Belief

Belief

Have you ever thought about what you believe to be true and why you believe that? Recently, a prank news site released the story that Reese’s peanut butter cups were going to be discontinued (imagine the horror of that story!). Similarly, another site circulated the “news” that Congress had passed a bill which made it illegal to play Christmas music before Thanksgiving, even in private homes! There are so many constant, bizarre stories released as news that there are now websites devoted to reporting whether the news we read is true.

I have been considering what I believe to be true and why. There are many things I simply accept as truth. For instance, I believe the sun will rise each morning. I believe that if I heat a pot of water on the stove, the water will boil.

I believe these things because, in my experience, they are true. But really, don’t I choose to believe because statistically speaking, the majority of the time, my stove works and the burner gets hot? Don’t I believe that the sun will rise because it always has?

The reality is, we choose what we believe. We choose where to place our faith.

Unbelief

In a recent lecture, Laurie reminded us that unbelief is one of the major ways the enemy keeps us from growing in our relationship with the Lord. Through this study, I have been confronted with many sins, but unbelief runs deep for me. I am ashamed to say I go through periods of time when I believe more strongly that my stove will heat up than I believe that the promises of God apply to me.

I have struggled for many years with health challenges. I have prayed that God would heal me. He has not. I believe God hears my prayers and that He can act. I just don’t believe He will.

This is unbelief.

Unbelief is insidious. It worms its way into the crevices of our thoughts, distorts the lens through which we read God’s Word, and produces wrong thinking and wrong motives. It hardens our hearts. It makes us feel that God is distant.

Belief Choice

BUT GOD. God does not leave us alone in our unbelief. God grants us faith in the form of a gift (Eph 2:8). His Word tells us, “in all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one…” (Eph. 6:16). The faith God gives us empowers us to believe Him and His promises. It enables us to “walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). The Bible tells us that “without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Heb. 11:6) We must choose to believe God. For me, this means I can choose to believe God or I can choose to believe lies. I cannot believe both.

Be Armed

Practically speaking, this means I must speak Truth to myself. I have learned to do this more as I have grown in my walk with the Lord through Thistlebend studies. I have been challenged to memorize scripture and to look up Bible verses that apply to me. This has helped “arm” me with Truth I can speak to myself when unbelief hovers.

• “but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. “(Is. 40:31)
• “Blessed be the LORD! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; (Ps. 28:6-7)
• “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us…” (Eph. 3:20)
• “without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Heb. 11:6)

These verses are part of my arsenal. They help remind me that God is God and I am not. God is in control. Without faith, I cannot please God. So, I go to Him in prayer asking for strength. I go to His Word to believe Him, even when it’s hard and it hurts.  I recount His faithfulness just like the rising of the sun or my stove heating to boil the water.

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Rom. 12:2 NLT)

I need God to change the way I think. What are some verses you use to counteract lies in your mind?

Blessings in Christ,

Thistlebend