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We’ve been talking about Grace in small group, so I decided to write a little post on the subject..

What is grace? It’s not an easy thing to pin down into a sentence, but here’s my attempt (with a little help.!) Grace is the kindness by which God bestows favours, even on those who do not deserve it, and by which God grants sinners the forgiveness of their sins. Giving those who believe, the gift of eternal life (salvation) through Jesus Christ instead of the eternal punishment they rightly deserve.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  2 Corinthians 12:9

God’s Grace is presented in the bible as sufficient for each and every Christian. Enough to cover all of our sin, and enough to help us, encourage us and carry us through everything we will face in this life (despite our failures and weaknesses) and even more, grace carries us into the next life, pure, righteous and justified before our holy God because of the blood of Christ and our faith in Him (which is also a gift from God!)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

It’s by God’s grace that we can learn to walk the way he wants us to, and be forgiven when we fall. It’s grace that calls us to our salvation. (2 Cor. 12: 7-10, Gal. 1: 15). God’s amazing grace is what he uses to work out all things in our lives, because we do not deserve any blessings or gifts from God, yet he has generously poured out every spiritual blessing on us through his freely given grace, just because it pleased him to do so.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. Ephesians 1:3-6

Christians are called by grace, Man is saved by grace (Eph. 2: 5,8 ) the heart is strengthened and shown the right path by grace (Heb. 13: 9), we are justified by grace and given the status of being co-heirs with Christ (Tit. 3: 5-7).

..because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:4-5 

Through grace God can give us hope and eternal encouragement (2 Thes. 2: 16-17). Grace takes us from our sinful state and makes us better people (Cor. 15: 9-10). Grace helps us in times of need (Heb. 4: 16). We are to stand firm in grace, grow in grace, and be strong in grace (I Pet. 5:12, 2 Pet. 3: 18, 2 Tim. 2: 1).

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.  Hebrews 4:16

Although God’s common grace extends to all mankind (the air we breath, the lives we live) I believe there is a special, more personal grace for those who have received God’s saving grace, who love Him and obediently and humbly follow him. If we do not know God then we take his grace for granted, but when we know God we can accept his grace, live in the good of his grace, come before him and ask him for gifts of grace for certain situations, and also be thankful for the grace that he has already generously poured out on us.

Special grace in God’s word.. Noah “found grace (or favour) in the eyes of the Lord” (Gen. 6: 8 – NKJ) because he was one of few who were still following God – although grace is given to the undeserved, God additionally blesses those who choose to follow his ways. The humble are also said to be favoured with grace, unlike the proud (Prov. 3: 34, 1 Pet. 5: 5). Jesus and Paul are expressly said to have experienced God’s grace upon them/working through them because God had special purposes for their lives (Lk. 2: 40, I Cor. 15: 10). God’s grace is also given to all who “love the Lord” (Eph. 6: 24).

God chose to love us, call us, adopt us, forgive us, save us, justify us, make us righteous, pour out his blessings on us, give us eternal encouragement, strengthen us, help us in times of need and bestow his favour upon us… not because we deserve any of this, just because of his grace.

What is our response? Our hearts should be overwhelmed with gratitude and love for our Father in heaven, who despite all our sin and rebellion, holds us in his arms and tells us that no matter what, he will always love us with an unfailing love.

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD. Isaiah 54:10

 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. Psalm 107:8

And the amazing thing is, this is just a tiny glimpse of the vastness of God’s grace! We cannot fully comprehend the extent of God’s grace in our lives, and the cost of our salvation, but thanks to God’s grace we can spend the rest of eternity with Jesus learning more about it!

What a faithful God have I.

²⁷ Why do you say, O Jacob,
and complain, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the LORD;
my cause is disregarded by my God”?

²⁸ Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

Isaiah 40:27-29

I know I have used this passage before, but I was reading it again today and I think I needed to be reminded of it, and I’m sure others may too. Verses 30 & 31 are the more famous verses of this passage, but I decided to leave them out (you can go and read them yourself if you wish!)

v27: Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God”?

