To Believe or Not to Believe

Do you believe in God. For the majority of us the answer is yes. Some still have a difficult time with this question but when you look at this earth. The complexity of the creation. The intricate details of everything. A flower, DNA, a caterpillar, a hair follicle, you must begin to think this couldn't just happen by accident and even more so why would you want to. God made everything. He is a creator and extremely into His art (yes you). For the majority of people they believe in God. According to poles the majority of Americans believe that Jesus is God.

Ok, so lets just begin by saying I believe in God. The next question is do you believe God? Do you believe He is who He says He is? Do you believe in His character? Do you believe He will do what He says He will do? Do you believe He has His best interest for you? Do you trust this invisible God?

Numbers 23:19 says, "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?"

God is not like us. He is much bigger and much more Holy. We have no logical reason to not believe that God is good and believe in what He says He will do. To believe in His character. We have no reasons. Even if you think that bad things happen and God let them. This is a fallen world and when people die and pass on if they know the Lord (which is entirely their choice. Since we know that God desires all men to know Him) they get to go to Heaven. A place nothing like this horrible rotting earth. A place that we should all desire to go.

I have realized that I have believed in God. That is easy. But to truly with your whole heart believe God, what He says, who He is, that He wants whats is best for you has been hard for me. I have always believed that the bad will happen and live in this fear of the bad. But by doing this I am completely missing out on the good. God has blessed me beyond measure in my life and I still have the audacity to doubt in His goodness. I have decided and will choose to everyday live a life free from disbelief. Yes, much easier said than done. But I know I can pray, "Lord, help my disbelief (Mark 9:24)" and He is faithful to do that.
This earth is fleeting and heaven is forever and that is where i want to be. No matter what happens on this earth it will only be for a short time in the scheme of eternity. And even with the bad times on this earth, we don't do it alone. He promises never to leave us, nor forsake us. And that requires simply our belief in God's presence and promises.

Will never leave you!!

God is with you. We are told almost constantly throughout the Christian community. How often to we feel His presence? Where are the signs of Him? Where is He?

God is extremely visible when we take the time to look and really seek Him. God's word is living and active. God speaks through His word. The times you read the Bible and it seems the words are leaping off the page and right onto your heart is complete evidence of this. The idea that I could possibly be the only person that knows what is going on in my head or burdened on my heart, and miraculously the perfect word, passage, verse appears. One that could convict, encourage, comfort, give direction appears and speaks very loud and clear. This is God.

Now once we completely surrender to the idea that the Bible is the true word of God and He is speaking through these words; now we must believe what they say. If someone you have learned to trust says that they are going to do something for you, over time they have done it, then you would have no worries that they will do what they said they would do. God has yet to break a promise. In Hebrews 13:5 God says " I will never desert you or forsake you". Now God will allow circumstances in your life to make you into the person that He wants and needs you to be. He may allow you to go through a financial hardship to help you daily get on your knees ask for help and have faith that God will be faithful to provide. God's word says that He will never forsake you He will never leave you. We must learn to take God at His word and believe with our whole hearts. He is with you now, you are in His presence, He wants to talk to you and even more so you talk to Him.

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, you God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior". Isa 43-2-3

Remember that it is not if you pass through, it is when... But Do not be afraid. Take courage. Matt 14:27

Peace, Not Just an Idea

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you". 2 Thess 3:16

Many of us do not feel peace, especially God given peace, at All Times. Yet here Paul tells us that the Lord will give you peace at all times and in every way. This peace should not be sporadic and should not be an infrequent surprise but the ongoing rule of our lives. The Lord wants us to have peace not only all the time, but in every way. This peace is not something we ourselves can produce. In fact, us trying to interfere and do it in our own strength is the road block that prevents us from experiencing this constant flow of peace. It is only when we finally give up trying to discover all of the answer to the whys in our lives and decide to trust a sovereign God, that unexpected peace runs over us. When live is really bad, i mean you are at your wits end that we tend to surrender to God. During this extremely hard and scary time we experience peace, but in the little day to day circumstances that we try to discover peace ourselves and forget about the peace from God. We must daily remember to surrender and give up trying to figure everything out. I mean, God created everything and still loves to create new things. He is an artist and loves to surprise you with new amounts of peace and new ways to feel peace. He is a big God, a Holy King and a Wonderful sovereign Father who only wants the best for you. We must choose to submit to His authority out of belief and obedience rather than emotion.

Ultimately, What does it take to have this peace? Attention to God's commands (by obedience) through the power of the Holy Spirit. Obedience to God's authority not only brings peace like a river but righteousness like the waves of the sea (Isa 48:18). Not righteous perfection. Righteous consistency. Breaking Free by Beth Moore