Hearing the truth about what God says
I came across this post the other day, and it’s a great reminder for us to really consider the truth of God, and what he has to say to us. Most of the time, we get it wrong. We struggle against the lies that are so embedded in our soul, but we have to let Truth prevail, because the Truth will set you free (John 8:32).
You say
God says
You say: It’s impossible
God says: All things are possible ( Luke 18:27)
You say: I’m too tired
God says: I will give you rest ( Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: Nobody really loves me
God says: I love you ( John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )
You say: I can’t go on
God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: I can’t figure things out
God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5- 6)
You say: I can’t do it
God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)
You say: I’m not able
God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: It’s not worth it
God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28 )
You say: I can’t forgive myself
God says: I forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: I can’t manage
God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)
You say: I’m afraid
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear ( II Timothy 1:7)
You say: I’m always worried and frustrated
God says: Cast all your cares on me (I Peter 5:7)
You say: I’m not smart enough
God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: I feel all alone
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)
God of the Morning
I love the mornings. The start of a new day. Mornings are full of potential. Freshness. Newness. So much opportunity!
I think one of the key reasons why I love mornings is because it’s like a major restart for me, both physical and spiritual.
Physically, my batteries have been recharged, my mind is at peace and the day is full of opportunities of what could be.
But I think it’s the spiritual side of mornings that really get me excited. Here are a few scriptures I think about in the morning:
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“Through the LORD’S mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22, 23).
“Let me hear of your unfailing love to me in the morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I have come to you in prayer” (Psalms 143:8).
“How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! They are innumerable! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up in the morning, you are still with me!” (Psalms 139:17, 18).
“His anger lasts for a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalms 30:5).
“Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly” (Psalms 5:3).
“But as for me, I will sing about your power. I will shout with joy each morning because of your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety in the day of distress” (Psalms 59:16).
Be encouraged! If you have failed, messed up, missed God, or just wonder if he cares about you, then you can know this: God’s presence is with you each and every morning. Call upon him. Listen and let us love wash over you.
Faith without fear may be dead
“I’m just not sure I have the faith it takes to get through this.”
“I just know I don’t have as much faith as I should.”
These thoughts, and many like them, course through our minds as we wrestle with our sense of inadequacy as children of God. I am convinced that we wrestle with this sense of inadequacy because way too often, we try to generate from our soul, what can only come from God Himself.
Faith is not the mental agreement with a religious system or doctrine. Nor is it our resolve to carry out a mindset or a mission. It is a way of seeing that comes from listening instead of thinking.
I also see, far too often, that people think that the fact that they experience fear means that they do not “have enough faith”. What if that is not true?
I know the Bible tells us that faith without works is dead. I also think that faith without fear may be dead. If not dead, at least it is not really faith. Often the lack of fear is because we can see or reason the solution to, or we can rescue ourselves from our circumstances. What happens when we can’t see, but believe anyway?
Let me put it this way. Which demonstrates more faith; jumping off a curb, or jumping off a cliff. The first requires no faith at all because the risk (or fear factor) is minimal. Jumping off a curb allows you to still catch yourself, to rely on your own capabilities. Where is the fear (or faith) in that.
Jump off a cliff. (Don’t really go do this OK?, it’s an illustration…) You are now without the ability to catch yourself. Your resources are of no help. Only God can help you now. The fear factor increases the faith required to act.
Sometimes real faith means feeling the reality of the fear, but trusting and acting anyway. Trusting because you have a way of seeing that came from hearing and not from thinking.
Faith comes by hearing
Several Years ago, I was in a car wreck. It was my fault. I turned too quickly, the car behind me had little warning, and almost no opportunity to stop. Behind me I heard screeching tires and felt a powerful impact. No one was hurt seriously. Bruises and scrapes, and a few days of sore muscles.
For months afterward, every time I heard screeching tires I startled, and braced for an impact. My nervous system seemed to have a mind of it’s own. I reacted without consciously choosing to do so.
This response was the substance of something unseen.
Here is what I have come to know. Faith comes by hearing.
If you are someone who knows the Bible, you may recognize that this phrase comes from the New Testament. The book of Romans in particular. You might even know that the next verse says, “…and hearing comes by the Word of Christ.”
But I think the first part can stand alone. Faith comes by hearing.
I heard screeching tires and my heart deeply received…for months, my faith, my deep, deep belief, was in the sound I heard, and in an event that was no longer happening. Everything about me responded as if the event was still real, present and active.
I have a friend, who for years heard these words. “You are stupid”
She heard.
The words had power over her, her heart had received, and she believed. She did not have to see herself acting stupid. Her faith was the substance of something she initially did not see. The more she believed, the more she DID see. Her grades in school, her life choices… became the experience of what she believed, and she believed because she had heard.
Faith comes by hearing. Coose carefully who and what you listen to. Listen to those things that you want to experience as real, present and active in your life.
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