Something to believe in

A line from an old song keeps playing in my mind. “Give me something to believe in.” It seems that it should’ve said, “Give me something true to believe in.” Because we are not lacking in something to believe in… just lacking in the faith to believe in the right thing… what is good and true. Something which we can count on, that won’t change, that will make a difference in our lives. It seems alot of people are willing to believe in anything and therefore end up believing in nothing they can count on.

Faith. Makes all the difference. What we have faith in will change our lives, ourselves. I have faith in God. Not faith in my faith in God. Just faith in God. I don’t depend on my ability to believe and trust in God- I count on God himself. His power. His truth. His love.

Sometimes it is hard to muster up great quantities of faith. That is when I just ask God for faith enough. I know he can take the smallest size faith and move mountains with it. I’m so glad it is not up me being good enough, tough enough or spiritual enough. It’s just about believing what my God has said. It’s just about depending on him. It’s just about being me in relation to whom God is. I’m his beloved. He delights in me. He is my Creator, Rescuer and Lord. So I long to glorify him with my life. He is more than worthy. If for no other reason than the fact that he loves me enough to increase my faith.

Miracles

“I need a miracle in my life.” A friend of mine recently made the statement to his pastor, to which he responded, “Don’t we all?”

I am reminded of a line from an old Moody Blues song that says, “I’m looking for a miracle in my life…” And as I contemplate the desire most of us have for a miracle in our lives, I wonder if we might be missing it because we are not “looking” for the miracle—just “wanting” it? Are we actively expectant? Watching out for evidence of the miraculous around us?

In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice;
In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch. Ps. 5:3 (NASB95)

And what really constitutes a miracle anyways? Do we credit ourselves with miracles we have already gained? The miracle of finding someone to share our lives with. The miracle of a good job. The miracle of having a child. The miracle of a changed heart. The miracle of a second chance. The miracle of good health.

Do we hope for miracles without the appreciation of where they come from? And if we have hope, what is it in? Do we believe miracles really do happen? And do we only label as “miraculous” that which we deem impossible to obtain ourselves? But what good thing have we truly brought about totally on our own? I mean, isn’t the term “self-made man” meaningless? Doesn’t success by any standard involve forces outside ourselves?

… What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do
you boast as if you had not received it? 1 Corinthians 4:7 (NASB95). Every good
thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of
lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. James 1:17 (NASB95).

If a miracle is something we cannot attain on our own—then surely it behooves
us to understand where miracles come from and how we can have the audacity
to expect them!

The things that are impossible with people are possible with God. Lk. 18:27
(NASB95). …For truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed,
you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and
nothing will be impossible to you. Matt. 17:20 (NASB95).

The relationship we accept and pursue with God has bigger impact than we
could ever bring about on our own.

Faith. Hope. Trust. The stuff of miracles.