Believe & Speak

More and more, I’m inclined to think that the opposite of faith isn’t so much unbelief as it is despair. The absence of faith almost always leads to utter hopelessness. Declaring the truth of God’s Word, like we do each week on this podcast, helps us build up faith and boot out despair. Your tongue has the power of life, my friend, so what you say matters. Your mouth can not only change the atmosphere right now, but also for eternity.

Believers in Jesus can struggle with unbelief. Not necessarily about the existence of God or the death and resurrection of Jesus, but about whether Jesus truly is Lord over everything that touches our lives. In seasons of doubt, it’s especially important to profess with our mouths that Jesus is indeed Lord, and when we open our mouths to profess that Jesus is Lord, we not only build up our own faith, we also share the hope of Christ with anyone listening.

“Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17 NIV).

Sharing your faith will defeat despair with a ripple effect of hope and victory. Jesus is Lord, and one day every tongue will confess it. He is indeed the sovereign ruler over all. And when you give him lordship over your mind, will and emotions, when you trust him to rule over your decisions and your circumstance, when you declare what you believe about the saving power of God, you will never be put to shame.

Download graphics with the weekly declarations by visiting the Believe & Speak podcast page on my website: shawnamariebryant.com/mypodcast

This week's scripture: Romans 10:9-14 and 17

I heard a great sermon last Sunday by Nathan Finochio about how being in relationship with God is about loving him the way he likes to be loved. Since Jesus said that to love him is to obey him, obedience to God obviously matters. That’s why I’m thankful to know the truth found in this week’s declaration.

Your Heavenly Father longs to be in relationship with you. He doesn’t ask you to jump through hoops to be on his good side. He brought you the message of salvation, and his word is very close at hand.

Jesus came down from heaven to show us the Father and to reconcile us with the Father. Jesus left his throne in heaven to bring us the good news that God’s command is not too difficult or out of reach.

Being in a healthy, intimate relationship is hard work. It’s hard for husbands and wives and it’s hard for those of us who want to walk in intimacy with God. I’m not suggesting that obedience is easy, but we can be sure—because of the passage I just read from Deuteronomy—that following God’s command is not too difficult or out of reach.

Last Sunday, I heard Nathan Finochio share stories about how he has to be intentional about loving his wife the way she wants to be loved. He then challenged us to be intentional about loving God the way he wants to be loved. God’s Word tells us that to obey is better than sacrifice. God desires our undivided hearts in worship. He has promised to draw near to us when we draw near to him. His message is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it. My friend, stop striving to please God. Stop trying to jump through hoops to earn his favor. Instead, open up his Word and spend time with him. Ask him to show you how to love him. I guarantee he will.

Download graphics with the weekly declarations by visiting the Believe & Speak podcast page on my website: shawnamariebryant.com/mypodcast

This week's scripture: Deuteronomy 30:11-14

I pulled today’s declaration from a promise Moses gave to the Israelites when the Egyptian army cornered them at the Red Sea. Picture the Israelites trapped between all the forces in Pharaoh’s army—all his horses and chariots—and an ocean. Aren’t you thankful that the same God who buried Pharaoh’s army stands ready to rescue and deliver you? I’m reminded of the song from Elevation Worship called “Same God.” I hope you’ll click the link and take time to worship the same God who moved in power then and moves in power now. The first verse of that Spirit-filled song talks about calling on the God of Moses who opened up the Red Sea. Then the lyrics go, “I need You now to do the same thing for me.”

My friend, God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He can and will do the same thing for you. He will fight for you. He will rescue you when you’re backed into a corner. I don’t know what battles you’re facing but I do know you have a faithful God who loves you and has promised you victory. 1 John 5:4 says, “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith” (NLT).

So, keep the faith, stay calm, and trust God. You can walk in victory.

Worship the Same God with Elevation Worship on YouTube.

Visit the store on my website for your audiobook or use your Audible account.

Download graphics with the weekly declarations by visiting the Believe & Speak podcast page on my website: shawnamariebryant.com/mypodcast

This week's scripture: Exodus 14:10-14

Welcome to the podcast designed to empower your tongue with truth. When you believe truth from the Bible and speak declarations drawn from scriptural truths, then you can overcome the negative affect of believing lies. You can drown out each lie about who you are and what you’re capable of with the truth of who God has created you to be and what He has empowered you to do through His Spirit. Believing and speaking truth begins with hearing truth, which is why I open every episode by reading from the Bible.

