— From the distaff side —

Confession of unbelief

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." In reading the opening line of Psalm 53 this morning, it was easy to imagine these words being issued by an atheist.  However, the Spirit’s conviction began building in my own heart; there was a heaviness and I soon realized why.  I had blurted out their very essence just yesterday!  Being faced with what seemed an impossible schedule, without thinking, I  had fairly yelled in response — “I can’t do that!  It’s not even possible!”

The realization of what had come out of my mouth really dismayed me.  (Thank You, Lord, for Your loving chastisement.) Though an old-timer with Christ, I had spoken much as the psalmist’s fool.  Webster describes an “atheist” as one who denies the existence of God.  Synonyms include: deist, agnostic, freethinker, unbeliever and infidel; one living independent of God, with no faith in, dependence on, and no relationship with Him.  But the Bible tells us that, "... without faith it is impossible to please" (God).  So, where does that put me when I say, “I can’t,” “won’t” or, “it’s impossible”?  Repentance for my blatant unbelief was quick to follow His conviction.

Negative words such as can’t, won’t and impossible have the power to dilute, distort, hinder — even destroy faith in the Almighty God.  Heb 11:6b says: "But for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Lord, I  always want to please You and never to be guilty of even intimating that “There is no God!”  Ugh!) To anyone who believes, God promises glorious sufficiency — wondrously beyond our finite human reasonings and abilities.  He says, "If thou can believe, all things are possible to him that believeth" — Mr 9:23 and, "I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me" — Phil 4:13.  What is the incalculable cost to any believer who would deny these truths?!

David declares His love for God’s Word but realizing his need of empowering to obey, prays with desperate intensity — "My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.  Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.  Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth" — Ps 119:88,25,40.  May we, His children, similarly and humbly so come before Him.  Trusting Him to fulfill His promises in our lives, we must "... cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me — Ps 57:2.  When faith wavers, let us declare, "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief, for ... all things are possible to him that believeth" — Mk 9:24, Lu 1:37.  Yes!   —?D.

ABOUT US:  Founded in 1993, Hallelujah Living Ministries is a donation-based, non-denominational Christian outreach to uplift, inform and challenge followers of Jesus Christ.  For more information or a copy of our always-free print newsletter, please include a  postal mail address along with your comments and prayer requests. Thank you for visiting. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

DP10-06