We can sometimes feel and then speak out to others things like “Why is God letting this happen” or “Why hasn’t God done anything.” We start to allow ourselves to think that we have been left to fend for ourselves and that God’s either not listening or he doesn’t care! We need to be so careful because anyone who reads the bible for themselves should know that this is not true! And to speak it out is telling God he’s unfaithful when God is the only faithful One! God promises to always be with us and never leave us. (1)

v28: Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

I like this! Of course we know, of course we’ve heard, yet sometimes we act like we don’t know (which is why I think this is written how it is!)  We can slip back into our old ways of thinking, we can forget who God is, and that nothing is impossible for him! We need reminding that he’s not like us, he’s eternal and nothing brings him down or makes him weary!! He also does things differently from us and thinks differently from us.. We may want him to remove a situation, he may want us to learn from it first! We can try to second guess God but unless he reveals to us his plans, we will never know! We must just trust that He is  Good (because we know He is!) and that He will turn things for good for those who love Him (because we know He will!) (2)

v29: He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Notice what isn‘t said in this verse. It isn’t said that God will take away our problems. It isn’t said that he will remove the circumstances we are going through (God’s ways are not our ways!). Yet he does promise to restore our strength when we are weary, and give us power when we are weak. He’ll give us everything we need to overcome whatever we are going through and to persevere in tough times! Why dosen’t God just take away the hard stuff? Because it’s through the hard times that we grow more like Jesus, that we develop our character and that we exercise our faith… but that’s a whole other bible study!

If you feel weak or weary today, first thank God that he’s right there with you and then ask him to come and strengthen you and give you the power to overcome.

Trouble & Trials our view vs God’s view

Our View

1. God is punishing me
2. God mustn’t be good after all, he’s not blessed me like he promised.
3. I didn’t sign up for all this suffering, wasn’t being a Christian supposed to make life easier?
4. Where is God when I’m going through this?

God’s View

1. Trials are not a punishment – they are a faith, character & hope building exercise! God tells us we should receive trials and even suffering with Joy..

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:6-7

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4

(Note, however, that God does discipline those he loves. Hebrews 12:5-7)

2. God has already blessed us with every Spiritual Blessing in Christ. He also promises to turn all things round for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

3. Jesus clearly told us that, in following him, we would face trouble, trials and suffering. Our faith is not about a nice ticket to heaven and an easy ride. Jesus said us we must deny ourselves and lay down our own lives (“take up your cross”) in order to follow him, just as he did for us.

And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. Luke 9:22-24

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.  John 16:33b

4. God has promised to always be with us in the trials, but not to take them away! We need to remember that Jesus has all authority and He is with us always! In our weakness – God is strong!

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  Isaiah 43:2

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.“ Matthew 28:18-20

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10

God’s word is truth. We need to ask God to help us align our views/feelings with the word of God so that we can live lives of freedom and truth. Lives that are pleasing to God and that give him all the glory!

“If you squeeze a lemon you should get lemon juice, if you squeeze an orange you should get orange juice. If you squeeze a Christian, you should get Christ”

Isaiah 40:25-31

25 "To whom will you compare me?
Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.

26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one,
and calls them each by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing.

27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
and complain, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the LORD;
my cause is disregarded by my God"?

28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

Putting God in a box is something we all do well! God according to our own point of view, God according our own limited experience, God according to our way of thinking. Yet God is God! He’s so much greater that we could ever imagine! We cannot compare him to anyone or anything on this earth. All things are created by God. How then can we attempt to compare God to anything we know? (v25)

We just have to look up at night and see the stars, knowing that God made each one and calls each one by name! This makes us realise how very very small we are and how very very big God is! (v26)

Yet we seem to think sometimes that God’s sole purpose is to make us happy. To answer every prayer, to take away our grumpiness, and that this “Christianity thing” is all about us and what it means for us. When we think like this we totally miss the point. Yes Jesus died for us – for our sins – so that we may be given the gift of eternal life, but he did this because he wanted to display his amazing love, to bring glory to God and to show how perfect he is (and how in need of a saviour we are!!) It’s all about God – so that we may give him the Praise and Glory he deserves! There’s nothing wrong with knowing the truth that God, the creator of the universe, loves you and me personally and wants to be in relationship with us, but we should never lose sight of what an awesome, eternal, powerful God we serve and the fear (respect) of God that this knowledge should bring us.

