Yesterday I sat with my husband and son at the orthodontist office. We were quite entertained by the news while we waited. A live police chase unfolded on the television in Houston. The reporters told us details of the events unfolding while the helicopter camera kept a tight focus on the truck & driver. Though we could not see what part of Houston, what streets, what direction the suspect was driving, how many other police were involved or other helicopters were in the air, we were verbally informed by the reporters. I had no problem believing what I heard from the reporters.
Why is it when it comes to believing what God says, I have a harder time with it? Romans 10:17 says that faith comes from hearing and hearing the Word of Christ. So why is it that I hear, but it doesn’t seem to yet take hold in belief?
What I mean is that there are times that I believe, but I act like I don’t by allowing anxious thoughts to run through my mind. Doubts. Fears. Oh Lord, calm my anxious heart!
Psalm 37 says over and over—“Do not fret.” Anger only leads to sin and we’re not to sin in our anger. This passage brings me much comfort from the Lord. When I lift things to the Lord in prayer, it helps calm my anxious heart. When I hear a song of praise and glorify the Lord, it calms my anger. When I hear an encouraging word from a friend, it relieves my thoughts. By putting the focus on Christ and not on me or the circumstances helps calm my soul and live by faith.
If I could see the whole picture, would l walk by faith? The word says that the “righteous shall live by faith.” (Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11) Those with Jesus Christ in their hearts are righteous by faith. We can believe that. Why can we believe for other areas of our lives? Health. Finances. Children. Other People. Work. Spouses. Parents. Grandparents.
We can! We know that the Lord knows all and sees all. Like the reporter in the helicopter who saw more than what was shown on the television screen, the Lord sees more than what our eyes see. He sees everything!! We can trust HIM to direct our lives—step by step! By that then, we believe HIM and we’re living by faith and not by sight!
Engrafted by His Grace--Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
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6 gracious comments:
After reading the first half of you post I was going comment and say that sometimes (at least for me) I rely on my emotions too often, to gauge whether I'm living in faith or fear. This can be deceiving. I am reminded of the verse "Perfect love casts out fear." 1 John 4:18. I believe the more we get to know our Savior the more we will understand his perfect love for us, then in turn perhaps we will live in faith more. Maybe then that's were the verse, "Faith comes by hearing, hearing comes by the word." Romans 10:17, comes into play. The more we understand the heart of God and His love for us (by reading his word), the more we can trust and not doubt.
Thanks for letting me think through this as I'm writing on your blog. I hope it made sense to you. Once again, great post. Very thought provoking, and helped straighten some thinking out in my mind. I know that I need to be patient in my walk with Christ. Sometimes it feels(once again, deceiving) as though I am going nowhere but the truth is that my consistency will pay off. So, HAH Satan...get behind me. In Jesus Name!
Love and Hugs,
Nicole
I also wanted to let you know I will be praying for CJ. What a sad situation. Are you related to CJ?
Dear Heavenly Father, you know the needs of this little boy. You love him so much. I pray that right now you wrap him in your arms and protect him from the things of this world, the sickness etc. Dear Lord, this child is suffering and I know that you hurt for him and his family. We don't know what good you want to bring out of this situation but I do pray that you bring the rainbow from the rain. You are our healer! I pray for ever cell in his body to be reguvinated from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet. Oh, dear Lord please send your presence to be with this little boy's family. Please comfort them, and give them strength that only comes from you to get through this. We give this situation to you and we do pray that this cup be taken from this family, but ultimately Lord Jesus we pray for your will, that it will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
In Jesus Precious name we pray. Amen and Amen!
Shonda,
I wanted to thank you for your sweet precious pray for Evan and I the other day! It touched my heart. Thank you!
Nicole,
Thanks for praying for CJ & his family. I met CJ's grandmother, Jean, on Annie's Eyes. If you click on the pray for CJ button, it will take you to Annie's blog where she keeps updates for the prayer requests.
Love and blessings in Christ!
I'm so with you on this. If we could see the whole picture, then it wouldn't be walking by faith!!
Leah
It is faith that pleases Him, and we must stretch that faith muscle to walk in the realm of this world. One glorious Day, all will be made known, and we will wonder why in the world we didn't trust, why we worried. Every now and then, we get a glimpse of heaven though, and it is sweet, walking confidently in the gift of faith. Such good and worthy things you write about this evening. Thanks for all your prayers for CJ and his family. Love you, Annette
Hi Shondra..
How wonderful to know the Lord knows, he sees and he really does care. I love this post. It is so true that at times we do tend to pay more attention to what the world has to say and allow it to get us feeling anxious and all worked up at times. Thank goodness the word of God can bring us back to a place of peace, rest, and calmness. I also prayed fot CJ I saw another prayer request on another blog as well. Have a great and relaxful weekend!!
Hugz Lorie
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