Category: The How To Series
How To Have Childlike Faith
Have you ever observed how trusting a child is? My three year old is the most loving and tender hearted boy you’ll ever meet. When I watch him and the way he interacts with others, I see just how vulnerable he is with the way he trusts others. It is so beautiful to see the way he does it with an open heart without any reserves.
As his mother, I could tell him anything and he would believe me. If he was let down for some reason, he would just “Awww man” and for the most part he would understand. It may take him a few minutes to get over his temper tantrum, but eventually he would go about his day with the same amount of trust knowing that I love him dearly and would protect him with every fiber of my being.
I was moved by this moment with my son and I realized that this is the type of faith and trust God wants us to put in him.This is what it means to have childlike faith. It’s simple. It’s open. There isn’t any doubt. It’s knowing that regardless of your situations, you are loved and taken care of, and you know that God’s best for your life is what’s best for you. You fully accept it with every fiber of your being. You just say “God’s got this” and go about your day.
Faith is the essence of a believer’s journey. By it, we believe in the unseen and we choose to believe in God, his son Jesus, and his plan for our life. Our faith tells God that we are ready to fight and live for him regardless of the world telling us not to. We trustingly give our lives over to God’s will in full confidence that his best is in store for us.
2 Corinthians 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
When life’s circumstances do arise, we must stand firm in our faith with the full knowledge that God’s going to carry you through. We may have to ride out the waves in life and we may plummet on the way down but we grow in our character and faith when we have these experiences. If your eyes are open and you are watchful, you will see that God is right there with you riding out the waves and orchestrating every aspect of your journey. It is truly an amazing experience filled with peace and joy because God will provide and make himself known to you. When we master our faith in the things that we can not see, the reward is far more unbelievable.
Perhaps you find it hard to trust and let go of the things you are clinging to and won’t fully give to God. Maybe you are fearful that if you let go then you won’t be able to control the situation and will lose whatever you are holding on to or you won’t get the outcome that you are so desperately waiting for. It’s so hard to let go and say “here ya go God, it’s yours!” Especially when it comes to the desires of your heart and the people that we love so much. God loves you more than that and even if you lose whatever it is, it’s because God has something better planned for your life.
As humans, we are nearsighted and can’t see the whole picture that God has painted for us and that’s why it’s important to have faith.
The days of our lives are unknown but we know the one who created us for his glory. My close friends and family have always been perplexed about my faith that has caused an anxiety and control driven person to an easy going and care free person. Yes, I still have moments! It has been a journey and it has not been easy but it has been worth every trial I’ve ever experienced to be exactly where I am now.
Below you will find the steps that help me along the way, enjoy!
How To Have Childlike Faith
Step 1: Decide to give your trial that you are experiencing to God and let go. You can do this by talking with God and asking him for his help. Leave it alone and go about your day. When you start thinking about this trial again, talk with God. Repeat until necessary.
Step 2: The devil is sure to place unwelcoming thoughts in your head like “God isn’t really going to provide.” When this happens, pray him away and tell him that “God has my back” or “his will is perfect for life.”
Ephesians 6:16 – In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Step 3: Enjoy the trial. Use this time to draw near to the LORD. Ask him “what can I do for you?” or “what do you need me to learn during this time in my life?” It might be scary at first but once you rip off the band-aid, you’ll be glad you did!
James 1:2-4 – Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Step 4: Tell your heavenly father your needs physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually and THANK him for what he has done and is going to do! Finally, change your mindset to match God’s mindset and think on the things that are lovely to God.
Philippians 4:6-7 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Step 5: Everything that makes up your life, your job, and your housework do it for God and to bring glory to him!
Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters
Psalm 37:5 Commit your way to the Lord. Trust in Him, and He will act.”
Heavenly Father, I come to you praying for the person reading this and I ask that you make yourself so incredibly real to them that they can not deny that you are in their midst during their sufferings as their endure whatever life has thrown at them. In Jesus’ name, amen!
Be sure to find us on Facebook by clicking this link Barefoot In A Holler . We have an intimate and private group where we share praises, prayer request, and a community of support.
I hope to see you there!
Xoxo,
Hannah B.
