Episode Transcript
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Kelly Ann Snyder (00:02):
I'm Kelly Ann
Snyder.
Welcome to Living PerfectlyLoved, the podcast created to
encourage, equip, and inspireyou to live free from fear and
full of joy, secure in God'sperfect love.
If you're longing to stand firmin Christ amidst the storms of
life with a faith deeply rootedin God's perfect love, stop
(00:25):
anxiety and fear from stealingyour joy and controlling your
life, shine brightly and lovefearlessly, confident in who God
uniquely created and called youto be, then this faith-inspiring
podcast, full of practical helpand spiritual tools, is for you.
You're listening to Season One,Episode Nine: Prepare for
Promotion (00:46):
Stand Firm Through
the Testing of Your Faith,
brought to you by LivingPerfectly Loved Ministries and
my new book, Living PerfectlyLoved: A Christian's 12-Step
Journey to Freedom from the Gripof Anxiety and Fear.
For all recommended resources,products, and freebies discussed
in this episode, please see thenotes for this episode.
(01:10):
I'm happy to announce that ineach episode this season, I will
be sharing an excerpt from mybook containing each of the 12
steps the Lord used to deliverme from the grip of anxiety and
fear.
In this way, you'll be getting asneak peek into my book, Living
Perfectly Loved.
I'm so glad you've decided tojoin me.
Subscribe to my email list todayat kellyandsnyder.com and you
(01:35):
will be kept in the loop withall book and ministry-related
announcements I make, and beeligible to receive all free
resources I create and sharewith my subscribers.
Visit my website atkellyandsnyder.com to learn more
about Living Perfectly LovedMinistries, including direct
links to purchase my book andinformation that can help you
(01:58):
take the next step forward inyour faith journey.
If you haven't yet listened tomy podcast trailer, I'd like to
invite you to do so afterlistening to this episode.
All right, let's get started!The following is an excerpt from
Step Eight of my book, LivingPerfectly Loved, titled, Prepare
for Promotion (02:20):
Stand Firm
Through the Testing of Your
Faith (02:23):
God's Word defines faith
as,"confidence in what we hope
for, and assurance of what we donot see," Hebrews 11 verse one.
It takes faith to see Jesus whenour faith is being tested.
With hope-filled eyes of faithfixed on Jesus, though, we will
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witness God working and movingin ways that cannot yet be seen
with our eyes of flesh, givingus a better understanding of who
God is, what His will is, andwhat His plans and purposes are
for our lives.
In Hebrews 11, also knownendearingly as the hall of
faith, we can read about boldfaith being lived out in the
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lives of ordinary people likeus, chosen by God to fulfill
extraordinary callings.
The stories of these ancientheroes of the faith
overwhelmingly demonstrate theimportance of walking by faith,
not by sight, while waiting forthe fulfillment of all God's
promises.
See second Corinthians fiveverse seven.
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The following examples from thisBible passage will give you an
idea of just what I mean (03:33):
By
faith, Abel brought God a better
offering than Cain did, Hebrews11 verse four.
By faith Enoch was taken fromthis life so that he did not
experience death, Hebrews 11,verse five.
By faith, Noah, when warnedabout things not yet seen, in
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holy fear, built an ark to savehis family, Hebrews 11 verse
seven.
By faith, Abraham, when calledto go to a place he would later
receive as his inheritance,obeyed and went, even though he
did not know where he was going,Hebrews 11 verse eight.
By faith, even Sarah who waspast childbearing age, was
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enabled to bear children becauseshe considered him faithful who
had made the promise, Hebrews 11verse 11.
By faith, Abraham, when Godtested him, offered Isaac as a
sacrifice.
He who embraced the promises wasabout to sacrifice his one and
only son, even though God hadsaid to him, it is through Isaac
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that your offspring will bereckoned, Hebrews 11 verse 17
through 18.
By faith, Moses, when he hadgrown up, refused to be known as
the son of Pharaoh's daughter.
He chose to be mistreated alongwith the people of God rather
than enjoy the fleetingpleasures of sin.