I have bad times and sometimes I ask God “why is this happening?” just like v27 where God’s people complain and say that God has disregarded them. But what I (we) need to realise is this…now brace yourself as this may come as a shock!… the world does not revolve around us!! God’s way are not our ways(1) He has a bigger purpose and a bigger plan than we could ever imagine! “His understanding no-one could fathom” – we’re not supposed to understand everything! Yet we spend so much time and energy trying to fathom God – wondering “why is God doing this?” Instead of simply trusting him because he is God! We should know that he has a plan for us (2) and that He is good (3) and He is faithful(4) and He is just (5) and He is loving(6). Therefore no matter what circumstances we are going through or however we feel about things, “God is the everlasting God” (v28) and it’s His Will that we should be honouring,(7) and it’s our faith that we should be exercising(8), rather than using all our energy trying to work out why!(9)

Our view of God effects how we live our lives. If our view is too small or if we do not trust his word, or believe him to be the faithful and just God he says he is, then this effects how easily we are shaken by the circumstances that we face and how “up and down” our relationship with God is. As we get a truer view of God, through his Word and through trusting what His word says, our view of our lives and circumstances also changes. We will slowly stop looking at our selves, and start looking up to our Creator. We will be at peace with not understanding everything, because we know that God is God, yet he loves each one of us and promises to be with us!(10)

How great is God—beyond our understanding! Job 36:26

1) Isaiah 55:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.

2) Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

3) Mark 10:18 "No one is good—except God alone.

4) Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands

5) Psalm 33:4-6 For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love

6) Psalm 145:13: The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made / John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. / Psalm 136:2: Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever.

7) Just like Jesus prayed : “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." Luke 22:42

James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

9) Ecclesiastes 8:17 then I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it.

10) Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save.

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning [to Me] and resting [in Me] you shall be saved; in quietness and in [trusting] confidence shall be your strength. Isaiah 30:15 (Amplified Bible)

This verse just jumped up and hit me. Okay, not literally, although if a verse could really do that, then this one would have !!!

Since becoming a Christian do you believe your walk has consisted of returning & resting in God, and your strength based on quietness and confidence in Him? Well I’m the first to admit that my walk has not been like that!

I don’t know about you but usually I feel more like I’m running and working in nosiness and worry. Why? Where have I missed the quiet resting place that God has for me? Usually I am just too busy rushing ahead of God rather than returning to him for rest.  I am too busy talking instead of taking the time to listen to that still small voice, I am too busy worrying instead of trusting God with it all, and putting my confidence in Him.

Sometimes (Okay a lot of the time…!) I need reminding that God can do perfectly well on his own. He includes me in his plan not because he needs me, but because he wants to share things with me and help me grow. He doesn’t need me at all. He doesn’t need me to be busy busy busy about His business. He’s got it all under control.

That’s why today he’s saying “return to me” Lindsay, don’t run on ahead. “rest in me” Lindsay, you don’t need to rush around all the time. He’s saying “hush…” quieten down your worries and all those thoughts in your head, put them to one side for a while and trust in me.  “Trust in me” he whispers again, and I will strengthen you. Then those worries will seem so small, because I am so big! Bigger than any concerns you may have, bigger than any jobs you have to do.  “Return and rest in me.”

Could God be saying the same to you today?

I think it’s time to step out of the whirlwind of life once again and to turn back to our father God..
And to rest.
And to trust.

In doing this we will be saved from thinking that the world revolves around us.
Saved from being sucked into “doing” rather than “being.”
Saved from being worn out and weary
Saved from losing sight of God in the busyness before us.

Thank you Lord that your ways are not our ways! Help us Lord to listen to your still small voice and to rest in you and return to you before doing anything else. Help us to follow your ways, instead of making up our own. Amen!

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

Here is a summary of my reflection for today, if you don’t have time to read anything else just read these 3 lines:

God’s love is perfect.

Perfect love drives out fear.

Therefore we can live our lives, in Christ, without fear.

