At time it is hard to understand why God seemingly refuses to accommodate my requests. When this happens, questions bombard my mind like: Am I not His child? Am I not serving Him honestly and with a pure heart? Did He not say in (Psalm 37:4) that He would give me the desires of my heart? Why then does God turn away from me on occasion?
As I consider these questions and more, one word comes to mind—thoughts. If we base our relationship with God on thoughts rather than faith, agonizing questions like the ones above begin to erode the peace that God placed in our heart when He saved us.
The born-again experience takes place when a person’s soul passes from death unto life. At the moment they ask Jesus to forgive them of their sins, God’s Spirit takes up residence within their soul. It’s this new birth that sets a person free to enjoy life, because they are no longer bound by sin.
A genuine transformation happens when God entered the soul; bringing peace and contentment. The realization of becoming a new person in Christ Jesus, through the born-again experience, is reality at its highest. Nothing and no one can convince a person having accepted Jesus as Lord that a change did not take place in their life at time of conversion. There is a certainty about the change that dispels doubt.
The unity of oneness between God and the new life experience can not be challenged. The knowledge of true happiness and satisfaction is undeniably a fact of life. No one has to prod or coax a born again Christian into believing that something supernatural took place. They just know that salvation is real.
Though feelings can play a definite part in the reality of the new birth, a Christian need not base their standing in Christ on feelings alone. They can know, through faith, that God forgave them of their sins according to (1John 1:9). “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
A walk of faith is in order. Though circumstances may arise that try to create doubt in the minds of Believers, or the devil attempts to bring thoughts of disbelief; Christians walk by faith; not yielding to satanic influences on their thought process.
Thoughts change like the weather, hot one day and cold the next. We must base our position and faith in Christ by standing on the Word of God. (Romans ), “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Does God change His mind regarding the new birth? Does God take back the peace and joy that is given when He enters our soul? Is God indecisive? No, no and no! God is everlasting and gives eternal salvation to whoever desires it.
Trouble arises when Christians allow the devil to create a wall of analytical or intellectual thinking, which separates them from faith. Negative thoughts can decline the flow of God’s living water that Jesus spoke of in (John ). “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” Christians need to discipline themselves to walk in the Spirit where the sensitivity of God’s love is always present.
Thoughts can be unreliable and misleading at times, but the fact is this…Jesus Christ gave His life for sinners like you and me. No-one is without sin. It is only by the shed blood of Jesus, and His suffering and dying on the cross of Calvary that we are able to find freedom from sin that separates us from God. Our walk with God is not based on thoughts, it is based on love; the love of God for His children. We accept this and walk by faith.
(2 Corinthians 5:7), "For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
(Hebrews 11:1), “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Though our thoughts may suggest that God is not listening to our prayers, we can rest assured that our faith says otherwise. His love for us is real and He reigns supreme. The joy of the Lord remains strong in a Christian’s heart as they strive to keep His Commandments and walk by faith, not thoughts.
(Romans ), “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Our Heavenly Father knows what’s best for His family. If He chooses to not grant every petition that we ask for, it’s not that He has departed from our presence, perhaps He is teaching us to walk by faith and not by sight or thoughts alone. God will never leave, nor forsake His children. He sticks closer than a brother and will walk with them to the ends of the earth.
Written by,
Papa Boyd
No comments:
Post a Comment