He regarded disgrace for thesake of Christ as of greater
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value than the treasures ofEgypt because he was looking
ahead to his reward, Hebrews 11verse 24 through 26.
Like these heroes of the faith,you may need reassurance that
God really is working all thingstogether for your good, and God
is good.
When you believe something infaith that seems to contradict
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your present reality, or whenthe walls appear to be closing
in and there doesn't seem to beany way out of your difficult
circumstances, you can fix youreyes on Jesus, the author, and
perfecter of your faith.
See Hebrews 12, verse two.
If at first you cannot see Him,look again.
Jesus is on the move.
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He is at work in your life.
Isaiah 26, verse three remindsus, God will keep in perfect
peace those whose minds aresteadfast because they trust in
him." If we keep our spiritualeyes on Jesus, we will be at
peace, assured of God'sunfailing love and kindness
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towards us.
As we focus our minds on Him, wewill neither become distracted
by the chaos nor fall prey tothe enemy's lies and deception.
Instead, we will remainunwavering in hope, steadfast in
our faith, and free from anxietyand fear.
The following are a few triedand true practical ways you can
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fix your eyes on Jesus when yourfaith is being tested: Number
one (06:37):
In prayer.
The Bible tells us to"praycontinually," first
Thessalonians verses 5 through17.
Pray when you get up in themorning, when you go to bed, and
every moment in between.
Did you know that simply sayingthe name of Jesus as you breathe
is a prayer that will refocusyour mind back on Him?
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There is power in the name ofJesus.
Try praying in little whispersthroughout your day.
Intentionally pull back from theworld and spend some quiet time
alone with the Lord.
Share with Him all that is onyour heart and mind.
Don't push through feelings ofanxiety, fear, and stress in
your own strength.
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Stop throughout your day to laythem at the feet of Jesus.
He is there to relieve you ofthe weight of worry on your mind
and body, and to help you betterunderstand His heart, His plans,
and His purposes.
The Almighty is always with you.
Number two (07:39):
In fasting.
Fasting in spiritual terms isgiving up food or drink or both
for a specific period of timefor a spiritual reason.
It is an expression of humilitybefore God and of commitment to
Him.
Fasting helps us to keep God thefocus of our affection and
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attention.
Just as with prayer, fastingdoesn't change God, it changes
us.
It helps us better discern God'swill and become more receptive
to His plans and His purpose forour lives.
Fasting also has a way ofrevealing our true spiritual
condition.
Allowing us to become more awareof any deep seated sin issues.
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Thereby accelerating the processof moving from brokenness
through repentance totransformation.
If you were struggling withtemptation, in need of God's
divine intervention andprotection, or if you're waiting
for a big breakthrough, fastingcan strengthen your prayers and
your spirit.
Number three (08:43):
In the Word.
Reading or listening to God'sWord is one way to very
literally fix your eyes onJesus.
Because we know from John oneverse one that Jesus is the
Word, when we meditate on andmemorize the Word, breathing in
His promises for us throughoutthe day, His peace will wash
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over us.
Don't merely skim over the word,but take the time you need to
let it soak in.
Slow down and seek to fullydigest it.
Taste and see that the Lord isgood, as it says in Psalms 34
verse eight.
You can look up Bible commentaryonline about particular
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scriptures you're drawn to,study the historical context to
the passages you're reading,find the meaning and origin of
keywords to help you grasp thedepth of what God is trying to
unveil to you, look for words orphrases that are repeated
throughout Scripture.
What might God be trying to getyou to notice?
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Or pick a topic of interest tostudy and find a reading plan in
your Bible app on this topic.
Use Scripture, books, podcasts,and other resources to help you
better understand God's Word.
Allow God's Word to transformyour thoughts, renew your mind,
and refocus your attention backon Him.
Number four (10:09):
In praise and
worship.
When we praise and worship Godfor who He is, for all He has
already done for us, and for allHe is still going to do, we are
choosing to look beyond what canbe seen in the natural to what
can only be seen with eyes offaith fixed on Jesus.
