When we do not know if we can believe, if something is in our way, we have an obstacle that keeps us from believing. We have all had one or two, maybe even dozens that we have not recognized. When nothing is going on with us and God, and we are hesitant, we probably have an obstacle in front of our faith and God is waiting for us to rely on Him to help us overcome this obstacle. When we have an obstacle, we need to overcome it in order to believe.
The first step is recognize Jesus Christ. If we do not truly know who Jesus Christ is, we will not know where to go. If we are looking for Jesus as shrines and on mountains, we probably won't find Him. We have to seek Him and try to understand who He is. We cannot expect Him to adopt our time schedule. We must be humble and seek Him. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God says, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." If you want to find Jesus, follow those steps: truly humble yourselves, pray to the one and only God, and seek Him through His word and through prayer, and turn away from your sins in true repentance. This is not a formula. It's all in the heart. If you don't truly mean it, God knows your heart.
The second step is recognizing your unbelief. If you are doubting or not putting faith in God, one of three things have happened: you have lost belief in Jesus as the Messiah, you have lost belief in God's promises, or you have lost belief in the testimony of others. If you have lost belief in Jesus as the Messiah, you do not believe that He is who He says He is. You do not believe that He is the true living God and that He is all that He says He is. If you have lost belief in God's promises, you do not believe that God is working for your God or that His word is true. You have lost faith in His credibility. If you have lost belief in the testimony of others, you do not believe in the redemptive power of God. You do not believe God can save. Once you truly recognize that you are the one doubting God, then you can be humble enough to move on.
The third step is to know and believe the scripture. God will overcome all obstacles if you let Him. How do you know what He wants you to do or not do if you are not hearing Him, and how do you expect to hear from Him without reading His word? His word is His message to us. We must dive into the scripture and begin to trust more in God than in ourselves. You have to put faith in God to pull through on your behalf.
The fourth and final step to overcoming obstacles in order to believe is to be in the presence of God and to have Him open the scriptures to you. Allow God to take control. Just let your heart worship Him and praise Him, no matter what storms may be up against you. While I am in a storm, I love to sing the song, "Praise Him in Advance," because it reminds me that God is still with me and that I will praise Him the whole way through it. Yes, obstacles will come from life, but we have to trust God to do what is good for us. God never said that it would be easy, but He said that it would be worth it. We just have to let go of our problems and trust in God to be greater than us. If we are not letting go and letting God, how do we expect Him to work on our behalf? God is never going to leave you, so we must stay in His presence and let His word sink into our heart so we can carry it with us. This is how we overcome obstacles and believe again.
-D
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