Thought for Friday, August 24th

August 24, 2012

I Do Believe

Disbelief is when one questions the fact, validity or truth to any degree or measure of a thing: be it a concept or a physical or even spiritual entity.

Belief, then, being the converse of that; would be to accept without question or reservation that issue or matter being considered or embraced.

Some would say in real life the line between belief and disbelief is not so clear cut, but rather there are many shades of gray that eschew the clarity of a clear line and rather make belief or disbelief a very shaded and difficult to define concept.

Sadly, for many who profess to be Christians this cloudy gray, Eeyore like gloominess envelopes their belief in the truths and promises of God and His word.  

Many sort of believe or believe in part but stop short of embracing the whole truth of the entirety of God, His word and what He wants for their lives.

Sometimes our belief, in the system and concepts we like to refer to as Christianity are more a matter of personal preference and comfort; rather than a blind faith of unquestioning certainty in who He is and what He wants to be in our lives.

Paul wrote, in one of his letters to Timothy: I know in whom I believe in and I am persuaded that He is able to keep what I commit to Him.  Do we have that strong of a unfaltering, unshakeable, unwavering belief in God?

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen.  Not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

-       C. S. Lewis

  Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: Oh deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.  For thou art the God of my strength; Why hast thou cast me off? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?  Oh send out thy light and thy truth; Let them lead me: Let them bring me unto thy holy hill, And to thy tabernacles.  Then will I go unto the altar of God, Unto God my exceeding joy; And upon the harp will I praise thee, O God, my God.   Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; For I shall yet praise him, Who is the help of my countenance, and my God.

Psalms 43:1-5

When it comes to the things of God we need to be firm in our beliefs, sure of our convictions and steadfast in our resolve to stay true, stand tall and not be moved by doubts or uncertainty.

“ I do believe.

You    are the one.

The home I’ve longed to find,

my only hope: God’s only Son.

I do believe.

I touch, I see, that all along

You’ve longed to be, my Lord, My God.”

-       Lyrics from ‘I Do Believe’ by Mark Lowry, Kevin Williams and Luke Renner

Do you believe?

Today’s Prayer 

Father, may my faith never waiver: may my beliefs always be true and be centered, founded and established in you.

“Give me your eyes

For just one second

Give me your eyes so I can see

Everything that I’ve been missing

Give me your love for humanity.

Give me your arms for the brokenhearted

Ones that are far beyond my reach

Give me your heart for the ones forgotten

Give me your eyes so I can see“

-  Lyrics from ‘Give Me Your Eyes’ by Brandon Heath and Jason Ingram