Terry Casales - December 20th, 2021
(Photo: from the movie, “Miracle on 34th Street” - 20th Century Fox, 1947)
In light of the Christmas season we have entered into, the Lord brought to my remembrance the movie, “Miracle on 34th Street.” Near the end of the movie, the little girl named Susan was at a Christmas Day breakfast with Santa and her mother. When it seemed like Susan’s Christmas promise from Santa had not come true, her mother, Doris, said to her, “you must believe in Mr. Kringle and keep right on doing it. You must have faith in him.” Susan replied, “but he didn’t get me the… that doesn’t make sense mommy.” Doris then said, “faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to. Just because things don’t turn out the way you want them to the first time, you’ve still got to believe in people. I found that out.”
Prior to this, Doris had completely lost her faith in love or in anything for that matter, because of the many disappointments she endured in her life. She was forced to become practical and self-reliant, facing the “reality” of life alone as a single mother as a result of her divorce. She chose to teach Susan to face “reality” as a way to deal with disappointment that would surely come in her life because believing in anything good, like God, love, or Santa Claus in this case, would “cause a mental conflict within her.” Doris saw anyone with any kind of child-like faith as “gullible” because of her personal disappointments. She chose to pass down this mindset to her daughter as a way to “protect” her from being hurt as she had been.
During the scene where Susan was riding home from the Christmas party, she began saying to herself, “I believe, I believe, it’s silly, but I believe.” No matter how things may look in this moment. No matter how long you have waited for the promises of God to be made manifest in your life, you must hold on to them and believe in God because He is faithful to perform His Word. Don’t forget that God is a covenant-making God and He never breaks His promises.
Beloved, remember that faith believes in the things not yet seen. Faith believes what seems impossible will be turned around into the possible. This is not about intellect nor “common sense” — this is a heart issue. God has given everyone a measure of His faith. So even if you don’t feel like you have much faith, God will honor it when you use it. It only takes the faith of a mustard seed to move mountains. It is time to declare and stand on what God promised you, even if you do not see it or feel it. You are not an orphan and you are not a beggar. You are a child of God.
You have the power to choose to believe God is who He says He is. Remember, Mr. Kringle was put on trial just because he said he was Santa Claus. Jesus was put on trial because He said He was the Son of God. More than that, Jesus was arrested, put on trial, convicted and crucified.
Beloved, who are you going to believe? The one who comes to kill, steal and destroy, or the One who loves you and Who has chosen you from forever? You have the power to call forth those things that are not as though they are because you are a child of the Most High God, a new creation in Christ, with the same authority and creative power in your words as Jesus had on earth. Choose today who you will believe.
Are you willing to look foolish by taking God at His Word even when common sense tells you not to? Your faith may be silly to those under the enemy’s world system, but it is not in God’s eyes. Faith is the gift of God that He has given to you so that you can operate in your true identity in Christ. There is absolutely nothing silly about it. So declare what God promised you and don’t stop until you see it manifest in your life. Just like Mr. Kringle honored Susan’s faith by blessing her with her dream home, so will God honor yours. God is not holding back anything from you. It is not in His nature to break a promise for He is not a man that He should lie. He is even more faithful than Mr. Kringle because He is your Father and it is His desire to give you good things just because He loves you. God is well pleased with you just because you are you and you are His. It is out of your relationship with God as His daughter that you can approach His Throne boldly, in confidence, with a grateful heart, asking Him for what you need and desire in the Name of Jesus. Start thanking and praising Him before you see it manifest. Believe in your heart that it is God’s will to bless you, beloved. Believe in your heart that your Heavenly Father loves you. Never doubt that.
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. - 1 Corinthians 2:14 - NKJV
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. - 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 - NKJV
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. - Hebrews 11:1 - NKJV
Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” - Mark 10:15 - NKJV
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. - Psalm 100:4 - NKJV
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 - NKJV
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! - Matthew 7:11 - NKJV
Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. - Mark 11:24 - NKJV
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