Do You Still Believe?

I receive several daily devotionals by e-mail. I love having a few words of encouragement pop up on my computer screen in the mornings.  Gets my day off to a great start.  A few weeks ago, I received a devotional from David Wilkerson entitled "Do You Still Believe." 

“Do you believe I still love you unconditionally—that you are right now being led by the Holy Spirit—that every tear you shed I bottle—that you are right now in this place, in this very hour, in the perfect will of God?


“Do you believe all things still work together for good to them that love Me—that I hear your prayers, even when you have no audible words to express them, when all seems dark and you are overwhelmed—when fear lays hold on your mind and soul—when it seems I have shut the heavens to you?


“Do you still believe I feed all living things: the fish of the sea, the cattle, the fowls, all creeping things? Do you still believe I count every hair on your head—that I take note of every fallen bird on the face of the earth? Do you truly believe that?


“Do you still believe—when death comes to your loved ones? Do you still believe what you have testified, that I give comfort and strength to face even the grave?


“Do you still believe I love you—I forgive you all your past sins, your present sins—and I will forgive all future sins if you rest and trust me? Do you believe I understand when Satan sends his messengers against you to implant lies, doubts, blasphemies, fears, despair?


“Do you still believe you are in the palm of my hand—that you are more precious than gold to your Savior—that eternal life is your future—that there is no power that can pluck you out of my hand—that I still am touched by every infirmity and affliction you endure? Do you still believe these things are true?”

Do I believe these things? Of course I do.  I know they are true.  I know it in my head.  But do I BELIEVE it with every ounce of me?  Well, that, my friends, is a good question.

It is EASY to tell other people these things are true, I'm very good at it.  I know all the "good" Bible verses.  All the promises.  All the "we are more than conquerors."  All the "there is therefore now no condemnation."  Every one of the "I'll never leave you nor forsake you" verses.  And people need to be reminded of those when they are hurting.  Those verses are good, and those verses are true and I believe every word of them, when I am telling them to someone else.  But do I truly live like I believe those words apply to me? 

Sometimes we speak so casually about what we believe.  But do we LIVE like we believe it?  I wish I could tell you that I always live like I believe, but to be completely real, I don't.  I am GREAT at talking to others.  I always know what to say, but sometimes, in my own life, I have doubts.  I have fears.  I wonder.

What if, from now on, we truly took every word of scripture at face value.  What if every morning I reminded myself that I am a child of the King.  That I know He is alive, and that His power lives in me.  I believe that when I put everything in His hands, that He works everything out according to His perfect will, not my perfect will.  That no matter what I see, think or feel, I will trust Him.  Not the power of positive thinking, not name it and claim it, but a belief in a God who calls himself "I AM."   Believing that a God who is big enough to speak the universe into existence is big enough to handle anything that comes my way.  Believing that just because everything in my life isn't perfect, that it doesn't mean He isn't in control.  Committing to serving Him every day of my life because HE IS WORTHY. 

Habakkuk 3:17-18 says:

"Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls—Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation."

Repeat THAT to someone who is hurting, and see what kind of response you get.  But that, my friends, is where I believe God wants us to be. Not just serving Him and praising Him when the times are good, but serving Him because of who He is, not because of what He can do for us.  He already did more than we can ever repay.  God sent His Son, Jesus, to die for each one of us.  While we were yet sinners.  Before we loved Him, He loved us.  Is that enough for you?  Is that enough to make you say "Yes, I still believe."

If it doesn't, I think it should.