In the midst of uncertainty due to current events, we have an opportunity to live what we believe and to also find out how true our beliefs are. Jesus told us that our outward actions are a reflection of what is going on inwardly, such as how can we be kind to our neighbors if we are unkind to ourselves? During uncertain times, we owe it to others to be kind to ourselves by pursuing the One who is certain. What do we actually believe and are we certain about the One who is all truth, knowledge, and life?
I don’t find it helpful to provide a list of cliche sayings that bring about or create a religious fog or veil over our hearts. What I do find helpful though, is to ask questions.
Times of uncertainty can be an opportunity for a massive rescue. Times such as these provide open doors of self-discovery about what we really believe that are rarely open due to the pace of life we live in these days. That pace has now slowed to a near standstill. We have nothing but time it seems. What a gift, to have our time given back to us, to slow down and dwell with the One called Faithful and True: “Then I saw heaven opened, and suddenly a white horse appeared. The name of the one riding it was Faithful and True, and with pure righteousness he judges and rides into battle.” Revelation 19:11 TPT.
So ask yourself, what do you believe about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit?
Let’s start with God the Father: What do you believe about God’s heart? Do you believe his heart is loving, wise, faithful, good, just, merciful, gracious, holy, glorious, unchanging, infinite? Do believe he is a loving father who always wants the best for his children? Do you believe that God the Father is actively working to protect you, his child? Do you believe he knows what you need and will provide what you need during good times and hard times? Do you know you can ask him for help? Do you know his true heart toward you? Do you believe he wants to speak with you and to you? Do you believe that right now, in this very moment, he wants to spend time with you, just you and that he’s never too busy to do so? Do you believe God the Father calls you his son in the same way he calls Jesus his son? Do you believe he loves you as much as he loves Jesus? Do you believe his heart is filled with unending love and compassion for you? Do you believe he is true and good all the time? Do you believe and know that he has never and will never stop pursuing your heart and calling your heart toward his? If you answered yes to any of these questions, think about why you have. Where has God the Father shown up for you in your life?
If you answered no to any of these questions, ask why and talk with God the Father about what it is that is hindering your relationship of belief in that part of your heart. There may be hurt, or a lie you have believed that someone levied on you or the Enemy planted in your heart a long time ago. Ask God the Father to reveal to you what it is you believe about him. I promise, he won’t disappoint you. If you want to know, just ask, he’s waiting.
What about Jesus: Do you believe that if you were the only person on this earth who needed to be saved, just you, that he still would have and did go to the cross for you? Do you believe Jesus is who he said he is, the Son of God and the Son of Man, The Messiah? Do you believe what Jesus said about himself? Of all the prophecies Jesus could have picked to describe himself and why he came, he chose Isaiah 61 to describe himself and his mission: “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…” Do you believe Jesus came to set your heart free, not to change you, but to set you free to become who he made you to be? Do you believe Jesus died on the cross for your sin, rose from the dead on the third day and conquered all death, is now seated on his throne of glory in heaven, and someday will return to restore the earth and bring victory once and for all over the Evil One? Do you believe eternal life is the promise he came for and offers now, to you? Do you believe Jesus still speaks and does the will of his Father today actively in our lives and in the lives of those he calls to follow him? Do you believe Jesus granted his authority to us to do what he did, to proclaim healing and life to the world? Do you believe the Kingdom of Heaven is available to his followers, whom he granted his authority and power in his name, that his Kingdom and his name has the power to overcome all sickness, disease, death, hate, despair and to restore, breathe life into, resurrect relationships, rescue, and renew humanity? Do you believe Jesus wants more than anything to walk with you, to offer you his life, his kindness, his fierce love for you, his wisdom, his friendship, freedom, healing, and for you to live and walk with him now and on the restored earth to come? Do you believe Jesus speaks today and wants to talk with you and listen to you about your day, your life, your hopes, your dreams, your desires, your pain, your purpose, your heart, and your fears? “Let me set this before you as plainly as I can. If a person climbs over or through the fence of a sheep pen instead of going through the gate, you know he’s up to no good-a sheep rustler! 2 The shepherd walks right up to the gate. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger’s voice but will scatter because they aren’t used to the sound of it. 6 Jesus told this simple story, but they had no idea what he was talking about. 7 So he tried again. “I’ll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. 8 All those others are up to no good-sheep stealers, every one of them. But the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for-will freely go in and out, and find pasture. 10 A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of…14 “I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own sheep and my own sheep know me. 15 In the same way, the Father knows me and I know the Father. I put the sheep before myself, sacrificing myself if necessary. 16 You need to know that I have other sheep in addition to those in this pen. I need to gather and bring them, too. They’ll also recognize my voice. Then it will be one flock, one Shepherd. 17 This is why the Father loves me: because I freely lay down my life. And so I am free to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me. I lay it down of my own free will. I have the right to lay it down; I also have the right to take it up again. I received this authority personally from my Father.” John 10:1-10, 14-18, MSG. If you answered yes to any of these questions, think about why you have. Where has Jesus shown up for you in your life?
