Faith in the Fire by Lisa Newcomer

My sister, Lisa Newcomer, recently gave a devotion to the Sunday School Staff at the church where I grew up in Aurora, IL.  She sent it to me this morning, and it spoke to my heart!  It certainly gave me the FAITH BOOST that I was so desperately needing!   I asked her permission to share some of it with you...Hope you are as blessed by it as I was!


When preparing for this devotion I started thinking of the different individuals in the church who are going through trials right now. I am sure each one of you are going through something in your own lives. Whether it be sickness, financial needs, lost loved ones, or other types of trials, God is still faithful!   He is still good to us all. He does help us and is with us always. Think back on past situations that seemed impossible at the time BUT God brought us through them. Life is hard! When I think of all the sickness our church family is facing... Sis. Sue Darby, Bro. Bill Darby, Bro. Ralph Darby, Bro. Kitner, Bro. Dorf, Sis. Gunter and on and on. Life is especially hard for them right now.  Life might be hard for YOU right now too. We all have lost loved ones that we want to see living for God. Due to my husband's back surgeries, we have faced financial problems these past 3 years, because he is not able to work. I know many of you are facing job loss, and financial problems also. Through it all, we can still say God is so good. Our faith and trust are in HIM.


This quarter our Sunday Schools class is studying about Faith. The name of our book is "Faith Works".
The lessons are called, Faith Hopes, Faith Gets Back On Track, Faith Pleases, Faith Obeys, Faith Provides and more.

The lesson "Faith Hopes" tells us- "Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for. The evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

One of the lessons was "Faith Gets Back On Track".  Sometimes, even when we have a strong walk with the Lord, we still have a bad day.  Perhaps our "bad day" consists of sickness, financial need, or we fail God.  At times, we mess up big time. What does faith encourage us to do?  We pray and keep on believing.  We don't give up, and we get back on track.

Another lesson, "Faith Sees the Promise", talked about how people can make promises to us and then break them. People can hurt and fail us. Numbers 23:19 says, "God is not a man that he should lie. He is not a human that he should change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried through? (New Living Translation)  God Keeps His Promise!! The Bible story in this lesson was of God promising Abraham and Sarah a son. Abraham was 75 when God made him that promise. When Isaac was born he Abraham was 100 years old. Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years for their promise!

The next lesson is "Faith Obeys God."  After waiting 25 years for a son God puts Abraham to a test of obedience, his hardest test ever. God asked him to offer his own son for a sacrifice. Yet Abraham obeyed, and through his obedience God provided a sacrifice.  God made a way out!

(Proverbs 3:5-6" Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not on thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and He shall direct thine paths."

The Message Bible says it like this,

"Don't try to figure everything out on your own. Listen to God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go. He's the one who will keep you on track. Run to God! Run from evil!")


The last lesson is just as powerful as the others, "Faith Provides."  Matthew 6:32-33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of god and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you."   God knows EXACTLY what we need, and will give it to us if we trust Him to provide. The Israelites did not trust God. They forgot the way He had brought them out of the wilderness, how He had provided for them. They complained and whined, without putting their trust in him.  Let's not look back like the Israelites...but let's remember Faith Provides!

We ALL need His healing today, His protection, His help, His provision. We can't forget all the good things God has done for us in the past. We can't let go of what He has brought us through, when at the time there did not look like any way out or any hope. Faith in God provides a way out.


An Excerpt From the Secrets of Happiness Book:

Are You In The Fire Today?

If you could talk to the three Hebrew children about the fiery furnace perhaps they'd describe their experience with the Lord this way:

"The fire was all over us. Our robes were ablaze, but amazingly, our skin was unaffected. We had no idea what was going on. Then something moved over in the ashes; we were not alone!

"Suddenly out of the smoke came a shining, gleaming... person. We never got His name. He never said it. He never said anything in fact, but just knowing He was there brought comfort in the fire. His presence created protection in the midst of the crisis.

"Now, we don't mean that the fire went out. No, it still burned, but the brightness of the flames was eclipsed by the brilliance of His presence.

" We never saw Him again; He only showed up when we need Him most. But one thing is sure, looking back, we're glad that they dragged us from the presence of the wicked king into the presence of the righteous King. for in His presence we learned that, 'No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper." (Isa 54:17)

Are you walking through the fire today? If you are, remember you're not alone - He's there with you! Take courage! When He brings you out you'll know Him better, trust and have faith in Him much more, and have something to say to others that's really worth sharing.


Thank you Sis for being my guest today on Presson Ponderings!  I admire you for YOUR faith and your walk with God.  I am excited to see the wonderful things that the Lord is going to do in your family!