Memories Allowed

How much time in a day do we spend on memories?  Dwelling on our memories can catapult a person into a mire of sadness and halt all forward progress we might look forward to in a day.  Sometimes focusing on certain memories can trigger a downward spiral into depression which can lead to even more problems. 

But the right kinds of memories can encourage, lift up, and increase faith.  Many times I have heard it said, "The mind is the battlefield".  I believe it.  We must choose carefully what we allow to linger in our minds. 

Scripture often tells us to remember the things God has done for us.  When I meditate on times in the past when God has clearly spoken to me, or definitely acted on my behalf, my faith is easily strengthened and actually grows.  In this way, I am responsible for the condition of my faith (even though I know that it is a gift from God).  It becomes easier to detect the whispers of doubt that come from my spiritual enemies, and reject them as lies. 

If you have Parkinson's Disease, you are limited in what you can do, and you are not as physically active as you once were.  In my case, this leads to an ever more active mind, so I must take charge of my mind and be careful not to allow the wrong kinds of thoughts in.  Proverbs 23:7 tells us about man:  "For as he thinks within himself, so he is."

Don't let your mind wander without direction.  No matter the condition of your body - no matter what you are not able to do - THIS you CAN do:  discern whether your thoughts are good or bad and allow only memories that will increase your faith and move you forward. 

The choice is yours.  Do you want to have a healthy faith?

How Is Your Faith Today?

How is your faith today?  Is it dependent upon your circumstances?  When things get bad does your faith weaken and falter?  Do you have to see to believe?  Or is your faith healthy and robust? 

As you deal with Parkinson's Disease (or whatever your problem) are you able to believe in the goodness of God?  Are you able to believe that God is sovereign when just days ago a young man went berserk in a movie theater and murdered people indiscriminantly and without mercy as he shot them?  Are you able to believe in God when you're living in a world ruled by mad men just itching to go nuclear?

I hope so.  If you are not able to trust in God and believe He is all the Bible claims Him to be, today, then how will you survive through tomorrow?  Our world is precariously perched on the edge of an abyss.  God told us ahead of time this was coming and He is warning us in many ways,that if we don't change course we could face what Joel Rosenberg refers to as "implosion". 

I don't know why we see evil that befalls the innocent, but I don't have to see to believe.  My mind is only able to understand so much, and then the rest must be taken on faith.  I believe that God is love, that He is all knowing and all powerful and present everywhere.  My mind is like a car that runs out of gas.  It can only take me so far.  Then I need gas to get me where I'm going.  The gas is faith. 

Now is not the time to doubt or to be unsure.  Make sure your faith is healthy today.

Where Angels Can't Go

"When God withdraws the light, He is trying to teach us that there is something better than light - faith." (a quote from Ronald Dunn's book called "When Heaven is Silent"

Faith is what enables us to hold onto God. It's how we please Him. Faith in Jesus Christ is what makes us righteous in the eyes of God. Faith is knowing the character of God. Faith doesn't make life easy, it defines it. According to my belief, I will live my life. When I don't have scientific proof of something that God says is true, then faith bridges that gap.

While on this earth, we humans have the opportunity to do something that angels can only gaze at with a sense of wonderment as we go about living by faith and pleasing God. They live in the presence of God and SEE Him, so there is no need for faith. You see, it's only in the darkness - when we can't see - that faith is employed. Now while we live in the darkness of this fallen earth, for such a very short while, we have many many opportunities to live out God's truth in the face of all doubt or "evidence" otherwise. One day, we will pass from faith, across the bridge of death, into sight, and there will be no more need for faith.

Adversity and affliction give us opportunity to exercise our faith. It is the belief at midnight that the Creator will bring about the dawn. Practice your faith in God while there is still opportunity.