At some point I began to question why I believed certain things. Sure, I spent a good deal of time in church but did I believe all of the things that I was learning or was I just following what I was told? What if someone gave me the wrong message? Would I be able to recognize it for myself or would I continue to follow along?
That thought began twisting under my skin.
I ended up committing to a year of figuring out my faith and forcing myself to learn from the Word. And thus this blog was born....
While I have merely dipped my toe in the sea of faith [and water of his Word], it has been a LIFE changing experience for me. I know it was the best decision that I ever made. There is no turning back for me.
As 2015 draws to a close, I know many of you are also trying to come up with the perfect resolution. Hear my heart when I ask you these questions below. Your answers should help you determine whether or not this is also the perfect resolution for you.
1. Do you know what YOU believe and why you believe it? Do you have experiences that back up your data or have you been going with the flow; relying on what your parents and/or peers told you? Why and how do you know what you know? None of us will ever be able to fully comprehend the depths of God. But he can take you deeper than you are right now or than you have been before. Seek him and you will find him. (Jeremiah 29:13-15)
2. Would you recognize a false prophet or something non-scriptural if spoken to you? What are you comparing that data against? This one is kind of tricky because everything depends on context. We're all men and women too; as in still sinners. So you might not be thinking or hearing something correctly and the other person might not be speaking it correctly either. -No matter how strong we are in faith, mishaps happen! Be strong in KNOWLEDGE and go directly to the source!
3. When you want to hear a good word, do you run to your Bible or to a Preacher? While preachers are wonderful teachers, they are essentially tools to help us grow our faith. They are also men. While they may be used as vessels, our relationship with them is NOT a substitute for the direct relationship that we can have with our Lord. You can listen to an entire series on a subject and still not get what you needed to hear. You can also crack your Bible open and diligently seek the Lord's response and find a word or single sentence that literally satisfies everything that you're heart wanted to know. Many times it's vastly different than what you were seeking in a message. And you don't have to wait for a specific broadcast, appointment or service time. The Bible can be opened 24/7! - The good Lord can use anything & anyone to speak to us but the question here is what are you leaning on?
4. Do you need others to confirm/affirm every decision that you make or thought you think? If you said yes, then you might be people pleasing instead of God pleasing. It is good to be encouraged by your peers. There are also seasons that we need other believers to help guide us. But if you always have to have someone tell you whether or not what you are thinking is right or wrong, then you might have a problem. Jeremiah tells us that HE has a plan for YOU. John tells us that HE is the way, the truth and the Life. Let God be your accountability partner. Who would know better than HE if you were on the right track?
5. Are you certain of your salvation? Romans 10:9-10 tells us “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." If something about that scripture bothers you, is it possible maybe you don't believe Him. There is a big difference in believing that there is a God and then believing in what He says that He is or will do. But remember our verse from Jeremiah 29:12-13 "...seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
If any of these questions struck you, I pray that you will take this challenge for as long as you need to. Resolve to KNOW!
Do you have a testimony about this challenge or a suggestion for another one? I'd love to hear it! Comment here!
Picture Credit [then modified]: http://www.superbwallpapers.com/nature/sunrise-over-the-mountains-14501/
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