thoughts by Kathy Cheek Archives - Page 2 of 7

Faith is woven throughout the everyday fabric of my life

Published May 17, 2023

The Fabric of My Faith

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”. Hebrews 11:6

Faith is woven throughout the everyday fabric of my life, in the big and small circumstances, in the hard and perplexing uncertainties, and in the quiet moments when God is calling my name, drawing me near and asking me to follow wherever He leads. I will choose faith because this is what God desires.

God wants us to have Faith.

He wants us to Trust.

He requires that we Wait.

He wants us to Believe.

He requires us to Wait patiently on Him.

All of this works with our obedience in following God, and our obedience in following Him in what He has called us to do – which is His purpose in us.

We will accomplish more through our faith than through anything else, such as works, abilities, talents, and degrees. Our faith is the outward demonstration of a heart that completely trusts God and believes He will do for us what we cannot do in our own strength.

David could not kill Goliath in his own strength. That was God’s power in the slingshot and in the stone that hit Goliath. It was David’s faith and God’s power.

Joshua and his army could not make the Jericho wall fall down with shouting and trumpets, but they demonstrated faith and obedience – and God in His power brought down the city wall.

It takes faith to navigate our lives as each day comes with challenges that force us to choose to live by faith and trust in God, or the alternative, trust ourselves and the world around us.

Some days rise up like giants before us. Do we believe that God will defeat the giants for us? It takes faith to believe He will and I want to make every effort to live out that kind of faith. I want to live a faith that pleases God.

By Kathy Cheek
Used by Permission
From: First Breath of Morning: Where God Waits For You Every Day.

At the Feet of Jesus

What if…
Jesus came to your home and you could sit at His feet?

“Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said,

Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42

Imagine…

If you had the chance to sit at the feet of Jesus,

To look upon His face and deep into His eyes,

And listen to every word He had to say.

Doesn’t the very thought take your breath away?

I can imagine all the cares of the world would suddenly fall away.

To do lists would not be on our minds–

Our focus would move from duties and obligations to something bigger,

Someone much more important.

We would have one thing and one thing only on our mind–

Who we are with and the magnitude of who He is and what He says.

There is nothing else that compares to this.

When you read about Mary at the feet of Jesus, don’t you wish you could trade places with her, or join her and receive the blessing of those moments one on one with the Lord?

The account in Luke 10 transcends observations about personality types as the discussions usually run,

But illuminates Who we need to make our priority above all other aspects of our lives.

It is about Who we all should desire to spend time with every day.

Mary had the privilege of sitting before Him—spending quality time with Jesus. She made the choice.

Will we?

By Kathy Cheek
Used by Permission

This Changing Work

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:6-7

Day by day
God is quietly changing me
Molding me, making me
Sometimes breaking me

Loving me, leading me
Guiding me, strengthening me
Testing me in the fire-purified
Will I come forth as gold?

Part of the work God does to grow us and change us is by testing through various trials.

On the other hand, some of the changing work He does in our lives is quiet and gentle as He asks us to willingly bend our hearts to the work He is doing.

But, some of the changing work won’t be accomplished without the testing trials. Whether He is quietly working on us – or purifying us in the fire, the same result will be produced and that result will be a genuine faith deeply grounded in our hearts.

I have been through both as I am sure most of us would also admit has been the case in our lives. We have been through the challenging trials and at other times we have seen a more subtle work of change take place in our hearts, yet both were learning times when God showed us how to trust Him through a season of change.

I am thankful that God loves me enough to change me, and as I undergo this changing work He does in me, He is also giving me a glimpse of what I can become. And this is how I know I want to be all He made me to be.

Isaiah 64:8 “But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand.”

By Kathy Cheek
Used by Permission
Devotions from the Hear: http://www.kathycheek.com/

Will You Make the Exchange?

When we have worry, doubt, and fear clutched tightly in our hands and our hearts are ruled by anxiety, God wants to say something to us of this effect,

“Let go of your burdens and give them to me. I will put in your hands that are now empty and open…

Joy
Peace
and Freedom.”

