Believing God: The Rest of Peace

The Christmas Worship Challenge

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Today’s challenge is going to be a little different. Today we will experience a parade of Scripture. A few verses, clothed in the majesty of God’s promises, will come before you like bands marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. As you experience each verse, focus in on the power of belief. Hear the faith-call of Christ ringing out through the ages. Before we get started, let’s take a look at some of Christ’s words about believing:

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,  and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”–John 11:25-26

 

‘Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”–John 11:40

 

“And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” Mark 9:23-24

 

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.“– John 14:1

To Believe or not to Believe…the Promises of God

You may be thinking, “Of course I believe.” I do too.

However, I have found that there is a level of functional belief that takes time truly get hold of. There are promises of God that I know and believe, but when I give into worry, there is a part of me acting as it “All things may be possible” with God, rather than “All things are possible.” These are moments when the spiritual has not met the practical in my heart. Faith is something that God strengthens throughout our lives as believers. The choice we make, to believe or struggle in doubt, will profoundly affect our worship and our peace.

Think of the Israelites, wandering in the desert so long ago. They both heard and experienced God in their midst for forty years–plagues on Egypt, pathways through the sea, miracle food daily delivered to their doorstep…  Their story cuts to my heart as I sense the familiar temptation to not trust God in  trials and fears.

 

Jerry Bridges describes this attitude when he writes,

“…Many of us who are believers tend to live our lives with little or no thought of God.” –Jerry Bridges, Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate p. 54

What we believe today will affect tomorrow.

Unbelief bars the door to the entrance of God’s rest, while responsive and worshipful trust swings the door wide into the peace of God. 

Worship Tip: Do What it Says

• Ask for greater faith when you need it: “I do believe; help my unbelief.”
• Resist worry through the worship of believing and claiming the truth and promises of God.

Worship Tip: Evaluate Your Faith

The following reflective questions are a great way to spark worship through deeper, more intentional faith and can be used when reading any passage of Scripture:

• Do I really believe this?
• Do I act like I believe this?
• Do I think like I believe this?

Today’s Worship Challenge: Be Filled with Hope

^“ Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”--Romans 15:13

Pray the verse above and then read each of the verses aloud. After each one, rephrase into an “I believe” statement. I’ll give you an example on the first one.

Jeremiah 29: 11-13

“For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

• I believe You have good plans for me, plans of hope for my future.

Romans 8:28

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

• I believe

Psalm 73:26

“My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.”

• I believe

Psalm 103:11-12

“For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great are His mercy and loving-kindness toward those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.“–Amplified Bible

• I believe

Lamentations 3:22-23

“The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

• I believe

 Hebrews 9:28

“… Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.”

• I believe

 

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