We often think of “disadvantaged” as being born poor, being homeless, working under a “glass ceiling,” or being treated differently based on origin or skin color. This photo of me as a child washing dishes in our outdoor kitchen suggests that we were poor and at a disadvantage. We were. But living in poverty was NEVER my greatest disadvantage in life. There is a FAR greater disadvantage that we ALL possess whether we’re—rich, poor, black, white, man, or woman! Do you know what it is? Well, let me give you a hint—when we are born again we are empowered to change it but if we are still lost in our sin—we are not.
So what is this great disadvantage that born again believers are empowered to change???
Well, do you know WHAT kept the disciples from healing the epileptic boy in Matthew 17:14-20? Do you know WHAT Hebrews 3:16-19 says placed the Israelites on a 40 year delay from entering the promised land? Do you know WHAT caused God to remove the lamp stand from Israel and give it to the church according to Romans 11:20? It’s summed up in one word:
UNBELIEF.
My friend, the best blessings and opportunities God has for us will NEVER become ours if we build a wall of unbelief. But it’s not believing in ourselves, our money, our power, our friends, or our family—absolutely not!
It is believing in God.
And keep in mind—we don’t necessarily have greater belief because we have seen great miracles. The disciples lived with Jesus for three years and saw Him do great miracles, yet they struggled with unbelief. The Israelites watched water flow out of a rock, walked through the Red Sea divided, witnessed the Egyptian army swallowed up, experienced the horror and the wonder of the 10 plagues, and were fed with manna from heaven; yet they struggled with unbelief. And…
…the Bible warns us of the extreme danger and evil of living in unbelief.
“Take care, brothers, less there be in any of you an EVIL, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.”
(Hebrews 3:12)
The greatest miracle we ever experience is when we’re born again. Our soul and spirit are made alive in Christ. But then, to grow our belief, we must grow in our relationship with Christ. We must experience God’s love. When we grow to know His remarkable love and the power and wisdom of His presence, the wall of unbelief is slowly torn down and what we experience on the other side of unbelief is mind-blowing!
Just as belief in another human grows when we spend time with them and develop a history of trust, we must also spend time with God. It works a complete heart transformation. Unbelief in people happens when they fail us, but God never fails. The greatest problem is—we don’t know Him well enough to know how trustworthy He is, so when bad things happen—we blame Him.
We may never admit we blame Him, but when we stop believing in Him—it’s proof we are doing just that.
That wall of unbelief closes us off from what we need most—God’s presence—especially in the hard times! Unbelief in God is a destructive cycle and the only way to reverse it is by doing the hard work to build the relationship. It begins in our mind. It begins with what we love the most. We must feed our heart and mind in such a way to build our relationship with God. We must read and study God’s Word, fellowship with Him and other believers, worship Him, talk with Him, listen to Him and be determined and dedicated to stick with it. HE is already faithful, but WE must constantly work at it.
Remember, whatever we feed the most, grows the most!
God’s Word teaches us:
“My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
(Proverbs 3:1-6)
God has a remarkable plan for our life. To know it, we must know Him more than we know anything at all. God has seen our past, is calling us from the future, and is walking with us in the present. Simply Amazing!
“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. ‘Now therefore, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name.'”
1 Chronicles 29:11-13 NKJV
On the path God has planned for us, there is no obstacle that can overcome Him.
God is able. He is more than able. When we believe His promises, we absolutely can trust Him to direct our path. I needed this reminder today. Thank you, Almighty Father!
We would love to hear your thoughts about this devotional. Did God speak to you or challenge your daily walk with him? Or is there a topic that you would like Kimberly to cover or expound on? Please share with us in the comments below.
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One Response
Thank you. So do I.