Believe #1 Do We Always Believe That What We Say We Believe Is Really Real?

… 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 the 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 to overcome my unbelief." (Mark 9:21-24, NLT)

Do we always believe, that what we say we believe, is really real? I know that at first hearing this question can sound a bit confusing but if you read it once or twice you will surely understand it. Now I also know that once an understanding of the question is obtained it can seem to be a bit offensive but I assure you that it is not my intention to offend anyone with this question. I am not questioning anyone's Christianity or spirituality. I'm not accusing anyone of not loving the Lord, nor am I posing it to tear anyone down. I am posing it to build up those of us who need it.

Starting tomorrow, we will begin a series of posts using scriptures containing some very powerful assurances, from God to us, that should uplift us and fill us with encouragement, confidence and strength when we find ourselves in the midst of trials, tribulations, battles with the flesh, and attacks from the enemy. In order for these scriptures to serve their intended purpose there can't be any unbelief in us, not even a little bit.

My sincerest hope is that the question I used for the title of this post enables us to look within ourselves and identifies areas in our lives where unbelief exists, if it exists at all. For some of us, there may be no areas where it exists while for others it may exist in one or two areas, and then there may be some people who are on the verge of being consumed with unbelief. The goal of this post is to identify any unbelief we may have and eliminate it from our lives.

The only way for this to be possible is for us to be brutally honest with ourselves which will hopefully lead us to be completely transparent to God so that he can fix our deficiencies. It's time for self-examination. It's time for us to look deep down within ourselves and willingly admit any unbelief that may exist; then address it, which I guarantee will make us better, stronger and more faithful in our walks with God.

Every Christian, if asked if they believe in the power of God, the promises of the Bible, the power the Holy Spirit gives us, God's ability to make a way where no way seems possible, if they believe he is able to do all things at all times without ever failing, will automatically answer yes. I think most of us because we know, as Christians, our answer is supposed to be yes. We feel obligated to answer yes, even if we don't necessarily feel that way at all times. Why do we do this?

I believe a lot of us figure if they answer honestly and say that at certain times and in certain situations, our faith is overpowered by unbelief, and, in those moments, no, everything re say we believe is not really real to us, that maybe we will be looked at as less than, or perhaps as not Christian at all. Well, today we stop allowing the pressure to be "religiously correct" hinder our growth. Today we're going to be brutally honest with ourselves and we're going to answer the question, "Do we always believe, that what we say we believe , is really real?

Believe: to have faith, trust, or confidence in.

This is the definition of the word believe. Now remember, let's be brutally honest with ourselves. Do we always have these feelings towards the things we say we believe about our God? Or, if we're being brutally honest, are these feelings ones we mainly have when times are good, things are going right for us, and trials and tribulations are no where in sight. Ready to be brutally honest again? How many of us, the moment something goes wrong and the realities of life hit us hard, forget about or push to the side the things we say we believe in? How many of us immediately begin to look to people for answers and assurances? How many of us start looking to things, substances, and vices for comfort? How many of us turn to and believe in our own strength which is non-existent compared to the strength and power that can be provided by our God?

Listen to me very carefully right row. There is nothing wrong with admitting that we have done or are currently doing any of these things. Forget about any shame you might be feeling because that shame is meant to keep you exactly where you are. The enemy wants you to be ashamed to say that you possess a measure of unbelief or flat out deny that any unbelief exists at all because he knows that if you do, you'll never possess the power to defeat him. But God on the other hand wants you to admit it to yourself because when you do then it becomes real and the moment it becomes real it becomes a burden, something you have to turn over to God which is all he wants.

Please remember what I said at the beginning of this post. This is not meant to offend or tear down but to build up. When I say the word unbelief, I'm not saying you don't believe in God, what I am saying is that as humans, with human understandings, we don't always believe in all of God's abilities. And that is a problem, but it's one that is easily fixed by simply being willing to admit that it exists and then asking God to help us with it. That's what the father of the demon-possessed boy did. The man showed Christ his unbelief with the words "Have mercy on us and help us if you can." To that Jesus responded, "What do you mean if I can't... anything is possible if a person believes. And instantly the father cried out, "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief."

The man unknowingly showed Jesus his unbelief but moments later knowingly admitted the unbelief existed and asked Jesus for help with it. No pride, no shame, just a need to be rid of his hindrance. We need to possess that same kind of attitude today. If you struggle with unbelief, admit it to yourself and then admit it to God and ask him to fix it for you. I guarantee you he will, but we have to afford him that opportunity. So today, if there is unbelief in your life in your life then address it the same way the father of the demon-possessed boy did. Cry out to God, "I do believe, but help my unbelief!" Before it begins to rule and consume you. Today we begin the process of being able to always believe, that what we say we believe, is really real. Today our lives change.

Prayer for today: Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. Strengthen my faith in your presence and strength when I waver in the face of today's challenges. In Jesus' name. Amen.