by Julia Bruce
CEO & Keynote speaker

Why would I ask God to test me?

Most of probably feel like all of 2020 has been a test. In both the Old and New Testaments, the words translated “test” mean “to prove by trial.” It takes a bold heart to sincerely pray for God to test them. But it is through the trials and tests that the genuineness of our faith is seen.

Tested by fire

That doesn’t sound like much fun at all, but when ore is tested to prove it is either gold or silver, the assayer puts a fire under it, pours acid on it, and then determines whether it is genuine. Only the true ore will hold up to the test.

Likewise, God tests us to prove that our faith in Him is genuine. When trials and difficulties come in your life, your faith will be put to the test. Will you trust God or blame God? Will you cast all your cares upon Him trusting that He cares for you or will you turn to caffeine, food, cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, pornography, or sex? Will you lean on Him rather than lean on your own understanding? Will you become sweeter or bitter? James said, “knowing that the testing of your faith….” God tests our faith that we might know it is genuine.

Stick around or walk away?

When we are tested, we have two choices – to either stand in faith or turn and walk away. Only true, genuine faith will stand in the trial knowing that God is their strength. Only true faith knows that when they walk through the waters or the fires that God is with them and they will not be overwhelmed or consumed.

False faith will walk away. In John 6:64-66, we find some of the people who were following Jesus did not have genuine faith. In these verses, Jesus said, “there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. We know the the 12 disciples stayed with him, but these other followers went back home and chose to not walk with Jesus anymore.

Where do you go with trials come? Do you run into the arms of Jesus who is strong enough to see you through or do you give up, walk away and become bitter inside?

Testing presses us into great faith

It is through the testing that our faith is made stronger. James says that the testing of our faith develops perseverance, which leads to maturity in our walk with God (James 1:3–4). When we skip down to verse 12, we find that James also says that being tested is a blessing because one we have “stood the test,” we will “receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” It isn’t passing the test that wins salvation, but that only those who are able to to withstand the trial are the true children of God who walk by faith knowing that testing comes from our heavenly Father who works all things together for good for those who love Him and whoa re called to the children of God (Romans 8:28)

Today’s Revival Prayer

Father, we ask you to test us knowing that the genuineness of our faith will be revealed. Even in the trial keep us close to your heart and our eyes on you so that on the other side of the trial we will have grown even closer to you.

Returning to the shop this week from last year’s fall collection:

Our Fall Designs

Yes! We have Christmas designs, too!

There are only 8 weeks to Christmas. Order your holiday shirts now and pick up a few items for your holiday shopping list.

Here are some of our favorite designs:

God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars

What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?

This book includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:

• Scripture to memorize and meditate on
• Conversation Starters
• Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages
• Romance Builders
• Relationship Builders
• Personal reflections
• Date ideas
• Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples

Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and Barnes & Nobel. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.

 Join the community of couples on Facebook who are committed to intentionally growing their marriage and learning how to have a marriage that honors God. Here you can post photos of the different activities as you do them, ask questions of other couples, share how God is using this book to strengthen your marriage, and grow with other Christian couples. We’ll see you in the community.

Bible Studies, Bibles, Books & More

Looking for a Bible Study, Bible, book or Christian gift? We are an affiliate with Christianbook Distributors and receive an 8% commission on any item purchased through one of our links. However, the commission never increases your cost of any item. View some of our favorite items by clicking on the logo and thank you for supporting our ministry.

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Get a head start on your Christmas Shopping at Christian Book Distributors

Only 8 weeks until Christmas!

Click here to enter the Christian Book Distributors 2020 Christmas Collection

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by Julia Bruce
CEO & Keynote speaker

What’s in Your Heart?

A popular, well-known credit card commercial asks, “What’s in your wallet?” But for revival to occur, we need to ask, “What’s in our heart?” Why it so important for us to know the condition of our spiritual heart? Let’s turn to the book of 1 Samuel 16 and see what God has to say to Samuel when he was sent to anoint the 2nd King of Israel.

