The last few months, it seems wherever I go, I see the word “Believe”. Our Christmas program was even called, “A Christmas to believe in”. I know it wasn’t a coincidence. I wasn’t sure why God was giving me this message day after day. I began to pray and ask myself; do I have unbelief? God knows what is in our hearts, he holds our future in the palm of His hands. I trust God in all things. One day as I was asking God, why do I keep seeing or hearing the words believe? I left church and when I got in my car the song Jesus I believe came on the radio. I Chuckled and said really? I started to think, inwardly asking myself, the question again, do I have unbelief? I began to pray and asked God to remove any unbelief that I might have. He is sending this message with a purpose, it was like waking up everyday hearing or seeing the same phrase. I needed to grasp the importance of the message. So, I got in my secret place and began to pray and ask, Do I need to share this with others? In my prayers I began to think about people in my life, connections on Facebook. God, have people stopped believing?
In the natural there is a fight going on about what we believe, we have members within our own families that don’t believe in the same things. What we believe about ourselves, and our God is going to affect how we behave and respond in our day to day lives.
The year 2021 has been a year of disappointments, fear, sickness and loss for so many. A global pandemic, economic uncertainty, beliefs to wear masks, not to wear masks, to take the vaccine or not to take a vaccine. The enemy wants to keep us worried, upset, emotionally frustrated, and isolated.
God says he has given us peace which transcends ALL understanding and will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7
As pastors, we receive many prayer requests and needs within our church and extended friends. We stand agreeing in prayer, believing that our God can do the impossible and He still performs the miraculous. No matter what we go through, God is who He says He is and we can trust Him no matter what. He is the hope that we cling to, the comfort we feel as He takes us by the hand walking us through difficult times. But we don’t fully give our burdens to him to carry and take from us by our response and actions at times. Do we respond with anger or frustration instead of peace? Is our response the Word of God?
The words to the song “Jesus I Believe” says, I want to walk with you Jesus, feel your presence and know you’re near. I want to see you Jesus, move in power and cast out fear. I need to hear you now, I need to know it’s you. I’m standing on your promises, I know your Word is true. You’re bigger than what I see, it’s you and in exchange for me, cause even the impossible can be reality, Jesus I believe. I want to say what you’re saying, speaking life to what is dead. I want to cling to you Jesus, hanging on your every breath. So let your kingdom come and let your will be done. Here on earth just like it is in heaven. Jesus, I believe, help my unbelief God, Jesus I believe.
So many times, our focus is drawn to the loss, heartache and disappointments and God gets the blame for not performing a miracle. Then the accusation turns inward, and we feel that we didn’t have enough faith or our worth to God isn’t what we thought. Fear and doubt is a powerful weapon that the enemy uses to keep us distracted from seeing that we possess the power and authority of Jesus Christ. We are sons and daughters who carry His name. Armed with the sword of the Spirit. In Matthew 5:14-16 We are called to be the light in the midst of the darkness that surrounds us. To shine brighter so that others may see our good deeds and glorify our father in heaven. We may not understand the whys and how things happened in our lives. But Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to:
Trust in the Lord with all our heart, leaning not on our own understanding. In all our ways acknowledge him, and he will direct our path.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Believe, is acting in faith, even if you can’t see. God is still God, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. His death and resurrection is for every person created in this world. I believe in God, I believe He has a plan and purpose for each person. Shine, and don’t let your lamp grow dim. Keeping believing, keep holding on and stand firm. I believe in the Word of God, I believe He is still faithful, I believe He still does the miraculous. I believe He is close enough that we can hear His heartbeat. Come up higher, purpose to have intimacy with God in 2022. This is a new year, I Believe that no matter what it holds, God has already gone before us to prepare the way. Keep walking and believing:
For everyone born of God is victorious and overcomes the world and this is the victory that has conquered and overcame the world, our persistent faith in Jesus, the Son of God. Who is the one who is victorious and overcomes the world? It is the one who BELIEVES and recognizes the fact that Jesus is the Son of God.
1 John 5:4-5