madly, deeply in love with Him. God’s word will become more true than how your body feels, than what’s on the TV, than what your friends say to you or what somebody speaks over you. Fast and pray regularly to keep your flesh, your carnal nature, your meatheadedness out of the way of your being freely in God’s presence.

Leaders, Here Is the Best Piece of Advice

Sheri YatesLeave a comment
We all serve in some kind of leadership role. It is good to learn from each other, so I love this question that Lisa Bevere recently asked:

For all my sisters who serve in a leadership capacity at their church, what’s your best piece of advice?


Here are just a few of the responses. Which one do you need to consider in your life? 

It’s important for leaders to have integrity and be consistent. Guard your heart, don’t take the bait, and see things from God’s perspective!

Remember that you don’t serve anyone but Jesus. Everything you do in the body of Christ is because of your love for Jesus. You can only give what has been poured into you. Also remember that you are a work in progress.

Stay humble. Keep your eyes on Jesus and don’t allow offenses to creep in!

Don’t lose intimacy with Christ. Set aside time for personal devotions and prayer. Don’t work for God; work with Him. Love and have grace and mercy on people.

Know the difference between being led and feeling obligated or driven. You’re only empowered to do what God leads you to do. The rest is a waste of energy.

Preach what you practice! Integrity is huge!

Do it for Jesus alone. Don’t seek rewards, praise, and recognition. Let it be a bonus when these happen. Do it for Jesus, who loves purely, not based on our perfomance.
A good leader is first a good follower.
Have faith and forgive. Fix your eyes on Jesus. He is our source.

I’ve been so busy having babies that I have not been in a position of leadership in over a year now, but here’s what I would say. Ask God to help you see those He brings you into contact with the way He does: through eyes of love and compassion and as ones whose sins have been covered.

Remain teachable at all times, especially when in a leadership role.

Help those you are leading, in this way showing them the love of Jesus.

Have vision backed up by the Word of God. Be committed, passionate, and mindful of the One you’re serving.

First, regularly have quiet time with the Lord, like being in an upper room with Him. His presence is the answer for everything. Second, never compare yourself to anyone else and don’t worry about what everyone thinks. What God thinks is what is important. 🙂

It’s wonderful to be organized and use your administrative gift, but sometimes the Holy Spirit needs to take over fully. It may look messy, but in the end God is glorified! Trust Him in all things. Remember you’re serving from the heart, not for accolades, and your service makes a difference in others’ lives.

Know that God is faithful. Always stay humble and let Jesus guide your steps.
Shun offense. Don’t pick it up. Don’t hear it. Don’t even look at it.
Honor the grace that God has given you for this season. Oftentimes we, myself included, get so caught up in the vision and the future without honoring the present.

These days I’m learning from the life of queen Esther, how she was humble and trusted God only. I’m also learning from great women of God in modern times, like you and Joyce Meyer. When we open our mouths, words of wisdom from God should flow out from us. We are the builder women of God. We are women of destiny.

Love! Walk in humility and serve like Jesus.

Be authentic, be yourself, and love God and His Word.
Lead by example. No one will or should follow us if we cannot be led. So, be teachable. Mostly, be patient. When things go ‘wrong,’ pray and get God’s strategy and opinion before you take any action. Generally, I’ve found that given time, God resolves the issue with little or nothing required from me. Stay connected to and with God. Leadership is not for the faint of heart. You will not always be liked; you will get offended. But God will see you through it all! I would further say (to a new leader especially) what a leader told me: Start making every decision as if you are already in the position you are hoping to achieve. That way you will develop the character to manage it with grace and love.

Remember to allow time for yourself and God to hang out. Allow space for rest and fun.
Do not neglect your own personal time with God. Your first priority is your husband and children. If it fails there, you have no testimony.

Take time to listen to your people. Know their hearts.