God looks at the inside

When King Saul did not obey the instructions given to him about sacrificing to God and made the sacrifice himself instead of waiting on Samuel, God became displeased with Saul and rejected him as king of Israel. So God sent Samuel to anoint a new king. God told Samuel to go to the house of Jesse and He would let him know who he was to anoint. Now, Saul is still king so to anoint another king would be treason and Samuel points this out to God. So God tell him to go and make a sacrifice which would give him a reason for going. Upon the arrival of Jesse and his sons to the sacrifice, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the man the Lord has chosen!”

Eliab was the oldest son and from looking at him, he must have looked like a king because Samuel just looks at him and decides that this must be the one. But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by a man’s face or height, for this is not the one. I don’t make decisions the way you do! Men judge by outward appearance, but I look at a man’s thoughts and intentions.”

Asking God to know our thoughts and intentions

So when we pray and ask God to know our heart, we’re asking him to know our deepest thoughts and intentions. Do you have thoughts that you hope no one ever finds out about? What are your intentions or motivation to tithe and attend church? What are the intentions of your heart behind reading your Bible? Is it to put a check in the box on your daily plan or is to know and understand the heart of God a little bit more? What are the intentions of your heart behind your prayers? Is about God answering your every prayer or is about getting to listen to God speak to you and a time a worship and adoration?

Those thoughts and intentions – God already knows them. But when we ask Him to know our hearts, its like asking Him to reveal those things to us and bring them out in the open so we can repent of sinful thoughts and intentions.

The heart is deceitful

Another reason we ask God to know our heart is because the heart is deceitful. Jeremiah 17:9 tells us, ” The heart is the most deceitful thing there is and desperately wicked. No one can really know how bad it is!” We can go all the way to the Garden of Eden to see how the heart deceives and we follow it willingly straight into sin. Yes, Satan tempted Eve and she ate of the forbidden fruit, but in Genesis 3:6, we find the workings of Eve’s heart that catapulted her and the entire human race into sin. “The woman was convinced. How lovely and fresh looking it was! And it would make her so wise!” Since that time, our heart continually deceives us and we, just like Eve, follow after it, right into sin.

Today’s Revival Prayer

Father, we ask you to know our hearts. Help us to see ourselves as you see us. Remove the blinders we place on ourselves that cause us to believe “I’m not that bad,” and show our thoughts and intentions that do not honor you. Help us to be honest with you about what you reveal. Break our heart for what breaks yours and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Returning to the shop this week from last year’s fall collection:

Our Fall Designs

Yes! We have Christmas designs, too!

There are only 8 weeks to Christmas. Order your holiday shirts now and pick up a few items for your holiday shopping list.

Here are some of our favorite designs:

God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars

What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?

This book includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:

• Scripture to memorize and meditate on
• Conversation Starters
• Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages
• Romance Builders
• Relationship Builders
• Personal reflections
• Date ideas
• Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples

Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and Barnes & Nobel. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.

 Join the community of couples on Facebook who are committed to intentionally growing their marriage and learning how to have a marriage that honors God. Here you can post photos of the different activities as you do them, ask questions of other couples, share how God is using this book to strengthen your marriage, and grow with other Christian couples. We’ll see you in the community.

Bible Studies, Bibles, Books & More

Looking for a Bible Study, Bible, book or Christian gift? We are an affiliate with Christianbook Distributors and receive an 8% commission on any item purchased through one of our links. However, the commission never increases your cost of any item. View some of our favorite items by clicking on the logo and thank you for supporting our ministry.

Christianbook Distributors Search: Title Author/Artist ISBN CBD Stock # Keywords Publisher

Get a head start on your Christmas Shopping at Christian Book Distributors

Only 8 weeks until Christmas!

Click here to enter the Christian Book Distributors 2020 Christmas Collection

Wellspring Christian Ministries receives an 8% commission on any purchased made from Christian Book Distributors through any affiliate link on this site. Your price for any item is the same as purchasing from CBD directly.

904.239.8937
A non-profit ministry located in Jacksonville, FL 
Follow us on: