No Masks

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

Today is Halloween, a day when people put on costumes and cover up who they really are; when they pretend to be someone, or something, they aren’t. That idea made me think about some people who put on an appearance of being a Christ follower when they really aren’t. 

You’ve probably met a few people like that. Their “Christianity” is merely…

Looking for a momentary spark to make it through the day.

Finding a spiffy quote to make them sound spiritual.

Desiring bite-size pieces of peace to make them feel better.

Wanting quick and easy solutions to make life more manageable.

Who doesn’t want things like that? But that is not Christianity. Christ followers aren’t looking for something to make them look or feel a little better about themselves, it’s about Jesus; inclining our hearts into His reality, His grace, His love, and most of all, His free gift of salvation.

A Christ follower isn’t looking for a little “God goodness” to rub off on them. They’re looking for a relationship of obedience born out of love. Trying to look the part of a Christ follower is like putting a fresh coat of paint on a piece of rotting wood. 

The New Testament refers to people like that as hypocrites. Interestingly, the Greek word for hypocrite means, to put on a mask. In Greek and Roman times, a hypocrite was an actor who put on a mask. It may have been a “happy face” to fit the part, while his life was in shambles, fraught with deep emotional pain. 

A Christ follower is real, not fake, and certainly NOT perfect. There is no such thing as a perfect Christ follower, only perfectly surrendered Christ followers! A surrendered Christ follower says, “Jesus, I’m yours. Show me; help me; forgive me; pour Your tender mercies upon me.” He does, and always will! Our imperfections are resting in His holy perfection. So, we simply keep on keeping on, moment by imperfect moment, day by imperfect day. 

Don’t settle for costumed Christianity when you can have a vital, life-changing relationship with Him.

These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn’t in it. They act like they’re worshiping me, but they don’t mean it. They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy. Matthew 15:8-9 (The MESSAGE Paraphrase)

Know the Truth

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

Know the truth; it can be deadly if you don’t! Some of you are old enough to remember the awful tragedy with Jim Jones and the People’s Temple in Guyana. The tragic events took place in November, 1978. A team that included a U.S. Representative from California, Leo Ryan, went to investigate reports that people were being held against their will. The team was ambushed and killed, and then the unthinkable began to unfold in the following days. 

Authorities discovered nearly 800 bodies that had either been shot, or had committed suicide by drinking the infamous “Guyana Grape Drink,” a cyanide-laced punch. The leader of the California-based cult, Jim Jones, was found near an altar. He died from a gunshot wound to the head. 

How could something like that happen? It almost seems unfathomable, especially when you know they reportedly taught from the Scriptures! How could anyone be so deceived? The Apostle Paul understood this when he wrote, “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons (doctrine of demons in some translations)” [1Timothy 4:1]. 

Knowing the truth of Scripture is a serious matter. One of the many benefits of knowing it is being able to reprove what is contrary to it. That’s the meaning behind Paul’s instruction to Timothy, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable … for reproof…” [2 Timothy 3:16].

You need not worry about being duped by false teachers when you are filled with the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, and guides you in all things truthful [John 16:13].

False teachers, using “doctrine of demons,” will always distort the truth of God’s word. They have to eradicate it in order to justify their lies. So, beware and be strong in the Word. Don’t believe everything that is taught in the name of Christ. Rather, try them, test them, reprove them. That’s what the Apostle John said: “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” [1 John 4:1].

Scripture is the standard by which you must measure all teaching.

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. James 1:5-8

Strength in Christ

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

If you talk to a businessman, success is financial gain; to a celebrity, fame and popularity; to an athlete, winning. That’s just how we are. We typically equate success with power, popularity, and possessions.

By that measure, you’d be hard-pressed to call the Apostle Paul successful. Whatever status he had achieved in life quickly changed when he met Christ. From that point forward, he became an itinerant preacher, often supporting himself by making tents.

Was he admired by the world? It doesn’t appear so. He was considered a troublemaker by the Jews. To others, he was simply a brash preacher spouting a new gospel. He was in and out of prison often, and it appears he was the victim of an unspecified ailment [2 Corinthians 12:7].

Was he powerful? Certainly not in his own strength and abilities. He was weak just like you and me. Speaking about himself, he wrote, “For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing” [Romans 7:19].