Praise and worship will stir upyour faith and your beliefs,
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calm your heart and mind, anddraw you closer to God.
When we praise Him, God moves.
Praise God for what He has doneand what He will do.
Praise Him for making a way foryou.
Worship Him for the greatness ofHis mercy and His love.
Once we were separated from Godbecause of our sin, but through
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Jesus, we were brought back intoa right relationship with Him.
His loving sacrifice made a waywhere there once was no way.
So now, even when things lookabsolutely impossible and you
can't conceive how yourcircumstances could ever change,
remember the price Jesus paidfor your freedom and complete
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restoration.
Remember His promise to make youstrong, firm, and steadfast once
again, according to first Peterfive verse 10.
Then fix your eyes on Jesus andstand firm in your faith.
When we think about Jesus'crucifixion, what the cross
meant to those present appearedto be utter defeat, gross
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humiliation, death, andfinality.
Now, however, that same cross isa symbol to all the world of
hope, everlasting life, andcomplete victory.
Your victory is not onlyguaranteed in Christ because of
Christ, your victory is Christ.
Jesus is your victory.
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He is the joy set before you.
The full expression of allyou've ever dared to hope and
dream.
He is the answer to everyunanswered question.
He is the way, the truth, andthe life.
See John 14 verse six.
Every step forward you takepersevering in faith is one step
closer to Him.
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Can you feel the surprising,unexpected joy of the Lord
beginning to rise up within younow?
By fixing our eyes on Jesus andstanding firm through the
testing of our faith, as we waiton the Lord, we will be
empowered not only to persevere,but also to experience joy in
the midst of our trials andsuffering.
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For every bit of suffering weendure here on earth, we will be
rewarded in heaven.
See Matthew five verse 12.
This is the promise set beforeevery believer in Christ.
Knowing this promise can neverbe taken from us, we can laugh
without fear of the future.
We know the one who holds ourfuture in the palm of His hand.
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Go ahead, laugh in the face ofthe enemy.
Laugh in the face of your trialsand suffering.
What God has prepared for you,it's far greater than any of the
difficulties you may be facingright now.
You can trust that God isworking all things together for
your good.
You can trust in His perfectlove for you.
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James one verse two through foursays,"Consider it pure joy, my
brothers and sisters, wheneveryou face trials of many kinds
because you know that thetesting of your faith produces
perseverance.
Let perseverance finish its workso that you may be mature and
complete, not lacking anything.
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Let's pray.
Heavenly Father, Thank You forwho You are, my faithful
omnipotent God.
I'm so thankful that I can trustYou to work all things together
for my good because You havepromised to work all things for
the good of those who love You,who have been called according
to Your purpose, Romans eightverse 28.
(14:12):
When I cannot see You amid mycircumstances, help me to
remember to fix my eyes on You.
When I don't know how muchlonger I can be strong and hold
on, please give me the faith topersevere through my trials and
stand firm on Your promises.
When I don't know what You'recalling me to do next, help me
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to find peace and purpose inYour presence.
I praise You, Jesus, that nomatter where life takes me, You
are the way, the truth, and thelife.
I choose to follow You.
In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Thanks for listening to thisepisode of the Living Perfectly
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Loved podcast.
While it's true that God is loveand we are perfectly loved by
Him, we all struggle at times tolive like this true.
While we should strive to growin Christ likeness, we can rest
in knowing God loves us becauseof who He is, not because of who
we are or anything we could everdo for Him.
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In Jesus Christ, we are enough!Remember, you don't have to be
perfect to live perfectly loved.
You have always been and willalways be a completely forgiven,
fully accepted, deeply loved,daughter the King.
Beautiful friend, His grace isfor you.
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Please subscribe to my podcastnow and stay tuned for another
episode of Living PerfectlyLoved.
May the Lord bless you and keepyou.
May He shine His face on you andbe gracious to you.
May He turn His face toward youand give you peace, in Jesus'
name.