All we need to do is give God our burdens and He will give us rest. He will give us joy, a fullness of indescribable joy we have not known before.

From my own experience, I can tell you it will not happen if we keep holding on. We have to let go of one to gain the other. I know what He has to offer is so much more than what we are holding on to, and I know this because I have walked that road before.

The joy I now have is because I finally made the exchange. When I grew weary and tired of my burdens, I finally trusted and obeyed My Father’s voice. I finally let go and I was amazed.

I don’t ever want to walk that road again. The road that says it is too hard to let go. If you want to walk in joy, make the exchange. Open your hands to Him, let go, and place your burdens in His hands. Soon you will know what it is to walk in His peace and joy. Soon you won’t be weary under the load of burdens you were carrying on your own.

It starts with a step of faith and a heart of trust and emptying your hands of the burdens God asks you to lay in His hands.

Will you make the exchange?

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

By Kathy Cheek
Used by Permission

Do you know this love that is found in God alone, through Jesus? Would you like to give your burdens to him and have a relationship with Him? It doesn’t mean that life will be easy but it does mean you have Jesus walking by your side. It starts with a simple heart felt prayer:

Lord, thank You for dying so we can be set free from all of guilt and sin — no matter how big or small. Your blood has erased all of our sin. Thank You so much! Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be. Amen

It is the first step. Keep learning more….

Thoughts by All thoughts by Kathy Cheek Thoughts by Women

God Lifts Our Burdens

Published February 25, 2023

God Lifts Our Burdens

I remember a difficult time when I was allowing a troubling circumstance in my life to heavily weigh me down.

The flow of negative thoughts and worries surrounding the details of this situation were flooding through my mind almost constantly. I could feel it on my shoulders when I walked through the rooms of my house. I could hear it in the sighs that repeatedly escaped my lips. And I could do nothing to change the situation, I was helpless to make a single bit of difference, it was just that kind of circumstance.

I thought about my response to what was going on and realized I was making it worse by letting it trouble me this much. Instead of worrying and fretting, I needed to let it go and give it to God and free myself from the weight anxiety was pressing on me.

I knew to keep praying over this situation. I knew to trust God. When I made a fresh commitment to both of these, and reminded myself of some verses in the Bible that talk about giving our cares to the Lord, I began to feel that weight lift from my shoulders.

My attitude changed and the gray clouds of worry in my mind cleared away and in their place I could see blue skies and sunshine again. All that worry had become a dark cloud following me around, hovering over me, even glued to me on some days! Worry makes everything look dark.

But when I let it go and committed to trusting God to take care of this trial, my heart grew lighter, and then my steps grew lighter. That heavy weight was not sitting on my shoulders any longer. What a difference I experienced when I stopped allowing the worry to consume me by choosing to let it go. I gave this burden to the Lord, and He lifted it from my shoulders. Oh how freeing was that!

Are you casting your cares on the Lord? Are you letting Him lift your burden?

Matthew 11:28
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

1 Peter 5:6-7
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.“

By Kathy Cheek
Used by Permission
www.kathycheek.com

Where Can We Find God?

Someone posed these questions, “Where can I find God? How can I find Him?”

I thought about the answer and this I know.

He is not a God who is far off.

The truth is – we can find Him early each new day.

We can find Him in the morning.

He’s already waiting for us before the night sky turns to dawn.

He’s already there waiting for us before our sleepy eyes are wide awake.

It is the place I meet Him with whispered words and grab His hand and never let go the rest of the day.

He is already there waiting for me. While my body needed a night’s sleep to rejuvenate, He never slept or wearied for one moment. He who never tires or sleeps refreshes me each morning.

There is nothing else that inspires me more than this experience each day – knowing the Lord is waiting for me, knowing that every morning He invites me to meet with Him, talk with Him, and go through my day with Him. It always begins with the dawn of each new morning.

In the quiet, waking moment of each new morning, before the rest of the world comes rushing in, I hear His voice and know He is near.

The dawn of each new morning is not only where He waits for me. It is also where He waits for you.

