Reflections, August 9th, 2009

Sunday, August 9th, 2009

Reflections: Believe in the Lord Your God

“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” Numbers 23:19

Scripture reading for this week: Genesis 17; Numbers 23; Ephesians 6; 2 Timothy 3, 4.….

Have you asked yourself lately, if you believe in the Lord your God? I am not talking about if someone else asked you, because we are quick to get defensive, or say yes just out of habit. I am talking about truly searching your heart, and asking yourself if you believe, still believe in the Lord; in spite of what is going on around you; in spite of the tragedies and suffering you may have endured; in spite of the seemingly unanswered prayers? Have you asked yourself this question, then waited for the answer?

Many things have occurred in our life that often bring fear and doubt; doubt in our heavenly Father and His promises. We act surprised at the condition of the world we live in, although it was prophesied numerous times. And yet, God says that we should believe in Him with all our heart.

It is my sincerest prayer that this week’s Reflection, will bring words of encouragement and strength to your heart, mind, and body. I pray that the Spirit of truth will rest in you. And that for all the knowledge you attain, that you will receive the wisdom of God to know, see and understand His truth. And not just what you want to hear or makes you comfortable.

It is often hard for many people to accept truth. Why? Because the truth can sometimes be painful. It can hurt; especially if you have been living a lie or trying to hide. However, the Father is calling us to a life of righteousness and holiness. And part of this walk is to believe in the Lord our God, no matter what, even when all hell is breaking out around us.

God desires that we stand strong in Him; always seeking to know Him and His word. Not only that we would serve Him and love Him, but that we would be fully armed and able to withstand the craziness; the harshness; the blatant disregard for God and humanity in the world that we are living in. If we can believe in God; take Him at His word; knowing and understanding that God not only loves us, but will also protect us, then we have an assurance that helps us to withstand perilous times, and even deepen our faith in our Lord God.

Everything that is happening in the world today has had an impact on the body of Christ. It has caused many to turn away from their faith; many to doubt the Lord God; Many have just stopped believing. And then there are those who claim that they believe in the Lord God, but they have no idea who God is, and what He desires from those that say they love Him.

2 Timothy 3:1-6

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away.”

Can it get much plainer than that? We are living in these times. And God still says that we must believe in Him. We must trust in Him. We must seek His face daily, so that we are not hindered, lead astray, or made to doubt who He is, and who we are in Him.

Can we not look around us and see that, yes, we are in deed in the last days? We are in perilous times. The world we live in is quite hedonistic in its ways. We can go down the list in this scripture, checking off each thing the Apostle Paul described. It’s all around us. But yet, we must endure and maintain our faith in the Lord our God, if we are to withstand and overcome the evil of the world that we live in; lest it overtake us, causing us to give up on the Lord and turn away from His saving grace.

But God has prepared us. And He does not lie. He told us these things would happen. But He also said that we did not have to fret or worry. That we could trust Him to bring us through, not being afraid of man, but living boldly for Him. (Hebrews 13:6)

Yet, many have been fooled by those saying they are true believers and followers of Christ. But we cannot fool God, and all things will be uncovered. In verse 5 of 2 Timothy 3, the Apostle Paul says that there are those that have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof; from this we should turn away.

There are many that will come in the name of God. There are many that say they love God. They talk a good game. They appear to be holy; they appear to be living accordingly, but their hearts have not changed. They have not allowed God to transform their hearts and mind; denying the power of the Holy Spirit to make the necessary changes in their lives. They say they love the Lord, and live to please them, but they only live to please themselves. These are the people we need to stay clear of.

But how can you tell the difference? How can you tell the difference between lip servers, and heart servers? By looking at their lives, and the fruit that they bare. A true child of God that has been sold out to Christ, and believes in the wonder working power of the Holy Spirit; their life will be marked with great kindness, tenderness, concern, love, and the fruit of the living God. (Matthew 7:16, 12:33) And, they are the ones that will stand firm in the face of adversity, and believe God with their very last breath; even if all they asked for was not given or prayers answered. They will not buckle under persecution. Even if they buckle, or have a moment of doubt; they are the ones that openly confess it and get right back up again. They stand firm in their convictions, and willingly lay down their lives for the Lord. They are the ones that bring hope and encouragement and seek no glory for self, but rather that God may be glorified.

If the Lord God has spoken a word to you; if there are promises you are waiting on to be fulfilled—then keep waiting and believing. God has never lied and never will. Whatever He has spoken to your heart, keep believing Him. And while you are waiting, keep on serving Him. Don’t allow your light to be hidden because of the times we live in. Do not fear; do not hesitate to share your faith. God truly has you. Stand up for righteousness. Stand up for truth. And do not buckle when persecution comes, because it will come…

2 Timothy 3:12-14

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou has learned them…”

I’ve said this before; things in the world will get worse. The evil of man’s heart will only escalate. But the children of God, that maintain their walk and faith in the Lord, do not have to worry. Their trust is in the Lord. And their best defense is being on their knees, in prayer seeking the face of God daily. When you are in the presence of God daily, it only strengthens your faith and belief. Because, it is at His feet; in His presence, that the Lord God reveals the mysteries of His word, and fills you with His wisdom.

There are many that have turned away from the truth. It’s not that they don’t believe in God; but they choose to believe only what makes them comfortable. They choose only to believe in the things that seem easy. They want their sins to be validated. They want acceptance for the things that they know in their heart is not apart of God. (2 Timothy 4:3,4)

Believing in the Lord your God is more than just saying it. It is living it. When you believe in God, and you trust Him, then you will want to do what He has called you to do. There are no grey areas with God. It is black or white. Yes or no. Right or wrong. Some may question who knows what is truly right or wrong for all people? God knows. And when you are serving the Lord God with all of your heart; there is no mistaking what He says is right and wrong; what He says is holy and acceptable unto Him. God clarifies Himself quite well. It’s just sometimes, we don’t want to hear the truth if it’s going to make us uncomfortable; or if it will require us to give up some things, some people, some habits, a way of life. But if we say we believe in the Lord our God, then we must also believe that whatever He says will come to past; including Judgment Day, our day of reckoning before the throne of God.

I sincerely pray that this word has brought encouragement, enlightenment and fresh dialogue between you and the Father. I hope that the spirit of peace and prosperity will find rest in your: spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, social, and financial lives. May God’s truth be your truth, as you seek to please the heart of God, and find joy and healing in His presence. Let the fruit of God be evident in your life and speak well of you. To God be all glory. Be Blessed.

©2009. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.