That’s it, you can stop reading now if you like J

Ah, you’re still with me J OK let me expand a little then..

We should have no fear of death, no fear of life, no fear of the future, no fear of sickness, no fear of other people or their opinions, no fear of the evil one …or even of God’s wrath, if we believe we are saved in Christ Jesus as a result of God’s love. On the cross Jesus paid the price for our rebellion against him, because of his love for us, so we no longer need to be afraid if we are in Christ Jesus:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

John 3:16-17

Jesus was sent by God as our salvation, he wasn’t out to condemn (or punish) us, but to love us, so that we may walk in freedom and forgiveness… and without fear !

Romans 8:38-39 says “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

So, if nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s perfect love, why then should we fear anything in all creation? God’s love drives out all our fears as we choose to trust in Him and learn to know him as our mighty God and our faithful and loving father.

I know often people have bad examples of father figures growing up, so saying that God is our father doesn’t necessarily bring to mind the feeling of safety, acceptance, security and unconditional love that every little child should feel when in the strong arms of their Dad. Yet we must realise that God’s love is perfect, a true heavenly father’s love. God won’t ever let us down. We can always feel safe, accepted, secure and truly loved by Him. When we are secure in His love, whatever situation/circumstance comes our way, we should have no fear because we know God is with us.

Isaiah 41:10 puts it so well:

“So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

And however “grown up” we get, his arms are always big enough to carry us through the hard times, and he’s always there to walk beside us through the good times.

Praise God for his Perfect Love in Christ Jesus !

Read through Psalm 77 below.

The psalm starts with the psalmist looking at himself, and the situations he is in, he’s dwelling on his negative feelings and blaming God for not working to his plan in his timing (sound familiar?) He says things like “will the Lord reject forever?” – He feels like he’s been abandoned.  What do you think? Do you think God has rejected him?

Perhaps he hasn’t had the expected answers to his call for help, or God hasn’t fixed things quickly enough for him? Perhaps God’s plan is different to his own plan and so he can’t see that God is working through the circumstances he’s going through?

What I really like about this psalm (and so many others) is that it turns around with the psalmist’s putting his focus back on God and the amazing things he has done for his people! This is what we should do in those times of trouble when our feelings tempt us to blame God for our struggles. As we start to speak of the things God has done and the truth that He is Mighty and Great and Holy, then we soon stop dwelling on our current circumstances and realise that God is so much bigger and more powerful than anything we could be facing. Our faith grows and we are reassured that God IS a Faithful God, and does hear our cry for help, even when sometimes our feelings try to tell us differently.

We must remember that God is an awesome God and he has a bigger plan and purpose than we can ever see or imagine. He created the earth and the sea and everything on it and in it. He created all the stars and knows them by name. If he chose to he could decide not bother with us at all, but in his love, even though we are often so full of sin and disobedience, God still wants to be in relationship with us through Jesus.  He chooses for us to be part of His amazing Story.

We sometimes need to take a “time out” to remember that God doesn’t do things the way we do (Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD) and to remind ourselves of Who God really is and what he’s done throughout the generations for his people, and even in each one of our individual lives!

It is His-story after all not ours!

Psalm 77

¹ I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.

² When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands
and my soul refused to be comforted.

³ I remembered you, O God, and I groaned;
I mused, and my spirit grew faint.
Selah

⁴ You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.

⁵ I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago;

⁶ I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart mused and my spirit inquired:

⁷ “Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?

⁸ Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?

⁹ Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”
Selah

¹⁰ Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
the years of the right hand of the Most High.”

¹¹ I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

¹² I will meditate on all your works
and consider all your mighty deeds.

¹³ Your ways, O God, are holy.
What god is so great as our God?

¹⁴ You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.

¹⁵ With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
Selah

¹⁶ The waters saw you, O God,
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.

¹⁷ The clouds poured down water,
the skies resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth.

¹⁸ Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.

¹⁹ Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.

²⁰ You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Exodus 33: 13-14
If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you [...]”
The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

What a humble prayer Moses prayed. None of this “God I want this and God please fix that…” No, Moses’ prayer was “teach me your ways so that I may know you “ - the kind of prayer that pleases God the most.