Isaiah 40:28

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.

Psalm 121:3-4

He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

Jeremiah 23:23-24

“Am I a God near at hand,” says the Lord, “And not a God afar off?
Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him?” says the Lord; “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the Lord.

By Kathy Cheek
Used by Permission
Devotions from the Heart at www.kathycheek.com

Ask For Wisdom

“Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold” Proverbs 3:13-14

The circles I have been going around and around in my mind recently made me think about the importance of wisdom. I don’t come by it naturally but I desperately need it.

As in the great wisdom of King Solomon.

As in the wisdom written about extensively by Solomon in the book of Proverbs.

I want wisdom that will help me navigate through the choices and decisions in my life.

Don’t we all? Oh how many times I have faltered because I didn’t pursue the wisest path. I want to do better in this area of my life.

In the book of James scripture tells us that all we have to do is ask for wisdom and it will be generously given.

James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

What if I ask God for wisdom to discern which direction to go, or how to move forward from my present position, or wisdom to know what changes may need to be made?

And what if I ask for wisdom regarding a decision…but I don’t receive an answer?

If He hasn’t revealed something to me or pointed me in a specific direction or provided a focus, then maybe I am not supposed to know yet.

What do I do with that?

Maybe realizing that His timing isn’t the same as mine is exhibiting wisdom on my part.

Then, what do I do next?

I will remember the verse in James and keep asking God for wisdom and continue to seek His direction.

I think this is the wise thing to do.

James 3:17 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. “

By Kathy Cheek
Used by Permission

The Winding Road of Life

I have travelled down many winding roads and couldn’t see what was ahead. There have been twists and turns I didn’t anticipate. There have also been dead ends I didn’t expect and forks in the road where I didn’t know which way to go. There have surprises and interruptions and changes that weren’t in any of my plans or on any of my lists.

It is hard to let go of wanting to know where I am going, when I will get there, and what exactly I will do when I reach my destination. Following God does not mean we have all these answers before we begin a journey. Instead of answers, we need a strong faith that trusts Him.

I have travelled long enough to know our journey through life is often down an uncertain road. But it is a road not travelled alone. Even when we don’t know where we are going, God’s sovereign direction is taking place in our lives. And if that life is fully surrendered to the Lord, we will experience the peace in knowing He is in control and that He knows where the road leads.

As you follow Him, He will take you on a journey you never would have imagined and it probably won’t look like the journey you envisioned for yourself. We will never fully understand His mysterious ways and all the twists and turns in the paths we travel in relationship with the Lord. But I would rather travel the roads of life with Him than any other way.

Psalm 25:4-5

Show me Your ways, O LORD;
Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation:
On You I wait all the day.

By Kathy Cheek
Used by Permission
From: www.kathycheek.com

Do We Take God at His Word

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105

Do we take God at His Word? This is an important question because for some people it means that we have to logically understand everything He says–and that is impossible. Does that mean we don’t take Him at His Word, or does it mean we engage our faith?

Yes, we must engage our faith to take God at His Word. God’s ways are higher than our ways and we will never understand everything He has written to us in our Bible. But we can believe what we don’t understand…by faith.

Faith is definitely required to take God at His Word and it begins the moment we exercise faith to receive Salvation and is integral in living out our new life in Christ.

It is also important that we read our Bible and know what God actually says in His Word and not just rely on teachers and preachers. We need to read our Bible and allow God to teach us. Not everyone is a studied theologian, but everyone can read Genesis through Revelation and ask God to teach them and increase their knowledge and wisdom.

Everyone can also benefit from the use of a concordance that is either in your Bible or buy one to use when you read the Bible. There are so many convenient and free online tools that can help with Bible study and we need to reap the benefits of the resources that are now online.

Why is this so important? We need to know what we believe and why we believe so that we can be grounded and rooted in our faith. We need to know God’s Word so that it can help us navigate our life.

We need to know God’s Word in order to benefit from the many promises He has given us.

His Word tells me if I believe on Him then I am saved: John 3:16, Romans 10:9

I will take Him at His Word.

