My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
James 1:2-4
When we pray for strength, Christ gives us chances to lean on Him and grow our faith. When we commit to digging a well of promise, salvation, etc. we are committing to the struggles and sweat that must take place. Digging a well requires effort. Last night on The River live stream the lesson was about continuing the digging of the well and holding to that promise of water when all we see is dirt piling up around us. When we dig into God’s Word and His promises, we commit to the fiery warfare we receive from satan. The digging of the well requires patience, perseverance, and commitment. Often, we are not the ones digging the well. We cannot do anything by ourselves without the aid of Christ. Our job is to continue in the faith knowing that He will answer and He will bring more abundant water than we can ever imagine.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21
The overflowing of that well will not only refresh our souls but those who are in our community. We should not lose sight of the water underneath and continue to believe. Our hope is not something that is ill-founded but that which is based on the firm, stable, and constant Rock of our salvation.
2 Chronicles 15:7
Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Psalm 27:13-14
We are to take courage. Although the process may be long, the race be long-winded, the climb steep, and the water deep in the earth, it is worth it. We are to wait not on our strength or faith, but His righteousness. Even if it is small, our faith is beautifully powerful.
(mustard seed pictured left)
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Matthew 17:20
God requires only our faith. Once we honor Him by believing His Word, He will honor His Word by performing it. You see this throughout the books of Kings and Chronicles. In the in-between, we are to praise Him and lay hold of the prize with a firm hope.
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; ~ Romans 12:12
When we lack faith, we doubt God. James 1:6,7 says, “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.” If we doubt His goodness, we say it is impossible for Him. We do not believe in His power.
And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. ~ Matthew 13:58
The Israelites were taken around for 40 years in the wilderness because of their unbelief (Hebrew 3:19). Do not postpone your digging by possessing unbelief. Let us press on toward the mark of promise (Philippians 3:14).
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2
Let us lay aside our doubts and fears and lay hold to that prize. Satan works with lies, confusion, and doubts. If it’s not God, it’s Satan attacking your mind. Jesus promises us peace.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. ~ 2 Timothy 1:7
We are adopted into the family of God by the blood of Jesus Christ. With adoption comes all the benefits which are active now. Now, not for eternity.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Ephesians 1:3
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Luke 11:13
We are to have faith and believe in His promises while singing our convictions out. We must use our breath not for our pleasure but for the glory of Him who gave it to us. Satan is the prince of the power of the air. Take his dominion and use it for Christ. We are more than conquerors through Jesus.
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Galatians 6:8-9
It is not a matter of whether you run the race, but how well you run your race. Lay aside the doubt and hold to your promise. Those in the Old Testament held to their promise for years. God’s timing is always best for He sees what we do not. Before I close, I’d like to share two of my favorite Scripture passages. Daniel 10 shows us:
And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
Daniel 10:11-13
Your promise might be coming, but something is hindering it. Whether it be our own baggage, or something not related personally, we are to continue praying and fighting. We are called to continue the faith and commitment. It says in verse two of that same chapter that Daniel fasted and prayed for three whole weeks. It is often not the length of time that matters but our perseverance and dedication. What God promises WILL come to pass, IF we continue to believe. Do not kill it with doubt and unbelief! Rejoice in the hallway while you wait for a door to open. Even after he finished fasting, he was still waiting! He didn’t get his answer ’til the twenty-fourth day.
The second is a story of victory.
And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
2 Kings 6:17
We serve the Lord of hosts. He is the commander of thousands upon thousands of angels.
Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.
2 Chronicles 20:17
And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. ~ 1 Corinthians 6:14
Truly we have resurrection power in us, when we obey Christ. Do not fear, Christ has the victory.
When you dig that well, you might hit rock. You might hit the hard ground, but that is necessary to get to the true uncontaminated waters. When we hit the water, it will get muddy and dirty. That’s because something is stirring and God must purify and test our hearts. We must continue to delight in the Lord by committing our work to Him and trusting in His good plan. For He shall bring it to pass.
Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Psalm 37:4-5,7
Speak His name into the night through praise. Perfect love casts out fear. Gratitude is greater than doubts. Worship Him in the waiting and keep the faith.
The Wanderer 
I think of the clay and the Potter. How the Potter (God Almighty) is forming the clay (us) in His hands to the masterpiece He wants for Himself. He allows events to come into our lives so He can form us into His masterpiece of art. Add some mud and water along with tribulations and eventually through God’s patience and our obedience (hopefully, eventually) He will have His masterpiece. I enjoyed your words: praying, fighting, digging, fasting, believing, holding onto His promises and believing what He says is Truth.
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