"I Believe In God."

A profound statement when you think about it. The word believe means to have confidence in

the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something. I read that definition and I ask myself;

Manuel, today... March 21st, 2009, do you believe in God? Do you BELIEVE in God? Are you

confident in the truth, existence, and reliability of God? Such a simple question astoundingly

provokes further thought. This is the way I see it...

The question is not whether we think God is real, but whether or not we assume such cliche as a sufficient source of relationship with a living God. We believe but we don't trust. We pray but we don't act. We have faith but even more doubt. We have a calling but more fear. If we claim to "believe in God" and yet these thoughts and attitudes ensnare our lives when do we stop and assess what we truly believe?

To believe in God's ability is to have little faith in our own. Yes, God has crafted us to be unique and talented individuals each bearing the capability to act and think on our own, but as created beings we cannot exceed the capacities of the creator. We will fail, He cannot. We are confused, He sees beginning and end. We are persecuted, He overcame the world. Our only hope is to truly believe Him with our everything. Confessing with our hearts and training our minds to BELIEVE that His word is truth, that He is real, and that He is reliable, that He will neither leave us nor forsake us. When we can come to that understanding is when we can approach the throne of grace knowing full well that we are nothing, but that He chooses to call us something. It is then when we can truly believe in Him.

God, help me to believe in you. Everyday train me to put my undivided trust and faith in who you are; A good, sovereign, all-sufficient, all-powerful, forever loving God. Forgive me when I take control, and teach me to have faith in your provision to mend my hopes, fears, doubts, and struggles. You are enough for me, may live each day proclaiming that. Amen