Moses had Been in God’s presence and he knew that Being with God was the best of all rewards. He wanted to know God, so that he could please him & continue in that close relationship with him! God’s reply was would Be with Him and that he would give Moses rest. Rest in God’s Presence.

Sometimes I feel like if I’m not working flat out for God, then I’m not Doing enough, like I have to Do everything in order to serve God with all my heart, otherwise I’m being lazy/half-hearted. But actually what God wants more from me is my desire to Be with him, to seek his Presence and to get to know him. When I know God and have his Presence with me, I can rest in Him and know who I am in Christ. Otherwise I end up thinking that who I am is defined by what I Do, or that I can get in his good books by Doing stuff!

I think that when we spend time getting to know God, we won’t end up with an impossible ever increasing to-Do list (and subsequently less time with which to Be with Him). If we Do then perhaps we are not listening clearly to what God’s asking from us. Actually, he wants us to spend time Being with him and getting to know him more than anything else we could be Doing. As we seek him we realise His priorities are different to ours, and we learn what the important things are from His perspective and can focus on them. Yes God wants us to serve him, but in His strength and in His way. We can only Do this, if God’s Presence is with us and we don’t go off Doing our own thing, in our own way! And with God’s Presence with us, we will also find rest.

I personally need to learn how to seek God and Be in his Presence more. God’s wanting my heart more than my actions and I guess somehow I just need realise this and to Be more like Moses. Then I won’t get involved in all the “good” stuff that I shouldn’t be Doing, but in the “God” stuff that I should be Doing. Then I will have enough time to continue Being with God and getting to know Him, having rest whilst still Doing the things he’s asked of me!

So let’s ask God to teach us his ways so that we may know him and continue in his favour. Lets ask God for His Presence to Be with us, whatever we are Doing (if he’s not with us, there’s just no point in Doing it at all – as Moses states in v15) Let us find rest in His amazing Presence, knowing we cannot Do anything to please God, as it was what Jesus did on the cross that made us perfect in God’s eyes. Our “good deeds” being filty rags in comparison (see Isaiah 64:6 ). When our motivations our in the right place (seeking God, knowing God, Being with God) then God’s Presence will Be with us and His rest will follow.

Praise God for the gift of his Presence and the promise that he will Be with us and go with us when we seek Him first before Doing anything!

Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 (AMP)

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24

OK so this is a hard topic! I’m going to approach it on a very simple level and hope that I don’t upset anyone in the process. Please have lots of grace when you read my thoughts on this! This all started on Sunday morning with a conversation about healing and how we (as Christians) can totally believe God for our salvation, but can struggle to believe God for our healing.

My simplistic view is that God created the world and he created it perfect, therefore his plan was for us all to be in full health. Sin came into the world through us disobeying God… enter sickness and disease etc as part of the fallen world.

Enter Jesus. He came as a man and died for us to so that “whoever believes in him” shall not perish, but have eternal life.1) In Isaiah 53 the prophet wrote about the Messiah who was to come & take our sins, Isaiah says that Jesus “took up our infirmities” 2) and that “by his wounds we are healed” 3)

So if our sickness was also nailed to the cross, along with our sins, why do we not regularly see healing today like we saw in Jesus’ time? Jesus told us that anyone who had faith in Him will do “greater things” than he did 4) …and he did A LOT of healing!

I think maybe some of it has to do with our understanding, and thus our authority over sickness. We know in our hearts that by Jesus’ blood we have been saved. This word “saved” to most of us means that we have been forgiven our sins, washed clean, and are now able to approach God through Jesus’ righteousness. That when we die our sins won’t be counted against us, so we no longer have to face death, but are able to have eternal life in heaven. “Saved” to us relates to being forgiven of our sins, yet the Greek word “Sozo” means even more than this! It means being saved from our sins, plus things like “rescued” “delivered” “kept safe” “preserved” “healed.” It implies completeness, being made well in the full sense, not just our souls, our whole self.