His Word tells me once I am saved that I am His forever: John 10:27-30

I will take Him at His Word.

His Word tells me nothing can separate me from His love: Romans 8:38-39

I will take Him at His Word.

His Word says He has a plan for my life: Jeremiah 29:11

I will take Him at His Word. Proverbs 30:5

Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.

By Kathy Cheek
Used by Permission
From: www.kathycheek.com

Near

I want to be counted among those who intentionally draw near to Jesus—near to the One who saved us, loves us, and pours immeasurable grace and mercy into our lives; the One who leads and guides us, strengthens us, and never leaves us alone.

I remember others long before me who are known for drawing near:

I remember Mary, at the feet of Jesus.

I remember John, the beloved disciple, leaning on the chest of our Lord.

I remember David, the psalmist whose soul thirsted for God.

I remember Enoch, walking close beside Him—so close, in fact, that God just walked him on up to heaven, completely bypassing death.

The list could go on and on. I want my name to be included with those who have deeply desired intimate communion and fellowship with the Lord. Don’t you?

I want to draw near to the Lord who wakens me each morning and reminds me that this new day He has made is a day to be glad. And I am glad—deep-in-my-heart glad that I am His and He is mine. I am grateful that I have the privilege of walking in close relationship with Him.

Let’s live each day for Him and with Him and be counted near. There is no better place to be.

Psalm 145:18 “The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.”

By Kathy Cheek
Used by Permission
From: www.kathycheek.com

Our Power Against Fear

The stronger our trust is in God, the greater our power over fear.

Have you ever noticed how quickly fear can sneak up on us and sweep us up into a whirlwind of anxious thoughts spiraling out of control? Have you also noticed that fear often rolls in like storm clouds that darken every thought in every corner of our soul?

This is the work of the Enemy – he does this often, he loves this scare tactic, because sadly, it works almost every time.

Sometimes a very small circumstance that is troubling us becomes huge in an instant and fills us with fear, and we don’t even know how it happened so suddenly. That is the nature of fear. It eats away at any peace and stability in our lives. It threatens to invade every waking moment of our day. Fear takes on a life of its own and undermines our faith and trust in God.

God has not given us a spirit of fear. God gives us courage, boldness, and strength. That is His nature and it is what He desires for us through His strength inside of us. Our enemy, Satan, wants us to walk in fear. God, our heavenly Father who loves us with an everlasting love desires us to cast out all fear and walk in power, love, and with a sound mind. When we do this, fear is conquered! We overcome what the enemy brings against us in an attack of fear.

When we learn to fight fear and receive God’s strength to do so, we will face fear as a challenge we know we can overcome, instead of letting it overcome us.

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

By Kathy Cheek
Used by permission

First, Not Finally

Far too often I hear variations of this statement: “I’ve tried everything I know to do, and nothing is working, so now I’ll give it to God (or now I just have to trust God).”

When bad news comes, we are presented with a choice.

We can give it to God first, with a heart full of trust; or we can give it everything we have in our own strength first and eventually, after multiple failed efforts, give it to God.

This important choice to trust doesn’t mean everything suddenly turns to sunshine and roses.

Circumstances do not instantly resolve themselves and fall perfectly into place. That’s not how it works. Instead, we find that our choice to trust God will bring a presence of peace we didn’t have before. This is the kind of peace we read about in Isaiah 26:3:

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”

When I follow the pattern of first instead of finally, I am comforted. I know God is in control, and trusting Him allows me to approach every difficulty or stress with a much calmer state of mind. When I fall into the pattern of finally instead of first, I ultimately regret that I didn’t give it to God in the first place.

When will we learn to take everything to God, which is what we need to do first instead of finally?

Let’s take our challenges to Him in prayer…

“Lord, we give these situations to you; they are in your hands. You have the answers. We know you are with us, and we trust you with our life challenges. Please lead and guide us, and grant us wisdom. We know these circumstances are not ours to handle alone. Amen.”

