The Power to Believe: Guest Erica Jiminez

Please welcome my second guest this month, Erica Jimenez.

I met Erica at the Declare Conference in Dallas last year. She had the most inviting smile and welcoming presence as she stood at her booth for Origami Owl. Something about her humble spirit resonated with me immediately. We talked and prayed a little then. A year later, we met again at Declare. This time we were placed in a mastermind group together.

It’s been an honor to connect with Erica and give her a place to share part of her story. If you are a writer or blogger, and you missed her piece on Katie Reid’s site, I highly recommend reading: She’s More Than a Like, Comment or Stat.

Our beliefs are our guides, compass and direction that lay out the way our lives will go.

By having beliefs, you have agreed to core values and foundational principles that are part of these.

They lay out the emotions that will drive you and control you and your choices.

Our beliefs motivate us, give us a sense of purpose, help us determine right from wrong, but they can also cause us suffering and pain when they don’t align with His.

The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in Me. John 16:9 NLT

Have you ever believed that “something” in your life was missing, or you longed for “something” but quite couldn’t put your finger on what that desire of your heart was?

I know at times in my life my beliefs did not focus on what was already in me and I did not know I had the power to believe.

Not having a strong religious background or upbringing, I made up my own beliefs and followed those around me. I convinced myself that I had found my purpose and found my “something”.

I realize now, during these times, this “something” I was searching for were several different things through the years that would give me a temporary sense of purpose, accomplishment or an emotion that I longed for:

Material possessions (house, car, certain amount of money in your account, type of clothing you wear)
Life’s successes and/or failures (upbringing , a career, a spouse, a family, a status or title)
Control and/or escape from a situation or circumstance
Alcohol or drugs
This list could go on and on….

Do these sound familiar? I know we have all been there in certain times in our lives.

These false beliefs can be misguiding, made up, or even make us do things beyond the wildest imagination or outside our moral comfort zone.

I think this is what always made me question things in my life and like a doubting Thomas, I always have to see with my own two eyes to believe things sometimes. Here is a funny example that made me a doubting Thomas later in life.

I didn’t believe what was said until I arrived here and saw it with my own eyes. In fact, I had not heard the half of it! Your wisdom and prosperity are far beyond what I was told. 1 Kings 10:7 NLT

Growing up, my mom would always tell me if I ate all my pizza crust, that it would make my hair curly. I sure did eat a lot of pizza crust growing up and yes, my hair is curly (which I make straight now)! I won’t tell you how old I was when I found out this wasn’t true. I am sure we all have stories like this that we can relate to. I think this is why I started asking so many questions later on in life and why I always look for facts and information.

I have always known there was a God, but I didn’t know what He stood for. I didn’t know him nor did I believe in Him, like he needed me to. In my core, when He created me He made me a believer, but I did not have a relationship with Him and finally when I realized in life that was the “something” that has been missing. It was Him all along.

“I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:24 NLT

You see I have always had the power to believe inside of me. After all, the ask and my belief in Him was the easy part. The issue for me was not ever denying the power to believe in him, it has been in the power to follow Him.

I believe in your commands; now teach me good judgement and knowledge. Psalms 119:66 NLT

He already knows that He is in your core. He created you. He knows that he has believers, and truly only you have the power to accept that belief in Him and follow.

I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe in Him, this is the same mighty power. Ephesians 1:19 NLT

For me, I ignored the power inside of me to truly believe with my ALL my heart. He already knew I believed, At times, He even proved to me my unbeliefs, but He also knew I was not following Him. I didn’t realize there is a difference between a believer and a follower…

Learning to Follow Faithfully,

Erica

www.myowncharm.com

Erica Jimenez is wife, mom and friend. Here are some things that best describe her:
new believer
all about family
passionate
giving
curious
tenacious
creative
a difference maker

PRAY WITH US: Lord, when I find it hard to believe, give me your power to do so, as well as the courage to respond in obedience. You are the source of everything I need. Speak Lord, I am willing to listen. Amen.

Thank you for joining me in #31DaystoBelieve as we pursue what we believe and how it impacts our lives.
For all archived posts once they are finished, please click here.
To follow along via email so you don’t miss a post, click here.
May we learn to #livewell.