Closed Mouths Don’t Get Fed; Neither Does Restricted Faith
Updated: Mar 22, 2019
Did you know, how you think shapes your life by your thoughts? The way you look at perspectives will strongly determine the results? Many times the way we think can be our biggest distractions in moving forward. It's easy to look at the logical things we see before our eyes that cause us to think towards logical reasoning.
Sometimes, logic is not always going to fix our problem. And most times, it‘s our faith that's going to get the job done. If we are not careful, we can easily mistake the cause of a problem with what we see in front of us instead of what we don’t see.
Jesus calming the storm provides a great teachable moment to look deeper into how easily our focus of thought can be distracted by the things we see in front of us in the midst of provoked situations.
And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. Matthew 8 24-26
I love how Jesus provided teachable moments for us to learn by His Word. The word tempest or seismos, means commotion of the air (a spiritual realm of the unseen) that provoke emotions of fear and worry (Baker, W., & Zodhiates, S. 2008 p.2239). These men‘s emotions had so much fear, so much anxiety and worry in their thinking they could only see what they thought the problem was, the strong, rough waves that just kept coming, blow after blow.
Jesus, on the other hand, knew it wasn't the physical but the spiritual side of things that was creating the problem. With that understanding, Jesus didn't rebuke the natural. He didn't rebuke the sea but rebuked the wind with legal authority. Jesus rebuking the unseen forces caused both the sea and the men‘s erratic emotional thinking to settle.
Jesus calming the storm is a reminder; the effect of our thinking stirs our emotions and our believing. A reminder to not always focus on the commotion that happening right in front of you but focus on the spiritual side of what’s causing you to feel the way you do? Why is it when I’m unsure I doubt; is it because of fear, rejection, or because of unbelief? Jesus showed us that the commotion of our mind that comes from doubt produces erratic emotions, and erratic emotions create wrong thinking, and wrong thinking will make you speak words of death over your life or that situation.
Jesus asked “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
Luke 18:8 NKJV
The way I think can be used for my benefit. The way I think can be my most significant influence that often changes circumstances. Jesus wants our thinking to have the type of faith that is fearless in the midst of the unknown. We should not allow fear to stir our thinking but take hold captive of those thoughts and make it obedient to Christ by the authority given to you.
The parable of the widow and the unjust judge provides a great analogy to remind us; any time we face new obstacles in life, remember your legal authority given to you by God through Christ and speak it out loud through faith.
“saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”
Luke 18:2-5 NKJV
“lest by her continual coming she weary me”
The word Continual in this verse holds an essential notion of what it looks like to persevere dividing into a two-part context eis meaning with the words one speaks, speaks with purpose in being intentional and telos: to set out for a definite point or goal
(Baker, W., & Zodhiates, S. 2008 p. 2117-2118, 2257).
This woman is intentional with her words; speaking out her legal rights she feeds her faith and is persistent until her purpose is met. A fearless woman influences her own faith by speak what legally belongs to her as she keeps coming back, and keeps coming back with expectation in what God can do. Jesus spoke of a woman who did not allow the thoughts of the unfair judge to be a deciding factor towards her thinking.
Like this woman's determination, we must keep persevering in our faith. Declare what God says about you that’s what’s going to make the difference in your thinking. Did God tell you “He was going to do it” then keep believing it’s going to happen until it does? Has God led you to do something in faith, then be obedient and do it with full faith. If you’re believing for your miracle, then hold firm to the word given to you by God and don’t move away from that thinking. We need to persevere in our faith, by choice to stay focus on Christ even when everything around you is screaming not to.
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
James 1:12 NIV
I want to encourage you today; by reminding you how fearless you are in Jesus Christ. Don’t stop feeding your faith and walking in the legal authority you have as a daughter of The Most-High God. Like that fearless widow who spoke her rights to the judge; speak what God's word says about you aloud, stir your faith with determination and trust. Remember closed mouths don't get fed, and neither does restricted faith. Restricted faith only causes confusion and chaos so put your faith to work. Keep believing, keep seeking, and keep speaking God's promises over your life no matter what. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas in your mind that place limitations on your faith and remove them from your thinking. Remember, Blessed is she that persevers through trials by her faith, she will receive her crown of life.
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References:
Baker, W., & Zodhiates, S. (2008). New Testament Dictionary. In The Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.
Taext2Pic. (2017, October 10). Retrieved from http://text2picapp.com.