Will You Believe?

It's such a simple question, but it carries so much weight. It's one of those questions that we each have to examine ourselves with daily.

Life can happen. I mean really happen. Our faith is tested in many ways and it's during those times of testing that we actually get to see what we really believe. Wow. Even as I typed that sentence it resonated in my heart so deeply. We talk about forgiveness, having self control, showing love, repaying evil with good, etc. We know all of that is what God wants from us, but talking about it and walking it out is certainly two different things.

Why has God challenged us in this way? He knew we were wrapped in this selfish flesh that wants its way whenever we allow it to, but yielding ourselves to His governance is the key to winning. But in order to yield ourselves to Him, we must first believe that He has a good plan for all of this and for us. He doesn't just tell us to deny ourselves just to do it. There's a reason behind every command that God gives. As we trust in His sovereignty to direct us through, our faith (belief) in Him grows more and more because we can't do any of those things listed above (and more) without Him.

Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Believing in Him must include believing Him. "You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble" (James 2:19). In other words, it takes more than just believing that He exists. We must believe to the point of obedient surrender to His will and His ways. That's why He tells us that His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8). We're to spend this journey learning His ways and His thoughts through our surrendered obedience.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord, help us to surrender to you completely so that we don't pick and choose the things we want to believe and be obedient to. Give us hearts that choose to yield to your ways as we obey your thoughts given to us in your Word. Help us to believe you always, not just believe in you. We love you and we thank you. Amen.