Love, 
Sheri 

Our perception towards God

Sheri YatesLeave a comment
Many of us think that God is moved by our behavior. One might think that he’s moved to anger when we make mistakes and when we keep on sinning and we keep on messing up. You know, we mess up every day. Every single day, I make a mistake. I know that beyond a shadow of a doubt. I can spend my time lamenting over my behavior and beating myself up and thinking that God is mad at me. “He’s so disappointed in me. I’m sure he’s shocked by my behavior.” But God knows everything. If you really believe that he’s the beginning and the end and the alpha and the omega, he knew you were going to mess up before you ever did. Amazing.
First of all, we think that he’s moved by us—maybe in a negative way—towards anger or frustrated or disappointed in us. Sometimes when we’re serving or we’re doing really good, we’re performing well, we haven’t made a mistake yet since 8 AM that he’s proud of us or he’s excited or he’s thankful that we’re working for him and working so hard or he’s proud of the way we’re serving.
Some of us might think that God is moved by our prayers. When we beg him and tell him or remind him of his promises, he’s moved; that he decides, “You know what, your prayers are so effective because you’re so righteous. I’m going to go ahead and move on your behalf.”
All of those pretenses—there are many more, but of all those—they’re just all wrong. The truth is that we can’t get any more righteous in Christ. We are the righteousness of Christ and nothing can ever change that. Not our bad behavior, not our bad performance, not our serving, not our good behavior, not our kind gestures, our generosity—nothing can ever change our righteousness. It can’t increase and it cannot decrease. Amazing.
We are the righteousness of Christ. Every prayer we pray is effective. It doesn’t matter if you’re the pastor of a giant church or somebody who works at your local 7-11. Your prayers are as effective as he other one and you know you are the righteousness of Christ and you’re seated at the right hand of God with Jesus. It’s amazing.
We are the righteousness, but what moves God is that you said yes to him; that you received the gift of his son; that you have chosen him. He has sought you out, he brought you to him but you said yes. You didn’t have to say yes to God.
You know, since I was a young girl, as long as I can remember, my whole entire life, I know God has been wooing me. For 26 years, I said no. and then one day I finally said “Yes, God. I want to be with you. I want to be your child. I want to know you. I want to know eternal life. I want to know life with you instead of life without you.”
God is moved by our yes. He is in love with our yes. He is moved because we love him and he loves us. He loved us before we ever said yes. He sees you when you have the choice to back off or back away and shrink back, he sees you and he knows what you’re doing. When you say yes, he is moved. He is so thankful and loves you deeply. He has no respect of persons and he loves no one more and no one less.

To the heart that feels too scarred thinking about hardship

Sheri YatesLeave a comment
Tonight, I was rubbing the back of one of my daughters. She hasn’t been feeling very well. I just started to think, there will be a day when she has to go through a battle for health or for life or for sadness or something negative that I won’t be there. I just started to weep and think like—
My prayers today are eternal forever. Am I praying enough? Am I training these girls up well so they would be able to stand their hardship and pain when I’m not there to guide them and direct them?
I just wanna do right by the gifts that God has given me. I wanna train up their hearts in the way they should go; give them a solid foundation in who God is and who they are. Teach them not to define themselves by worldly standards or comparison—even comparison within the church. Teach them to not let their own ugly opinion of themselves have any weight in their heart. Romans 3:4 says, “Let God be true and every man a liar.” My heart’s desire is to teach them how to let God’s word reign above how they feel or what they think or what other people say; and to not be defined by what happens to them or anything else.
 
 
 
 

My Faith Is Weak—I Need More Faith

Sheri YatesLeave a comment

Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24 NIV)

We all have the faith of Jesus Christ. That’s what Scripture says. You cannot come to God without Him. He actually gives you the faith to believe in Him. The faith you have isn’t your own. You didn’t muster it up. You’re not some great person of faith. Yes, sometimes He gives people a spiritual gift of faith, but it’s still from Him. He is the author of it.


If you and I have the same faith because God gave it to us so we could know Him and love Him, then how do we make our faith work more effectually? Some people have more effective faith than I do. I look at them and think, “How is that? How is that possible?” I believe it comes from their relationship with God. They’re seeking Him and pursuing Him. They’re reading His Word, chomping it up, ingesting it, and believing what it says with childlike faith. It stirs them up.

I received a gift from a friend of mine. It’s a candle. I don’t burn candles in my home. I haven’t burned them since I had kids. I don’t want to risk the accidental knocking over and fire or wax in the carpet. It was a gift my friend gave to me, but it’s never really been used. It just sits there. I think that’s what faith is like. God gives it to you, and you either light it and use it, or you don’t and it just sits there.

So how do we light the candle of our faith? I believe the answer is in Hebrews 11:1. It says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (KJV). I believe hope is the fire for your faith. Hope is your part, and faith is God’s part. God gave you the faith; now, can you keep up your hope? Can you keep yourself focused on the promises of God? Can you keep yourself focused on this amazing promise: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NIV)?

Jesus also said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1 NIV). He wouldn’t give you a command you could not keep. I believe that when you let your heart be troubled, you lose your hope, and it’s not there to spark your faith. We need to learn, remember, and put our hope in the promises of God. 