If you answered no to any of these questions, ask why and talk with him about what it is that is hindering your relationship of belief in that part of your heart. There may be hurt, or a lie you have believed, that someone levied on you or the Enemy planted in your heart a long time ago. Ask Jesus to reveal to you what it is you believe about him. I promise, he won’t disappoint you. If you want to know, just ask, he’s waiting.
The Holy Spirit: Do you believe the Holy Spirit is active today and working and helping as Jesus said he would? Acts Chapter 1“Dear Theophilus, in the first volume of this book I wrote on everything that Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day he said good-bye to the apostles, the ones he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. 3 After his death, he presented himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, he talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God. 4 As they met and ate meals together, he told them that they were on no account to leave Jerusalem but “must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from me. 5 John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon. 6 When they were together for the last time they asked, “Master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the time?”7 He told them, “You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business. 8 What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world”
Acts Chapter 2 “When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force-no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. 3 Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, 4 and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them. 5 There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all over the world. 6 When they heard the sound, they came on the run. Then when they heard, one after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were thunderstruck. 7 They couldn’t for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, “Aren’t these all Galileans? 8 How come we’re hearing them talk in our various mother tongues? 9 Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; Visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene; 11 both Jews and proselytes; Even Cretans and Arabs! “They’re speaking our languages, describing God’s mighty works!”12 Their heads were spinning; they couldn’t make head or tail of any of it. They talked back and forth, confused: “What’s going on here?”13 Others joked, “They’re drunk on cheap wine.” 14 That’s when Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: “Fellow Jews, all of you who are visiting Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story straight. 15 These people aren’t drunk as some of you suspect. They haven’t had time to get drunk-it’s only nine o’clock in the morning. 16 This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen: 17 “In the Last Days,” God says, “I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people: Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters; Your young men will see visions, your old men dream dreams. 18 When the time comes, I’ll pour out my Spirit On those who serve me, men and women both, and they’ll prophesy. 19 I’ll set wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below, Blood and fire and billowing smoke, 20 the sun turning black and the moon blood-red, Before the Day of the Lord arrives, the Day tremendous and marvelous; 21 And whoever calls out for help to me, God, will be saved.” Acts 1:1-8, Acts 2:1-21.
Do you believe the Holy Spirit’s power is available to those who are in Christ and that we can and will do things greater than Jesus, as he said? Do you believe we can still heal and cast out evil by the power of the name of Jesus through the power given to us through the Holy Spirit? Do you believe the Holy Spirit is your comforter, guide, and dwells in you? Do you believe the Holy Spirit wants to have the same relationship with you that God the Father and Jesus do? Do you believe your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit? Do you believe in the Holy Spirit at all? If you answered yes to any of these questions, think about why you have. Where has the Holy Spirit shown up for you in your life?
If you answered no to any of these questions, ask why and talk with him about what it is that is hindering your relationship of belief in that part of your heart. There may be hurt, or a lie you have believed, that someone levied on you or the Enemy planted in your heart a long time ago. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what it is you believe about him. I promise, he won’t disappoint you. If you want to know, just ask, he’s waiting.
In uncertain times, we can ask, talk, and walk with the One who is certain, Faithful and True. Take this opportunity of the gift of time we have been given to ask yourself what do you believe?! For one thing is certain, our time here is short, you have an important role to play in the grand story, and what you believe will determine where you are headed. May you discover what you believe and may it help you be certain about the One who is always certain in uncertain times.
