Archive for the ‘Faith’ Category

Oct

Trusting God’s Heart

Visits: 48 | Posted by: David in Faith, Spiritual Development, Spiritual Musings

My devotions this morning stretched me…it even hurt a little. I even struggled a little bit about writing a post about it, but then I remembered that this is the main point of the blog in the first place: to share my spiritual journey (the good, the bad, and the ugly). And it’s my fault anyway. I’ve been asking God to poke and prod and help me grow…He just gave me what I asked for.

The topic this time around? Faith.

It started with my devotional book reading discussing the topic of faith and our belief in God’s abilities and willingness to work in our lives (I warn you…this stuff is toe stepping material):

“We can believe that God might meet our need without any understanding of whether He wants to. And our suspicion of Him at this point is often the flaw in our belief.

“We know God can do great things on our behalf; we seldom believe that He will.

“We often tacitly acknowledge God’s omnipotence, His ability to intervene in our lives, even in very specific ways. But this is only half of faith. It has nothing to do with our experiences as long as it remains only a theological proposition. The other half of faith is understanding the mercy of God and His great willingness to intervene. This is what brings His glory from the realm of theology into the practicum of our lives. You want mercy and power? Expect mercy and power. And it will be done to you.”
(At His Feet, page 300)

G-U-I-L-T-Y-!

I have long struggled with my lack of faith. I want to have faith…and I certainly believe that God CAN do some amazing things. What God exposed within my spirit this morning is that I don’t usually think God will, because I don’t trust His heart. I don’t trust God’s motive.

I know that sounds crazy..and it is a little bit. I know where it comes from, but my childhood is only an excuse. God wants to heal this within my spirit. He wants to free me from this lack of faith (or half-faith?). I desperately want to see the miraculous and the supernatural (not just for it’s own sake but to see God revealed and working as a result of my faith).

I do know that I’m not alone here. Even if others today don’t admit to this ailment I know that Jesus saw it plenty of time sin His ministry. He was constantly chastising people, including His disciples, for their lack of faith. And as long as they didn’t walk away from Jesus He was more than willing to help their lack of faith. If they showed an interest in growing and changing then He was there to help.

After my reading and prayer time this morning…after God had done some of His work on me…I felt a lot like the man in Mark 9:14-29 who has brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus for healing (after the disciples couldn’t to it because of their…well, you know):

“How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father.
He replied, “Since he was a little boy. The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”
“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”
The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

It’s that last line that has stuck with me all day (and that God is using it to change my heart and spirit on this topic):

I do believe — in God’s ability and power to do great and wonderful things

…but help me overcome my unbelief! — In God’s heart and motives…His willingness to work in my life.

I think many Christians suffer this particular malady, but God is working on me so that’s my focus right now. I am praying ans asking him to change my heart and restore my faith to fullness. Faith in God’s ability and faith in God’s heart. I’m a work in progress…

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Aug

Fear or Faith?

Visits: 50 | Posted by: David in Devotional, Faith, Spiritual Musings

I have been reading out of the book of Mark for the past few weeks. It moves fast, Mark rarely beats around the bush…he gets right to the point of the story. No fluff, no filler. The entire book moves fast…sometimes so fast you can miss important details.

This morning I was reading out of chapter 11. In this one chapter mark covers the Triumphant Entry, Jesus cursing a fig tree, and Jesus clearing the temple, and Jesus’ authority is challenged. So what stood out this morning? A picture of contrasts.

As Jesus is clearing the temple, the Pharisees are flaming hot angry at him. In fact, they decide right then and there that they are going to kill Jesus (that’s murder one in case you’re keeping track). But they don’t do it right away. Why?

But they were afraid of him because the people were so amazed at His teaching.
Mark 11:18, NLT

That’s kind of where that story ends. The next day the religious leaders decide to challenge Jesus…ask Him where He gets the authority to do what He does (they never learn). Jesus refuses to answer them unless they tell Him by what authority John the Baptist came from. Oops…now they are stuck! They refuse to answer. Why?

For they were afraid of what the people would do,
because everyone believed that John was a prophet.
Mark 11:32, NLT

No matter how wrong these guys were, at least they were passionate about being so wrong. Yet, they were afraid. But not afraid of what Jesus might do or afraid of what God might do (or what He wanted for that matter). What were the afraid of? The people. They were afraid of losing what mattered most to them: popularity, power, and influence. They loved the spotlight and would do anything they had to to keep it. Sound familiar?

This attitude (and the actions that go along with it) stand in stark contrast to the way Christ followers should think and act. It’s the very attitude that God seeks to change deep within our hearts. He wants to transform this part of our spirit and change where we seek this kind of praise:

A person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.
Romans 2:29, NLT

The Pharisees lived a life of fear…fear for what they could lose. We are called to live a life of faith…faith in a God that makes all the difference. Fear or Faith? It’s our choice. It’s a lesson I am still learning. How about you?

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Aug

Limiting Christ

Visits: 54 | Posted by: David in Devotional, Faith, Jesus, Spiritual Musings

Jesus has come home. He has made a stop with His disciples in His home town…His old stomping grounds. He is among the people that now Him best. He is teaching. He is healing.

And they don’t buy it…

Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?
He’s just a carpenter…They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.
Mark 6:2-3, NLT

Ouch…sometimes it hurts to go home again. But there was more going on here than just a bunch of “homers” that didn’t believe in Jesus. Their lack of faith had a profound affect…one that we would do well to consider carefully…

And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles
among them except to place his hands on a few sick people
and heal them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.
Mark 6:5-6, NLT

Wow…because of their lack of faith, Jesus was unable to perform miracles among them. Their unbelief had the power to limit Jesus’ power. Now, of course, Jesus still had the power to perform miracles (He does so later in this same chapter). But their unbelief limited the power and affect of Jesus in themselves.

How about you and me? Do we limit the affect and power of Christ in our own lives because of our unbelief? Our lack of faith? Have we limited what God wants to (and can) do in our lives because we just don’t have enough faith?

Is God amazed at our unbelief? Is Jesus amazed at your unbelief? I wonder…

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