“Listen carefully: I have given you authority [that you now possess] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and [the ability to exercise authority] over all the power of the enemy (Satan); and nothing will [in any way] harm you.” (Luke 10:19 AMP)

I keep my eyes on this truth. It keeps stirring me up. It builds up my hope. It makes my hope grow and become active and alive so it can light the candle of my faith—the faith that God has deposited in me. It’s not really my faith, so I cannot boast in it! I refer to it as my faith, but it’s really not. It was a gift given to me by God. It’s His. He deposited it. When I place my hope in Him, it lights and connects. The faith He has given me ignites, and sparks fly!

Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Jump into your Bible. As you read, your hope in the Lord will grow and SOAR! 

Love, 
Sheri 


Leaders, Here Is the Best Piece of Advice…

Sheri YatesLeave a comment
We all serve in a leadership role in some capacity. It is good to learn from each other so I love this question that

Lisa Bevere
Recently asked:
For all my sisters who serve in a leadership capacity at their church: what’s your best piece of advice?

Here are just a few of the responses. 

Which one do you need to consider in your life?

Guard your heart, don’t take the bait, and see things from God’s perspective!
Integrity/consistency

To remember you don’t serve anyone but Jesus, everything you do in the body of Christ is because of your love for Jesus. And you can only give what has been poured into you. Also remembering you to are a work in progress.

Stay humble. Keep your eyes on JESUS!!! And don’t allow offenses to creep in!!!
Don’t lose intimacy with Christ, , personal prayer and devotion time, don’t work for God, work with Him. Love and have grace and mercy on people!
Know the difference between being ‘led’ and feeling obligated or driven. You’re only empowered to do what God leads you to do! The rest is a waste of energy.
Preach what you practice! Integrity is huge!!
Do it for JESUS alone; don’t seek “rewards” “praise” and “recognition” *let it be a bonus when these happens. Do it for JESUS Who Loves Purely not based of our perfomances.
A good leader is first a good follower
Faith and forgive.
Fix your eyes on Jesus. He is our source.
I’ve been so busy having babies I have not been in a position of leadership in over a year now but here’s what I would say. Ask God to help you see those who he brings you into contact with the way He does. Through eyes of love and as one who’s sins have been covered. And for those who are only seeking even more so through eyes of love and compassion.
remain teachable at all times, especially when in a leadership role…
Help those you are leading to make them experience the love of Jesus.
Have vision backed up by the word of God, commitment, passionate, and to be mindful who you’re serving for.
First Always have quiet time with the Lord…. like being in an upper room with Him. His presence is the answer for everything…. the second thing is to never compare yourself to anyone else and don’t worry about what everyone thinks. What God thinks is what is important 🙂
It’s wonderful to be organized and use your administrative gift,  but sometimes the Holy Spirit needs to fully take over and it may look messy,  but in the end God is glorified! Trust Him in all things.
Remember you’re serving from the heart not for accolades and your service makes a difference in others lives.
Know that God is faithful.
Always stay humble and let Jesus guide your steps
shun offense…don’t pick it up, don’t hear it, don’t even look at it.
Honor the grace that God has given you for THIS season. Often times, we, myself included, get so caught up in the vision and the future without honoring the present.
These few days I m learning from the life of queen Esther. How humble she was trusting God only . Same learning from a great women of God of morden time like you and Joyes Meyer . And when we think of other  women to serve and open our mouth the words of wisdom from GOD should flow. We are the builder women of God. A women of destiny.
Love!!! And walk in humility and serve like Jesus
Be authentic, be yourself and love God and His Word.
1) Lead by example…no one will or should follow if we cannot be led. 2) So, be teachable.  3) Mostly be patient… 4) When things go “wrong” pray, get God’s strategy and opinion BEFORE you take any action.  
Generally I’ve found that Given time God resolves the issue with little or nothing required from me.  
Leadership is not for the faint of heart… Finally 5) stay connected to and with God.  You will not always be liked, you will get offended… But God will see you through it all. I would further say (to a new leader especially) what a leader told me… Start making every decision as if you are already in the position you are hoping to get to…. That way you will develop the character to manage it with grace and love.
Remember to allow time for yourself and God to hang out. Allow space for rest and fun.
Take time to listen to your people.  Know their hearts.
Do not neglect your own personal time with God. Your first priority is your husband and children.  If it fails there, you have no testimony.

Love, 
Sheri