How To Melt A Hardened Heart
Spiritually speaking the heart is where our emotions and desires are manifested. This is why it’s important to be careful about what you allow your eyes to see and your ears to hear. If we do not control our fleshly desires and align them with God’s word and commandments, we will find ourselves in trouble.
Proverbs 4: 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
It’s like a ravaging disease that keeps spreading like wildfire until our hearts are hardened and black. When this happens, we become desensitized to the world around us. We don’t love, care, and we don’t have a desire to repent. We can’t even see the good that God does for us.
Mark 6:52 – For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
We are gorging our self with sin and it begins to manifest and flow out of our body in the from our words and actions. Often times we get to the point where we can’t even recognize right from wrong.
Romans 2:5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.
Isaiah 6:10
“Render the hearts of this people insensitive, Their ears dull, And their eyes dim, Otherwise they might see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their hearts, And return and be healed.”
God wants to heal you and he doesn’t desire for you to stay in the state you are in. He loves you and has a plan far greater than the reasons for your hardened heart.
How To Melt A Hardened Heart:
•Return to God and repent. Ask Jesus into your heart if you haven’t.
• Ask God to search and know you (Psalm 139:23-24)
•Guard your heart from the sin (Proverbs 4:23; Psalm 119:9-11)
•Read and know the word (Psalm 119:9-11)
•Think on the good things (Philippians 4:8)
Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Psalm 119: 9-11 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.
I hope you find this How To Series helpful and encouraging. Leave your comments below and share with your friends.
Xoxo,
Hannah B.
The How To Series – Get your questions in!
The series is on going! Want to hear something specific? Drop a suggestion below or email us.
That’s right, you read that correctly! A series. It’s gettin’ real up in here.
It’s a “How To” guide to questions that one might have when it comes to applying Biblical truth and practices to your life. How to deal with a situation in a Biblical manner and how to use the teachings in Bible to be a better you. All ideas and questions are welcome. What do you want to know more about and what have you struggled with when it comes to this topic? Leave a comment below or send me an email: barefotinaholler {at} outlook.com
It is my hope that in this series, we will fall into greater discovery of who our Maker created us to be and how to become our best self especially in the areas we struggle in.
All questions and ideas are welcome!
Xoxo,
How To Renew Your Life
Haggai was a minor prophet during the rebuilding of the second temple. This was after the Jewish people were exiled from their home and the original temple was destroyed. The people began rebuilding their lives when they returned home and as time went on they noticed their harvest and hard work was not producing what it should be. God used Haggai to get the people encouraged to finish building God’s temple. In the Old Testament, the temple is extremely important because this was God’s dwelling place before Jesus was sent to die on the cross for our sins and sending the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, a temple of the Holy Spirit.
Haggai 1:2-9 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.’”
Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”
Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”
This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house.
Have you felt like you have planted much in life but you just aren’t getting enough in return? You have your expectations set high as you start out on your new and exciting adventure but slowly start to feel let down. You may wonder where your job, family, and life, in general, started going downhill? Maybe you feel like you’re at a standstill going nowhere? Perhaps you are struggling to find the joy in your adventure that you started out loving. You have poured your heart into the things that make up your life on the outside but what have you neglected God’s temple on the inside?
God says, “Give careful thought to your ways.” He wants to be first, think of Him and His plan before doing anything with your life. He wants to take pleasure in your life and be honored. When you put Him first, you will be then completely filled in every area of your life and you surely will not be lacking. He will surpass your wildest dreams and expectations.
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
How do I practice this?
I’m glad you asked because I have good news to share with you! At any moment in your life, if you have fallen so far, there is a fresh start for you. If you feel like you are not going anywhere and have lost your joy, just pick up where you left off. Jesus never left.
- Have a talk with Jesus. Ask for forgiveness, tell Him about your hopes, fears, disappointments that you feel and tell Him that you are all in.
- Make a decision to devote time to spend reading God’s word and praying.
- Put this into action daily. Set an alarm to wake up early before everyone else in your house. Get a quiet room for you and God to sit and meditate on His word and talk with Him.
- Ask God to make Himself real to you. This is my favorite prayer – I always pray this when I am discouraged and for others if they are feeling the same way.
- Sit back and watch God’s goodness overflow in your life.
Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
What are you waiting for? It’s time. He is waiting for you.
Xoxo,
Hannah B.
Collective Circle Gathering 