Thankfully, that’s not the end of the story because Paul had access to the amazing power of Christ. That’s why, when facing his human weakness, he boldly proclaimed that with Christ, he could do anything. 

Oh, by the way, that very same power is yours too, if you are a Christ follower. You, too, can do what God wants you to do — through His Son, Jesus Christ.

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

Invest While You Wait

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

Jesus was a great story-teller. He used stories to illustrate many things, including kingdom principles. One of my favorite stories is about a man who went on a journey and left his affairs to his servants. It was common in His day. We think of servants that typically do menial tasks, but in those days, servants, in some cases, were educated businessmen. Because of their skill, they could be trusted with the responsibility to watch over someone’s assets, and even conduct business on their behalf. In today’s terms, they had the ancient equivalent of a power of attorney.

The story behind the story is that Jesus is like the businessman who went away and left His servants to invest His assets. As good businessmen, we must make every effort to invest them wisely. The wise Solomon offers this advice:

Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow back to you [Ecclesiastes 11:1 - NLT].

Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both [Ecclesiastes 11:6 - NLT].

The point: Be productive with your life. Utilize your time. Take what the Lord has given to you and invest it for His glory while you wait for Him to return.

Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. Matthew 25:14-15

Spiritual Boo-Boo

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

Sin isn’t a popular subject. In fact, you seldom, if ever, hear the word anymore. If you mention it to someone, you usually get the standard, “Who are you to judge me” response. When Jesus walked the earth, He said we should take drastic measures to get rid of the sin in our lives. Listen to His teaching, “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell" [Matthew 5:29]. Whoa!

Maybe we don’t deal with sin because we don’t call it what it is. For some, sin is merely a mistake or human weakness. Others think of it as a spiritual boo-boo. The first step in ridding ourselves of sin is to recognize it for what it is, an outrage or offense to God. Don’t soften it, or you won’t deal with it in the right way.

When King David’s sin with Bathsheba was revealed, he didn’t respond with, “I made a mistake,” or “Come on, I’m only human.” Instead, he cried out to God, “I’ve sinned and done evil in your sight” [Psalm 51:4].

When Jesus taught us to take sin seriously and pluck out our eye if necessary, He wasn’t speaking literally. He used an expression that was common in His culture. The “right eye” was thought to be the strong eye, or best eye. His point was, do whatever it takes to be free from sin!

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Growing in Wisdom

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

Someone once said, “Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.”

In the Psalmist’s declaration about the Word of God, he said, “…the testimony of the Lord is sure…” The testimony, of course, is God’s witness to who He is and what He can do, and it includes what He requires of us. Sure, in this case, means, resolute, steady, unwavering, anchored, reliable and trustworthy.

Peter said the same thing, “And we have the word of the prophets made more sure, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” [2 Peter 1:19]. 

So what is the expected result when this sure testimony is in the life of a Christ follower? The Psalmist said it makes the simple wise. Think about that for a moment. It takes ordinary people — the gullible, the ignorant, the undiscerning — and teaches them to become wise, or better said, it teaches them the profound truth of the Word that they can apply to daily living.

We could certainly use godly wisdom today. Too many Christ followers have been duped or pressured into conformity to the world. Maybe because they think the “teachers” of the world are wise. Listen to the joy of the Psalmist when he said, “Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts” [Psalm 119:98-100].

It’s to your advantage to pray that God’s wisdom will increase, and yes, abound in your life daily. God’s Word imparts wisdom and knowledge beyond the realm of mere human understanding. Keep growing in wisdom

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. Psalm 19:7

The Precepts of the Lord Bring Joy

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

Have you ever thought of the precepts, laws, commandments, or statutes of the Lord as a source of joy? Well, the answer to that question reveals a lot about the priorities and direction a Christ follower is heading spiritually. 

The Psalmist knew this only too well. He wrote, “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night” [Psalm 1:1-2]. 

You see, he knew the great truth that joy and happiness comes from knowing, and keeping, God’s Word. Listen as he drives the point home, “The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart" [Psalm, 19:8].

“Precepts” (commandments, statues, laws in various translations) are divine guidelines for holy living. Since God told us to be holy, because He is holy, He gave us these precepts so we would know how to do that—how to live holy lives. 

