Trusting

 UNBELIEF

Unbelief is not just "not believing" in the existence of God, but trusting in Him.  Believing in Him; with faith that He will provide for you and that His grace & provision is enough.  That His death on the Cross fulfilled God's wrath and served as the full atonement of our sins.-- That we can have new life in Him.  It is in a way, trusting that He will do all that He said He would and trusting Him with your life.  When one walks across a bridge they have faith it will not collapse; that it will get you across to where you need to be; that it is there; that it is secure.  You trust it.  In the same way to Know God and to experience Him fully we have to trust Him completely with our lives.

John 2 tells the parable of Jesus' first miracle-- turning water into wine.  Although the story reveals many things about Christ-- His Kingship; His Priesthood; and His Prophecy, this miracle tells us that Christ will provide abundantly & has authority over material things of this world, as well as beyond.Christ not only provides 6 stone jars holding 20-30 gallons (v. 6), but He " filled them up to the brim." (v. 7).  And not only does He provide the wine for the wedding party but the BEST wine: "the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, 'Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.'" (v. 9b-10)  Christ not only provides abundantly, but to the brim.  He will fill us up with what we need and is always faithful to His promises.  He has authority of all things-- in Heaven and on earth. 

Similarly, in Matthew 6 Christ promises to provide: 

Do Not Be Anxious

25 e“Therefore I tell you, fdo not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 gLook at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. hAre you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his ispan of life?7 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, jeven Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, kO you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For lthe Gentiles seek after all these things, and myour heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But nseek first othe kingdom of God and his righteousness, pand all these things will be added to you.

34 q“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.'" 

Do you TRUST Him fully with your life? 

Knowing God

From Beth Moore's Breaking Free:

1. What has contributed to your trusting in God?
2. What gives you the most trouble in believing in God or His promises.
3. How can you increase your trust in Him?

•    God has proven to faithful time & time again in my life. In addition to all  the blessings He has bestowed upon me, one experience that really sticks out to me, is when I support raising (raising money) for a mission trip to Ghana, Africa with Campus Crusade for Christ.  As a sophmore in college, I had to raise over $4,000 to be able to go to Ghana to do mission work & share the Gospel with the people there for 4 1/2 weeks.  I had NO idea how I was going to come up with the money.  But that was just it, -- it wasn't for me to "come-up" with the money.  Through heavy prayer, I sent out over 100 letters to contacts of people I knew.  At first little money came in.  $10 here. $20 there. somedays... nothing.  I often become discouraged and questions the Lord's reason for calling me to Ghana.  After raising about $2,000, the money stopped coming in.  I was under heavy spiritual warfare.  Was God really calling me to Ghana?? Would the money really come in?? I even considered backing out.  The more I questioned God & tried on my own efforts, searching my brain for ways to raise money, the less that came in. Finally, after being pushed to the limits, I cried out for HIM surrendering it all to HIM.  I asked HIM to take it ALL.  All of my worries & doubts. I let it all go.  I told Him that I would do whatever He called me too and I put ALL my trust in to Him.  I gave-up my own pride and strength.   

                             .... Then the money poured in!! I got a couple very large checks from people I would have NEVER imaged.  Including non-Christians and an Uncle that has hardly enough money to heat his home.  A few days before I was about to leave I was about $350 short.  I was willing to cover the rest, but the Lord had other plans.  In the 3 days before departing I received the remaining $350.  God had brought in the exact amount, down to the dollar.  Not a penny less.  He is ruler of all things.  Our possessions, our money, our hearts, everything.  He loves you enough to provide.  He demonstrated His faithfulness.  He was steadfast and provided it all.  $4,000.  All it took was my trust in the GOD of the universe.  He died for you.  He died for me.  So why are we so unwilling to trust Him with minor things like money? Why won't we just give to Him what is His already.... Pride, idolatry, doubt... all things that separate us from the greatest Love ever known.  Trust Him.  You cost Him His life! He will follow thru.

Breaking Free

"The five obstacles that prevent us from knowing God:

1. Unbelief- hinders us from knowing God
2. Pride- prevents us from glorifying God
3. Idolatry- keeps us from being satisfied with God
4. Prayerlessness- blocks our experience of God's peace
5. Legalism- stops our enjoyment of God"

-Beth Moore, Breaking Free

What is keeping you from knowing God for who He truly is?

Salvation is simple-- acquired through Christ alone.  Isaiah 61:1-4 tells us that it is only Christ that can set us free.

The Year of the Lord’s Favor

61 sThe Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

because the Lord has tanointed me

to bring good news to the poor;1

he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

and uthe opening of the prison to those who are bound;2

2 vto proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,

wand the day of vengeance of our God;

to comfort all who mourn;

3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion—

xto give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,

ythe oil of gladness instead of mourning,

the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;

zthat they may be called oaks of righteousness,

the planting of the Lord, athat he may be glorified.3

4 bThey shall build up the ancient ruins;

they shall raise up the former devastations;

they shall repair the ruined cities,

the devastations of many generations. 

The first step in breaking free is accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior.  For me I was 12 and came to know Christ on a personal level.  All it took was admitting that I make mistakes and hurt others and myself through selfishness, pride, etc.  That I am sinful and that no matter how hard I try, I will NEVER be perfect.  

I came to realize that Jesus Christ of the Bible lived over 2000 years ago, was born of a Virgin, sent by God as HIS only son to save people from eternal death and evil.  He was sent by God the Father out of true love for us. (John 3:16)  He lived a perfect sinless, life.  He was hated during His time and crucified on a cross, feeling the burden of every sin that we as men have ever committed.  

      Think of the deepest pain that you have ever felt in your life.  The time you were hurt by someone physically or emotionally.  Sin is root of all pain & suffering.  Christ bore all of yours, mine, ours, and those of the world on the cross as He suffered and died.  Three (3) days later He rose again and walked on earth appearing to thousands.  He reigns and lives today.  Through the Holy Spirit & Hid word we can know His will and plan for our lives, but accepting Him as our Lord & Savior.  All you have to do is ask Him to save you & admit your sin.


After becoming a Christian the struggle of sin has/was been apart of my life. I am now working to break totally free from the bondage that prevents me from fully knowing and glorying the God who loves me so much.  I challenge you to do the same.

What it really comes down to is trust.  Do you trust the God of the universe who is perfect in every way with your life?

He can save you. He did me.