believe God | Kristi's Morning Devotional

Have you had days when you felt weak and undone? Just didn’t know if you could go on for another day? I know, I have had those days too. Believe it or not Jesus had days like that too.

God, the Father, is a God of faith. Jesus Christ walked this earth as a man of faith. The Holy Spirit’s presence fills us so we can be men and women of faith.

God the Father spoke “Light be and there was light”. He didn’t speak just hoping something would happen, but He spoke in faith.

Jesus lived a life of faith while He was here. He pleased the Father. “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. 30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.” John 8:29-30

The writer of Hebrews tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God; so if Jesus pleased the Father it was because he was living by faith. “But without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and that he rewards everyone who searches for him.” Hebrews 11:6

When we are adopted into God’s family, we are saved by faith in God’s grace. Our faith is in what God has done, not in our own works but in God’s grace, his kindness. The fruit of the Holy Spirit, who indwells us, is “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

Faith isn’t something we have to WORK to get, it’s something we have been given freely by God the Father. “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Romans 12:3

Faith isn’t based on our effort, our goodness, our works or our holiness but faith is given to us by God. It’s a gift! A gift we unwrap, take out of the box and use. Even if we feel that we only have small faith, Jesus said it’s enough to move mountains. Once again, God kind of faith isn’t in our abilities or worthiness but it is in Him and His faithfulness to do what He says He will do.

There was a man in the Bible whose son was plagued by seizures. He brought his son to Jesus’ disciples but they couldn’t heal him so the father came to Jesus. He asked Jesus to heal his son. Here is Jesus response: “Jesus asked the boy’s father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ The father answered, ‘Since he was very young. ²²The spirit often throws him into a fire or into water to kill him. If you can do anything, please have pity on us and help us.’ ²³Jesus said to the father, “Why did you say ‘if you can’? All things are possible for the one who believes.” ²⁴Immediately the father shouted, “I do believe. Help me to believe more!” Mark 9:21-24 ERV

I’ve been like that father. I’ve come to Jesus with life’s challenges, struggles and pain. In my desperation I have said “Lord, please help.” Then the Lord reminds me of His many promises, assuring me that He will help. Like that father I have responded “Lord I believe Your word, help me trust You more”.

He’s never broken a promise. God doesn’t lie. He keeps His word.

We need to evaluate our faith today. Is it faith in ourself; in our works; in our abilities; in others? If so, that isn’t faith at all. We need to place our faith, our trust, in the Father, the same faith we used when we asked Him to forgive our sins – faith based on God and his power to save and on the love of Jesus who died and rose again.

When our faith is placed in God we will walk by faith and see life’s mountains move by the power of God.

“Lord, I believe in You. Help me be stronger in my belief.”

We’re at my Mom’s this morning in Yuma and I slept in. Since I have been sharing with you things the Lord has used as teaching experiences in my life I will be recycling this devotional from a few years back. Such a valuable lesson I learned from the Lord while waiting. The thing I was “begging” for was our move to Arizona. It took another year of living by faith and believing God to change the circumstances. But before He changed my living situation He changed my heart!

So yesterday, I had a situation I was talking to God about for most of the day. Ok, let’s be perfectly honest; I was badgering and almost begging because it seems it has been SO long and I haven’t seen any change in the situation. Anyway, on the last time I was reminding God of how important this was and I knew He had the power to correct and change it, I had this thought come up – are you a beggar or a believer?

What! A beggar or a believer?!

Ohhhh I’m sorry. Show me how to stop begging because I really thought I was believing.

Then examples from the Bible started flooding my thoughts. I love it when God speaks up on the inside and starts teaching me. First let’s start at the beginning.

Jesus had the perfect example of a “believer’s” mindset and we are to have the same mind or type of thinking as Christ, so we need to follow his instruction.

“Jesus told his disciples: Have faith in God! 23 If you have faith in God and don’t doubt, you can tell this mountain to get up and jump into the sea, and it will.” Mark 11:22-23

In the Old Testament there is a story about a famine in the land and 4 lepers who had to sit outside the city gate. (II Kings 7) People were starving inside the city, and the lepers were starving outside. It didn’t matter how much they begged no one had food to share so they devised a plan; they would go to the enemy and ask for food. “And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?” II Kings 7:4

Faith without works is dead – so they took action, went to the enemy and God did the rest. He confused the army, they began killing each other and then the rest of them fled, leaving all the food, tents, horses, gold, etc. for the lepers to enjoy. This one act of desperation brought salvation of the whole nation. They went from begging to believing.

In the New Testament we find similar stories. There was a blind beggar, Bartimaeus, who sat begging at the roadside. He heard a group of people coming his way so he cried out for alms and someone told him it was Jesus and to hush. But he cried out louder for Jesus to have mercy on him. Jesus told him to come and when he rose up to go to Jesus, he threw off his “beggar’s” garment and went. Jesus asked, what do you want. Bartimaeus said, to receive my sight (not begging but believing) and Jesus said go your way, your FAITH has made you whole. (Mark 10)

Then there was the lame man at the Gate Beautiful who had been there begging alms all his adult life. He saw Peter and John coming to the temple and began begging from them. Peter said “We don’t have any silver or gold to give you today but what we do have we’ll give to you. In the name of Jesus, rise up and walk”. (Acts 4) Immediately he jumped up and began walking.

“You see this man, and you know him. He put his faith in the name of Jesus and was made strong. Faith in Jesus made this man completely well while everyone was watching.” Acts 4:16

And now here’s another viewpoint on begging and believing. The poor man begged for food and the rich man had faith in his own abilities, his talents, his business dealings. He was a self-made man. Lazarus begged from crumbs from a rich man’s table and Lazarus died. The rich man also died.

“And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;” Luke 16:22.

The verses go on to say that the rich man was in torment and he “begged” for Lazarus to bring him some water. However, that wasn’t possible. The rich man had faith in the wrong things – he had faith in himself. Jesus said we are to have faith in God.

There are several more examples I could share but I think you get the picture. Begging indicates a lack of faith, an uncertainty that what we are asking will get done. You’ve seen little kids beg their parents for something; they are insistent – please, please, please, pretty please with chocolate on it…

But faith is confident. We don’t dictate to Him, but simply tell Him about the need and believe in faith, that it will be taken care of. So I will ask you the same question I had to answer yesterday. Are you a beggar or a believer?

Have faith in God!

“I write this letter to you who believe in the Son of God. I write so that you will know that you have eternal life now. 14 We can come to God with no doubts. This means that when we ask God for things (and those things agree with what God wants for us), God cares about what we say. 15 He listens to us every time we ask him. So we know that he gives us whatever we ask from him.” I John 5:13-15

Tag: believe God

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Beggar or Believer