So if we believe Jesus died for us and have accepted Him as Lord over our lives, then we will receive “Sozo” – forgiveness from our sins as well as complete wholeness in Christ. He didn’t do half a job on the cross, his death & resurrection changed everything. As it says in Isaiah 53 “He took up our infirmities, and carried our sorrows…. he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

You can be saved on a certain day when you gave your life to Christ, but wholeness is a process and something we have to receive everyday. Like when we go back to Jesus to say sorry again for the things we have done, we have to keep going back to Jesus to receive physical and emotional healing, we live in a fallen world and so we have to hold on to the promises of God and keep seeking him for the things he has promised us. Jesus is alive and with God right now, interceding for us so that we can be saved to the “uttermost.” 5) Jesus’ death on the cross has won the war, but whilst we are on the earth we are still fighting a battle against sin, sickness and the lies of the enemy (with Jesus’ help of course!)

I think what I am saying is that it’s not just “if I try hard enough to believe then God will heal me” The verse in Mark 11 could make us feel that it’s our fault and we just don’t believe enough. But perhaps it’s about a deeper knowledge and understanding of God’s word, which will then enable us to believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth). This thorough understanding of God’s word will help us claim what is rightfully ours, rather than ignoring our questions/doubts and “trying harder” to believe. If we knew that we were praying God’s will, and for things we have a right to through the blood of Jesus, then we would believe all the more that He will give us what we ask for. We beat ourselves up about our lack of faith, but I think it’s our lack of knowledge we should be more concerned about.

1) John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life

2) Isaiah 53:4 Surely he took up our infirmities, and carried our sorrows,

3) Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

4) John 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

5) Hebrews 7:25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Isaiah 41:10 (The Message)

I’ve picked you. I haven’t dropped you. (v9)

Don’t panic. I’m with you.

There’s no need to fear for I’m your God.

I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you.

I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.

I love the Message translation of this verse in Isaiah, but do look up the verse in the NIV or whatever other translation you use, as this is just to give you the sense of what it being said, and isn’t a word-for-word translation. You can do this on www.biblegateway.com By the way, the “picked/chosen” bit is at the end of verse 9, if you are looking it up in other translations.

I love the way that the message words this verse, it’s like when you’re having a panic and you look around you and you feel like you’ve been dropped in it and you just don’t know how you are going to cope – this is the advice that God would give us.. “Don’t panic. I’m with you”

I can so imagine, when I start to panic and worry and take things on my own shoulders, God telling me “Lindsay, calm down, take a deep breath….it’s all going to be ok, I’m right here with you” And you know what? It’s true! He always carries me through!

The other line I really like is “I’ve picked you. I haven’t dropped you” Just think about that for a minute or two..

God

picked

me

Now I don’t think we can fully understand why and how we’ve been “picked” or “chosen” but the bible tells us we have and I believe the bible*! So, God says he has chosen us, he loves us and he’s not going to drop us. You have been picked out by God as someone who can bring him glory, someone who he looks at and says “she’s one of mine” or “he’s one of mine.” You’re a child of God, and by being so, God promises that he’s with you always and that you have nothing to fear because he’s your God. He says he will give you strength, he will help you, he’ll hold you steady and keep a firm grip on you to stop you falling.

What a wonderful God we have!

So when you feel out of your depth, when you face circumstances that threaten to shake you and make you fall, remember this verse. There’s no need to fear because God is with you, not only that, he picked you and hasn’t dropped you. He promises to help you, to give you strength and to hold you steady. God’s got a firm grip on you so no-one else will be able to take you from his hands or make you fall. You are safe, you are secure, you are loved by your father in heaven.

Read it again..

I’ve picked you. I haven’t dropped you.

Don’t panic. I’m with you.

There’s no need to fear for I’m your God.

I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you.

I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.

(Isaiah 41:10)

Isn’t it great to be a child of God!! Thank God for the promises he has given us in this verse and ask him to help you to remember this verse for the times when you need it! May he give you that peace of knowing that he’s with you in all situations and that he has promised to help you and support you as you go through them.

* You can also check out Ephesians 1:11, Colossians 3:12, Romans 8:33, 1 Thessalonians 1:4, 1 Peter 1:2, Luke 18:7 for more references about being “chosen” by God.