Is your belief really BELIEF

Is your belief really BELIEF?

God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2 CORINTHIANS 9:8 

An old widow was living in poverty and want. A young man, hearing she was in need, went to visit her to see if he could be of any help. The old lady complained bitterly of her condition and remarked that her son in Australia was doing very well. Her friend inquired, “Doesn’t he do anything to help you?” She replied, “No, nothing. He writes to me regularly once a month, but he sends me only some little pictures with his letters.” The young man asked to see the pictures she had received. To his surprise, he found each of them to be twenty-pound notes. The poor old lady did not realize the value of this foreign currency, but had imagined them to be mere pretty pictures. She had lived in poverty and want, whereas she could have had all the bodily comforts she desired and needed so badly. We smile at the foolishness of the old woman, but how many of us are like her, living as though we were paupers instead of sons and daughters of the King?  - Dr. David Jeremiah Morning and Evening 

Sad but true, because I see in myself the times when I haven't been relying on my faith as I ought to. 

I also see and know many who claim to believe in God that aren't remotely trying to live it.  They claim to be Catholic or Baptist or other "Christian" denominations.  Yet their mouths say their hearts aren't following after Christ, regardless of the label they have on themselves. 

The question before you is just what really is at the core of you.  I guarantee you that there IS a Throne in your heart.  Who is on it?  Who is calling the shots? Who decides what happens?  In the life of a believer I tell you truly it is either Jesus or you.  

Are you living a life of worry?  Ehhhh that is leaning a lot towards you being on that Throne. 

Are you constantly stressed? Mmmm that is the same...leaning a lot towards you being on that Throne. 

I read an interesting devotional about carrying your cross and following Christ.  It isn't your cross you are carrying. It's His.

Look at it differently.  Jesus said to take His yoke upon you for His burden is easy and His load is light.   His. 

Are you a Martha more than a Mary?  Stressed and worried about so many things and have never made time to be at the feet of Jesus?

Only a fool sets out on a known long journey and takes nothing with them to be able to complete it.

Again only a fool rushes out into battle without counting the cost in time, energy and effort to see if they can prevail. 

Before anyone jumps into the fray about calling people fools...stop yourself and go actually read the book of Proverbs.  God defines who is a fool and who isn't.

So where is your belief?  Is it belief or isn't it?   Are you so wound up about what your eyes see that you can't see Jesus?   Take time to read about the boat trip of Jesus. Because you sound exactly like the worried Disciples.  Jesus was taking a nap. They were freaking out about the wind and the waves. Jesus asked them a simple question.  Where's your faith?

So....where is your faith?  

Don't give me that "I don't have time" excuse.  How quickly you forget that the same God who saved you is that same God who allows you to breathe.  In a heartbeat you CAN be called home.  Then what good did your worried hurried life with you on the Throne of your heart get you?

Are you really running from God?  Read Jonah.  Think that your life is rough? Read Job. Try losing everything in 1 day. All your kids, wealth and health...boom...gone.  In Job's case it was to reveal the Lord to people, an the Lord restored Job's life when He was done.  In the Gospels questions were asked because people were taught to believe that a person's parents or them could sin and cause them physical problems.  Jesus on many occasions revealed that the true purpose was to reveal the hand of God. 

You can be going through a great many things.  Some indeed are self inflicted.  Because you are on that Throne.  Others, Christ indeed is on the Throne but what is happening is Christ is being revealed in you.  He is the Good Shepherd. He knows what's best and what is going on at all times. 

So...where is your belief?