Proverbs 3:5

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding. “

By Kathy Cheek
Used by Permission
From: First Breath of Morning: Where God Waits For You Every Day.

Perplexing Journey

Proverbs 16:9 “A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.”

There have been many times my life did not track the way I thought it would. Yet, I learned that when it doesn’t track according to my plan, that doesn’t mean it isn’t tracking according to God’s plan. When I watched my life take twists and turns that did not seem to add up to any expectation of what I perceived to be God’s plan for my life, I wrestled with how to deal with the perplexing turns my life was taking.

I know God is in the business of changing, molding, shaping, and testing us. There will be unexpected twists and turns in the events of our lives that will make us wonder what God is doing and the answer won’t seem clear at all. That is part of the test to see if we are serious about the work He has called us to do. It is also part of the test to see if we are willing to be changed, molded, and prepared for what He has planned for us in His perfect timing, perfect way, and in His perfect will.

I don’t know if the perplexing part of my journey was God changing me, preparing me, testing me, or the enemy assaulting me, or if it was all of those. If God was changing me, I am definitely a different person now. If He was testing me, I want to pass the test. If He was preparing me, I am thankful for the work He is doing in me. If the enemy was attacking me, he failed.

God is building something out of our lives, and the beginning product does not look like the finished product. God is the one with the blueprint and the plan. Looking back across the years of my life’s journey, I can trace God’s work in my life through many turns in the road, including detours and disappointments, along with joy and blessings. Ultimately, His will is being accomplished in my life, and I choose to walk this road with Him, even when I don’t know where the road is leading.

Proverbs 16:9 “A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.”

By Kathy Cheek
Used by Permission

Taste and See

A Prayer Recognizing God’s Mercies

Dear Heavenly Father,
I did not know You would want to bless my life this way.

Your love has changed me.
Your joy and peace have
Filled my life to new heights with Your goodness.

Your freedom in my heart causes me to
Lift my wings and soar across the wind.

I’ll never be the same
Because of Your love
And all you’ve given me.

You have shown me tender mercies.
You have extended to be abounding grace and patience.

You have taught me to walk by faith,
Trust Your ways,
Stand firm in the courage You’ve given me.

You’ve taught me to believe
You would move heaven and earth for me
To work miracles in my life.

You held me close and loved me as only You can love,
That is the best part of all You’ve given me.

I have tasted of Your goodness, Lord,
And everything else diminished by far.

Psalm 34:8
“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him.”

By Kathy Cheek
Used by Permission
www.kathycheek.com

Each Step We Take

Every step we take, every path we follow, even when we stumble and fall, God is holding onto us.

I hope you will always remember that as you continue your journey, and as you choose to walk by faith with the Lord.

Today, I want to leave these scriptures with you. They happen to be among my favorites and I run to them often for encouragement when I don’t know which step to take next or don’t know where the path leads.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand. Psalm 37:23-24

Show me Your ways, O Lord;
Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day.
Psalm 25:4-5

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105

By Kathy Cheek
Used by Permission

Category: <span>thoughts by Kathy Cheek</span>

Further Reading

What if… Jesus came to your home and you could sit at His feet?

Imagine…

Doesn’t the very thought take your breath away?

Further Reading

Further Reading

“Let go of your burdens and give them to me. I will put in your hands that are now empty and open…

I remember a difficult time when I was allowing a troubling circumstance in my life to heavily weigh me down.

Further Reading

He’s already there waiting for us before our sleepy eyes are wide awake.

Further Reading

I want wisdom that will help me navigate through the choices and decisions in my life.

Further Reading

Further Reading

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105

Further Reading

Psalm 145:18 “The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.”

Further Reading

The stronger our trust is in God, the greater our power over fear.

Further Reading

When bad news comes, we are presented with a choice.

Further Reading

Proverbs 16:9 “A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.”

Further Reading

A Prayer Recognizing God’s Mercies

Further Reading

Every step we take, every path we follow, even when we stumble and fall, God is holding onto us.

Further Reading

What if…
Jesus came to your home and you could sit at His feet?