#helpmyunbelief

[themonthswillpass]

"In our past life we have proved Him to be true and faithful to His word, and with so many instances of His love and of His kindness as we have received, and are daily receiving, at His hands, it is base and inexcusable that we suffer a doubt to sojourn within our heart. May we henceforth wage constant war against doubts of our God-enemies to our peace and to His honour; and with an unstaggering faith believe that what He has promised He will also perform."

- Charles Spurgeon

[reconciledtoyou]

#FabulousFriday #SpiritualTrifecta Mass. Followed Confession. Then back now for this. #Adoration #JustWhatINeeded Spiritual Booster #JesusITrustinYou #helpmyunbelief

[mericha]

#helpmyunbelief

[hanmingee]

When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?"

John 5:6 

“Do you want to be healed?”  For the invalid man at the pool of Bethesda, the answer may seem a bit obvious, making Jesus’ question seem a bit... unnecessary? He’s been invalid for 38 years. He’s been regarded as cursed by God for the majority of His life. Does he want to be healed? Just three letters will suffice to answer this question:

Duh.

But underlying this obvious question and its’ seemingly instinctive and obvious answer lies many weighty implications. Being healed means a change in status for this man. It means readjusting to a society that has shunned him for so long. It means returning to an estranged family. It means a complete paradigm shift in lifestyle and function. It means more work, more worry, & more responsibility. 

What about us? What are the areas of our lives where the cross of Christ is inescapably shouting to our weary hearts this very question: “Do you want to be healed?” 

How eager are we to respond:

Duh. 

But being healed means a change in status for us. It means forgiving people who have wounded us deeply. It means loving the unlovable. It means extending grace to those who do not deserve it. It means sacrificial living. It means covenant-loyalty to our covenant-King. It means carrying our cross.

This question is intentionally loaded. The maker of every heart just so happens to be the best heart surgeon in the business. 5 stars on Yelp. So beware how you answer it. But let’s be honest. The truth is that in our selfishness, we prefer being comfortable over being cured. Sometimes, it’s just simpler and easier being an invalid. 

So what will swoon this selfish heart? What will make the payout greater than the price to pay? What will melt our hearts to willingly and joyfully accept the price of our healing?

The price of our healing. We will only joyfully submit to the cost of being healed when we deeply understand what it cost to heal us. 

So what did it cost Jesus to heal us?

Healing us meant the ultimate change in status - that Jesus did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant. It meant forgiving the very people who would wound Him, by bearing their wounds. It meant loving the unlovable and taking on their ugliness to make them lovely. It meant embodying and becoming the extended Grace of God to those who did not deserve it. It meant sacrificing His life. It meant covenant-loyalty to covenant-breakers. It meant carrying the cross, in our place. 

“Do you want to be healed?”

[hanmingee]

To be a Christian you don’t have to know a lot. You just have to be reminded a lot of what you know.

John Piper

[stayanchoredinchrist]

Doubt creeps in; that's how Satan loves to work. He will do anything to convince you that you, or God's grace, is not enough. But that is as far from the truth as can be! God's grace is enough to get you through anything. And when doubt creeps in, just cry out, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief."

[becomingbetterbonner]

Also, their feelings will be dominated by the rich array of positive feelings that naturally accompany love, joy, and peace, along with their foundational conditions of faith and hope.

Willard

[curiouscreature-blog]

Because of You...

I know I am loved. I can stand still on solid ground. I don’t feel like I’m drowning anymore. I don’t need to change myself to please others, to show off who I am or who I can be. I can be wild and free. I can shout and I can be silly. I can feel complete and whole anchored in You. In all of my seasons of life. 

I can love more deeply. I can love more securely. Your love is so true and so steadfast. May I continue to drink deeply of who You are, my amazing God.

So here’s my heart Lord, speak what is true.