I love how the NLT puts Isaiah 55:3. “Come to me with your ears wide open.” Oh, how I can relate to not only opening wide my eyes or my mouth, which can easily be discerned as open or shut, but also opening and shutting my ears to the things I hear. I decided to focus on these verses from Isaiah 55 today because of the devotional I read yesterday. In Charles Stanley’s book “Every Day in His Presence,” which I highly recommend, Dr. Stanley wrote about the importance of submitting to God. Listening to God is only part of the equation. Obeying what God says is equally important. Keeping our ears wide open means choosing not only to listen for the still small voice of God, but also to obey God’s instructions, even if they take us where we don’t want to go.

James 1:22-25 says, “22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it” (NLT).

Be blessed as you listen to the voice of God and obey what you hear, no matter how difficult the instructions God gives you.

Visit the store on my website for your audiobook or use your Audible account.

This week's scripture: Isaiah 55:3-5

You can’t always read Proverbs in context, because its collection of wise sayings often jumps from topic to topic. But Proverbs 18:19-20 wonderfully sets up the point made in verse 21. Proverbs 18:21 was the focus of the first episode of Believe & Speak.

What you and I say matters a lot more than how much we say. While it’s true that talking too much is rarely a good thing, you can never speak too many blessings over someone. In fact, I’ll bet you know of someone who’d love to hear you speak words of life over them today. Proverbs 18:20 says that the right words bring satisfaction. You have the power to change someone’s day by speaking wise words of blessing.

Listen to the first two episodes of Believe & Speak.

Episode 1: My tongue has power, so what I say matters. 

Episode 2: I am worth dying for.

Download graphics with the weekly declarations by visiting the Believe & Speak podcast page on my website: shawnamariebryant.com/mypodcast

This week's scripture: Proverbs 18:19:21

This week’s declaration is for anyone trying to discern God’s will and having a hard time hearing from him about your next steps.

I have been on a wild goose chase over the past few months. My deepest desire has been to do the will of God. To trust and obey him, whatever the cost, whatever the outcome. I have done my best to discern God’s will, but nothing has made sense.

Confusion paralyzed me and despair threatened me. Did I mention that nothing made sense?

I believe we serve a win/win God. In other words, if you and I commit to obeying God, if we trust him to work all things together for good, then I don’t have to lose so you can win, and you don’t have to lose in order for me to win. God’s plans for us are always to prosper us and not to harm us. But when everything falls through on my end and goes through beautifully on your end, it’s easy for me to doubt God’s good plan and believe everything is lining up against me. It’s hard for us to keep moving forward when every direction looks like a dead end.

But God is full of surprises. His ways are beyond figuring out. He turns dead ends into intriguing bends in the path He has laid out before you. Your next steps may not be obvious, but don’t let that paralyze you. Step out in faith knowing that God will never misdirect you. Isaiah 30:21 promises that whether you go left or right, you will hear the still small voice of God either confirming that you’re making the right move or showing you another way to go. So, don’t worry. Give your plans over to the Lord, make that decision, and take the next best step.

Download graphics with the weekly declarations by visiting the Believe & Speak podcast page on my website: shawnamariebryant.com/mypodcast

This week's scripture: Isaiah 30:18-21

This week’s declaration speaks of the firm confidence that is ours as we hold on to God and his promises. Aren’t you thankful that we don’t simply hope for the best. We hope in God! This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.

About a month ago I did an episode that included Hebrews 4:16, which says, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (NIV).

Hebrews 6:19 gives a nod to the concept of approaching God’s throne with confidence. Our hope leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Please don’t miss the significance of being able to approach God, let alone with full assurance that he will receive us, welcome us, and extend to us both grace and mercy to help us. God wants us to come to him. He invites us to come to him. Hebrews 6:18 says, “…we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us” (NLT).

For the past four months, God has been shaking the foundations of my life. I wish I could tell you that I weathered the shaking well, but I have been a wreck. I’ve cried many tears and have questioned God’s ways. But through it all I have held firmly to his promises to me. I know God is worthy of my trust because he is absolutely trustworthy. He isn’t flakey and he doesn’t waffle. You and I can be perfectly sure that God will never change his mind (Hebrews 6:17). God has given both his promise and his oath, and it is impossible for God to lie.

