A CHOICE

Our pastor, Craig Groeschel, is doing a series on "A Church That Pleases God".  Last week the message was on "Unity in the Church".  He asked:  If the enemy, Satan, wanted to destroy the church, what would he do?  How would he do it?  The answer was he would cause division from within.  The church would destroy itself.  That's why unity was so important to Jesus.  It was his prayer before the crucifixion. 

I thought of another scenario. What if the enemy wanted to destroy your faith?  How would he do that?  

He would probably send you a problem, a circumstance that was big.  Really big. Bigger than your view of God.  So big it would consume your thoughts, day and night, and eventually consume your life.  It would be something you could not fix or control.  

Then he would send fear in your life.  "What if...."  That's what fear begins with.  He would confirm your fear because you, of course, would start to Google!  You are desperate for answers.  You are desperate for a way to fix your situation.  

Then fear would give way to anxiety, hopelessness, unbelief.  Your faith would get buried under doubt.  Your life would fill with criticism, and complaining would replace praising.  Now fear is controlling your life.  It has a foothold because you have been feeding it instead of your faith.  Whichever one you feed will become dominant.  Fear creeps between you and your relationship with your Father.  But He is still there.  He hasn't moved but you have.  It is subtle.  You may not realize you did. 

I know this because I have done this, too many times to admit.  Faith has to be so intentional.  I tend to drift toward fear by default.  Mainly because I let my view of God become too small.  Mainly because my words change from faith words to doubt words.  Your words are so powerful.  Mainly because I listen to the enemy instead of my Savior.  Mainly because I have discussions with the enemy instead of telling him to shut up!  The enemy only has the power you give him.  He is always feeding you a lie.  He has no truth in him.  The lie seems believable, he confirms it.  Then he has you.  Hook, line and sinker!

No pit is too deep though.  No lie too big.  Our Father is always reaching down to you, even when you have jumped in the pit yourself!  Noone pushed you.  You jumped!  He still reaches for you.  He never condemns you although the enemy would like you to believe he does.  

I love the scripture Proverbs 3:5-6: 

 "Trust in the Lord (have confidence in God, not the enemy) 

with all your heart (your thoughts, your actions, those big feelings, your energy). 

Lean not on your own understanding (trying to figure out, fix, control, google).  

In all your ways acknowledge Him (He allowed this for a purpose in your life, surrender to Him and let Him start working out His purpose.  He is sovereign).  

He will direct your path (He will show you the next step).  

So what if we started believing God instead of the enemy?  How would your life change?

God is the God of all hope.  He will fill you with joy and peace overflowing as you trust in Him (Romans 15:13).  Faith elevates you above your problem.  Faith knows from past experience, that nothing is too big for God.  Faith is not about the outcome.  Faith is about trusting God whatever the outcome.  He will give you grace (everything you need) for each step.  If you need strength, He will give it.  If you need courage, He will give it.  If you need hope, He will give it.  If you need peace, He will give it.  That is what Grace is.  Everything you need for each step.  He gives you grace for now, not tomorrow, not for the things you imagine, but for right now, this moment.  You just need to ask.

The prerequisite is to surrender, let go, stop trying to face it in your own strength.  Hold His hand.  Follow Him.  Then fill your mouth with praise instead of complaining.  The Bible says God inhabits Praise.  That means when you praise Him, you invite Him into your circumstance, His power, His presence.  Your words have power.  Your life will start to change from the inside out.  God will use your circumstance.  God will use your faith to help someone else.  You will be a light.  He promises to work it out for your good and His Glory.  Let's believe Him.

Love Him.                                                                        Love ya'll dearly.