That’s why the precepts are “right.” In other words, they are right and true. Knowing that brings confidence. While the world around you is discouraged and despondent for lack of purpose or direction, you know the right path because the precepts (God’s Word) is a lamp and light exposing the right path [Psalm 119:105].

Because the precepts of the Lord are right, they guide you through the difficulties of life, giving you meaning, purpose, and eternal significance. Your life has a high and holy purpose. Knowing you are on the right track is a source of great joy.  

The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.  Psalm 19:8; 10-11

Keep Shining

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

One might assume that people who hold a high view of Scripture would automatically submit to its authority. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. There are people who believe the Bible is inspired, inerrant, and infallible, and yet they fail to obey it. That’s why we need to be reminded from time to time that God’s Word isn’t simply a book to be affirmed, but rather the truth to be pursued.

The people of Israel are an example of that. They prided themselves in holding God’s Word high and lofty, at the same time failing to heed its statutes. The Apostle Paul picked up on that and asked the Roman Christ followers, “You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?” [Romans 2:21]

The reason for that instruction is that when we fail to obey God’s Word, it causes the world around us to think less of the God we claim to love and serve. Paul said it even more strongly, “You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written” [Romans 2:23-24].

When Israel disobeyed God, it led the Gentile nations to blaspheme God. That is comparable to our culture’s ridicule of God because of the sins of His people. I’ve often told my flock that  it hurts me to have to apologize for the sinful acts of people before I can witness to an unbeliever. 

You are the only Bible some will ever “read.” You are being watched and scrutinized daily. So the big question is: What do others learn about God from you? Does your life reflect an accurate picture of God?

Sure, Christ followers will always be reviled and maligned. It happened to Christ and it will happen to us. But please be sure that it is always for righteousness sake, and not for sin. Peter said it this way, “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of His visitation” [1 Peter 2:12].

You are a light in this world. Keep shining brightly.

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Grace NOT to Sin

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

I woke up this morning with the words of this great hymn in my heart:

Grace, grace, God’s grace,

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, grace, God’s grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin!

Lo and behold, in my “Read the Bible in a Year” devotion, (one of three I read daily), the passage was in Romans 6 where it deals with the idea of yielding to sin or to God. It reminded me of a conversation I had with a man here in our little town who asked me, “Do you believe once you’re saved you’re always saved and it doesn’t matter what you do?” I said, “Absolutely NOT! I believe once you’re saved, you’re always saved, and it matters what you do!”

This man was of the same opinion of some in Paul’s day. They believed that God’s grace gave them a license to sin. Paul would not give an inch on this issue. When he encountered the perverted view that God’s grace covered all sin so that you can live the way you want, he adamantly said, “may it never be!” — the strongest negative in the Greek language. If he would have said it in modern terms, it would have been, “NO WAY!”

To clarify his point, he said that you can’t serve two masters, you must be obedient to one or the other, but never both. He said that you’re a servant to sin, or to God, and there isn’t another option. You know who your master is by the one you yield your obedience to — no matter what you say.

God’s marvelous grace is not a license to sin, never! In fact, it’s just the opposite. Paul later wrote to his dear friend, Titus, and said that God’s grace teaches us something very important. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It instructs us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” [Titus 2:11-12].

I’m so glad that God’s grace is greater that our sin. Paul said it this way, “Where sin abounded, grace abounded the more” [Romans 5:20]. But always remember, freedom from sin does not mean freedom to sin.

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? Romans 6:15-16

Higher Ground

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

As I was listening to some political banter the other day, an opponent of a candidate said, “He is not an honorable man.” Honorable. We don’t hear that said of a person as much as in previous days. It seems we now hear mostly about how dishonorable someone is.

I opened my computer’s dictionary to find that honorable means, having or showing honesty and good moral character; being fair and proper; not deserving blame or criticism.

That sounds like a standard that all Christ followers should aspire to reach… and live daily! Honorable is a biblical word as well. Paul talked about it in his second letter to the Corinthian Christ followers. He said he wanted to do what was honorable in the sight of God and man. When we behave like that, the world gets a glimpse of the God we love and worship. 