No matter what God shakes loose, he will never shake himself loose and his promises will never fail. So, hold onto the hope that lies before you, my friend.

Download graphics with the weekly declarations by visiting the Believe & Speak podcast page on my website: shawnamariebryant.com/mypodcast

This week's scripture: Hebrews 6:16-19

In Luke 12, Jesus is speaking to a crowd as well as to his disciples, and he addresses them ALL as dear friends. He tells the gathered group of thousands that God knows the number of hairs on every head in the crowd. Then he says, “So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” (Luke 12:7 NLT)

Of all the hurtful things people may say, I can testify to the fact that cruel words attacking our worth, by belittling our value, wound deeply and often leave lasting scars. Words that beat us down like sticks and stones may not break our bones, but they break our hearts and crush our spirits. But we can begin to heal from cruel words when we believe and speak words like the ones in today’s declaration.

Luke 12:6-7 isn’t the only place where Jesus directs our attention to the birds. A little further on in the chapter, in verse 24, he says, “Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!”

Yes we are! You and I are valuable to God.

I can’t close this episode without mentioning what I saw from my kitchen window last week. My circumstances could easily have convinced me that God had forgotten me. I longed to hear from him and was praying earnestly for him to rescue me from a desperate situation. Standing at the window lost in thought, I saw a bird land on the branches of the peach tree outside, pluck a peach, and fly away with it firmly in its beak. Just like that, a bird feasted on God’s provision. Don’t I know that God cares so much more for me? In Luke 12:32, Jesus encourages us to trust and not be afraid. He says, “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.” Don’t be afraid. Don’t think for a minute that you’ve been overlooked or cast aside. Don’t forget that God’s eye is on the sparrow, and he certainly has his eye on you.

Download graphics with the weekly declarations by visiting the Believe & Speak podcast page on my website: shawnamariebryant.com.

This week's scripture: Luke 12:6-7

This episode will have us declaring a promise attached to heeding God’s rules for life. God’s Word not only warns us to keep us from harm, but also encourages us to keep us at peace. God leads us into abundance when we choose to follow him.

My oldest granddaughter will be four years old this month. Her younger sister is turning two, and the baby in the family just had her first birthday. Watching my three granddaughters, which is something I do every Monday, has morphed from the early days of merely feeding, diapering, playing and putting them down for naps. My Mondays now include giving many instructions, warnings and commands. Sometimes they don’t listen, and that never goes well. Leading three little ones to make right choices is hard work, but oh so rewarding. When we’re all snuggled together reading a story or lying on the floor enjoying playtime, their eyes light up and their joy is palpable. Could it be that the rewards of obeying God look like these moments?

The author of Psalm 19 says that God’s instructions are more valuable than pure gold. I agree. God’s rules for life not only keep us from acting in ways that harm us and others, but his wise instructions also equip us to live well. God is the best parent of all. His commands are for our good. My granddaughters may not understand why they must take a nap after lunch or avoid sugar before dinner, but life goes better for them when they’re well rested and properly fed.

Like a good parent, God leads us into righteousness, and we are wise to follow him closely.

Download graphics with the weekly declarations by visiting the Believe & Speak podcast page on my website: shawnamariebryant.com.

This week's scripture: Psalm 19:7-11

I was talking with a friend yesterday about what Jesus said to his disciples when he was teaching them what to expect in the last days.

“For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24 NIV).

I love the two-word promise in that verse: if possible. IF possible!

In other words, the elect will not be deceived by counterfeit signs and wonders.

Mature believers can stand firm, knowing that our God will not allow us to be deceived as long as we—as Ephesians 4:13 puts it—"reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (NIV)

In this era of misinformation and disinformation, we can know the truth and we can discern the lies. Jesus gave us apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to build us up and help us grow strong in our faith. God is equipping us to serve, and he won’t allow us to be blown off course or tossed around. So, trust him to equip you for service in these crazy times. Stand firm and remember today’s declaration!

Download graphics with the weekly declarations by visiting the Believe & Speak podcast page on my website: shawnamariebryant.com.

This week's scripture: Ephesians 4:11-15