I need to do the honorable thing here and say that sometimes, my thoughts, words, and behavior is less than honorable. How about you? It’s humbling, isn’t it? So let’s keep pursuing it. We’re starting a new week. Let’s take a second look at our reaction to the people we see around us and the situations we find ourselves in. Perhaps we’ll find, like the Apostle Paul did, that while some things are permissible, they may not be the most honorable. He wrote, “Everything is permissible for me”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”—but I will not be mastered by anything” [1 Corinthians 6:12].

When I was younger, we sang this old hymn:

I’m pressing on the upward way,

New heights I’m gaining every day;

Still praying as I’m onward bound,

“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

(1892 Higher Ground, Rev. Johnson Oatman, Jr.)

“Higher ground.” That’s where you find what is honorable.

For we are taking pains to do what is honorable, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men. 2 Corinthians 8:21 

Divine Discontent

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

Becoming a Christ follower is not the end. You are never finished, complete, or fully mature. There is always more growing to do. In a Principles of Christian Living class I took in seminary, the professor said, “You’re not done as a believer. If you pray, you can pray more. If you obey, you can obey more. If you love, you can love more.” And he was right.

For those who hunger and thirst for God, there seems to be a divine discontent. Like the Psalmist who said, “I will be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.” True, and until that time, that divine discontent keeps us hungry for Him. (For a more in-depth study on this, I highly recommend A. W. Tozer’s book, The Pursuit of God.)

In the physical realm, snacking between meals can spoil your appetite. We often eat a snack just to take the edge off our hunger. The same is true in the spiritual realm. We may be pursuing things that, in and of themselves, are quite harmless, but they take the edge off of a godly appetite.

When it comes to those “snacks,” ask yourself:

Does this make me more or less hungry for God.

Does this draw me closer or keep me away from God.

Here’s another way to see it. Is this a wing that makes me soar to God, or is it a weight that holds me down?

The ultimate goal of a Christ follower is different from that in the world. Rather than seeking power, prestige, and possessions, we seek to be more like Christ. Stay hungry, dear friends!

As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness. Psalm 17:15

Eternal and Unchanging

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

I’m teaching a class at H.C.C. University on the subject of God — as He is revealed in the Bible. Christ followers have been accused of making up a god, then worshipping their creation. It’s true that people make up gods, but when they do, you get the likes of Hercules, Poseidon, Zeus, and other capricious gods. Or you get a cosmic force. Or you get a Santa Claus, checking out who’s naughty or nice. In these cases, it reveals more about the image maker than the God of the Bible.  

The God of Scripture has revealed Himself with personhood — intelligence, emotion, and will — and from Genesis to Revelation, He displays these characteristics. But wait, there’s more!

Scripture teaches His immutability. Simply said, He doesn’t change. He remains constant. 

Scripture also teaches His eternality. Simply said, He has no beginning or ending. He is… period. One line in the song, Mary Did You Know, says, “He’s the great I AM.”

These two characteristics are among the many reasons He is worthy of our worship. He is, and He is forever the same. He’s not fickle, He doesn’t change from generation to generation. He hasn’t gotten older and weaker. He hasn’t had a lapse in judgment. He’s the same God to us as He was to Adam and Eve, Moses, Peter, and Paul. 

My goal in life is to bring glory and honor to who God is and what He can do. And although I have served Him for over 45 years, I want to know this eternal and unchanging God better. How about you!

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. Isaiah 40:28

Have Courage, Keep Believing God

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

Imagine yourself in the blackness of night being pitched back and forth in a life threatening storm. Got it? OK, now imagine someone yelling above the raucous, “Don’t lose heart. Keep up your courage because God told me everything was going to be fine. I believe He will see us through.” Are you comforted, or do you think “Is this guy out of his mind? We’re all going to die before the night is over!”

An event like that is recorded in the Bible (Acts 27). It happened to the apostle Paul. He had complete confidence in God even when the world was unraveling around him. At that moment, he declared that God was in control, that everything would turn out fine because God is faithful to His Word. He knew who was really in control of the situation.

Another incident in Scripture repeats the claim. This time, Jesus told His disciples to go into the deeper part of the Sea of Galilee to catch some fish. The knowledgable fisherman could have taught Jesus a thing or two about catching fish in Galilee. One, you don’t net fish in the daytime, and, two, you stay close to the shoreline where fish are caught in abundance. In this story, they had fished an entire night with nothing to show for it. It was Peter who said, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets” [Luke 5:5]. Low and behold, they caught a lot of fish!

Master = Commander. That’s how the word was used in nautical terms; one who controls the ship. 

Do you see it? God is in control, even in desperate times. That is a good lesson for us to learn. There is so much hoopla going around these days. The world seems to be unraveling around us. Don’t panic. Keep the faith. God is in control. He is the Master of the ship. 

Go ahead, say it, “I believe God!” Good. Now keep the faith. Be courageous. Neither ISIS, nor Hollywood, nor Washington DC, nor the Democrats, nor the Republicans, nor the White House, nor the United Nations is in control. God is!

Maybe you should say it again, ”I believe God!”

So keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will happen just as he told me. Acts 27:25

A Healthy Regard for the Word

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

One way for a Christ follower to overcome spiritual struggles and/or recurring sins is to apply biblical principles to specific situations. Maybe you didn’t know that because you haven’t matured in the Word yet. Or, sadly, you may know biblical teaching and ignore its counsel. In either case, you get the same result.

Jesus consistently used the Word and set an example for us to follow in this matter. When tempted, He repelled Satan’s attacks by quoting specific passages of Scripture that applied to the specific temptations (read about it in Matthew 4:1-11). From that account we learn that He knew the Word, believed the Word, and refused to compromise principles in the Word. That’s the pattern we should follow.

Using figurative language, John wrote about three levels of spiritual maturity: fathers, young men, and children (1 John 2:13-14).

To the new Christ followers he wrote, “I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father.” They know who their heavenly Father is and that they belong to Him. However, they aren’t yet mature in faith.

To the more mature Christ followers he wrote, “I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the Word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.” These Christ followers are vibrant and healthy because the Word abides in them - has found its home in them. I’ll say it like this, “They recognize Satan’s agenda and reject it.”

To the most mature Christ followers he wrote, “I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning.” These are the “faithful” who have a mature, vital relationship with God, developed through prolonged times in prayer and the Word. 

Where do you see yourself here: a spiritual baby, a spiritual young man, or a mature, spiritual father? Are you progressing to the next level? You will if you keep learning from the Word and applying its principles in your life. That is how to live in victory.

I have treasured Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:11

The Effective and Wholesome Word

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

I had an interesting discussion the other day with someone in our town who didn’t have the same appreciation for the Word of God that I have. It wasn’t a lengthy discussion, but it was impassioned. 

This morning as I reflected on that event, and this eDevotion, I was reminded of a class I took in Bible College on the Bible (of all things!). The professor made a statement that has stayed with me these many years. He said, “The Bible is both effective and wholesome.” I have come to believe that will all my heart.

Effective: For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth, and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth [Isaiah 55:10-11a).

For whatever reason it is given, and regardless of the response to it, God’s Word will accomplish its intended purpose. Always!

Wholesome: So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord [Deuteronomy 8:3].

God’s Word is food for the soul. It nourishes the Christ follower, causing spiritual growth. 

That’s why we read it daily; it produces confidence. That’s why we proclaim it to others; it helps them to recognize and know its Author. 

As the Apostle Paul said, “Let the Word dwell in you richly in all wisdom [Colossians 3:16.a]. God's Word is intended to bring you great joy and encouragement. It is both effective and wholesome. Enjoy it daily!

[My Word] will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

Hope in God

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

It’s time for a reality check, so here’s the question: Have you ever had a lapse of faith? I have. Several times I have gone through situations that caused me to wonder if I would ever get through them. 

One such time were the weeks of grief and depression I experienced when we lost our first Grandchild. I knew that he was in heaven. I knew I would see him again one day. But then, I still had to endure day to day life. Doubt, despair, anger seemed to be my new normal. 

On one of those very dark days, I remember quoting Scripture to myself: 

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he is dead, yet shall he live.”  

“So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

And many others like these. I know this may sound a little strange, but I began to believe what I believed. The Word of God awakened my hope in God to sustain me. 

We all experience lapses in faith. It happens. But when it does, believe your beliefs and doubt your doubts. Hope in God. It will be your strength to go on in life. 

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God. Psalm 42:11