What Do You Believe?

Believing is a central part of the Christian faith. For instance, we receive salvation when we choose to believe God exists and that He sent Jesus to die for our sins. However, this is only the beginning! God desires for us to live our lives in a constant state of believing—believing Him and everything He tells us in His Word.

I think it sometimes helps to go back and study how the disciples reacted. Like us, they were people too…people who struggled to constantly believe. Look with me at Mark 16:9-11. It says:

When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene.... She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it (NIV). 

Why didn’t the disciples believe it? Jesus had told them over and over again that He would be crucified and raised again on the third day. You see, the disciples had faith in Jesus—they knew He was the Messiah. But they didn’t believe He was going to do what He said He would do. 

I think this passage describes many Christians today. They have faith in God, but they don’t believe the promises of God—they don’t believe what He tells us in His Word. 

Is there a difference between faith and believing? In some ways there doesn’t seem to be much difference—many times, we see the words faith and believing used interchangeably. 

However, I think faith is more a force that comes out of our spirit…it’s a gift from God. But I think believing—choosing to believe mentally or to agree with God—is something that unleashes the force of faith we have in God. 

I think it’s interesting that when we are children, we have no problem believing. However, the more mature we get and the smarter we think we get, the less we are able to believe! 

Believing is a critical part of the Christian faith. Unbelief can actually cause us to miss out on the very things God has planned for us. So, what should we believe? First and foremost, God desires for us to believe Him—He wants us to know His Word and believe everything He tells us. However, today I want to share five specific things to believe that can change your life: 

1. Believe that it’s possible to do anything God commands you to do. If He tells you to forgive those who hurt you, don’t say it’s too hard. No matter how bad you’ve been hurt, you can forgive them. You can resist temptation of any kind. If God tells you to love people, then you can love all people! 

2. Believe that God can change anyone and any circumstance. Don’t look at your children or your spouse and say, “You’re never going to change.” We’d be in a mess if God gave up on people as quick as we do. Remember, God can change anyone, regardless of their past behavior or their present struggles. 

3. Believe that God can work good out of any mistake you’ve made or situation you’re in. 

I can’t even begin to tell you all the different kinds of jobs I had before I began teaching God’s Word. I’ve been a bookkeeper, a waitress, and an office manager. And some of the places were hard places to be. Looking back, I realize now that I learned in those places how to treat people. Wherever you are, just believe God if this is where I’m at, there is a purpose, and I believe that some way You will work this out for my good. 

4. Always believe the best of every person. I know this gets hard when we see the things that people do, but it’s still a choice. We always have to keep a tender heart toward God and toward His people. 

5. Believe that your time is in God’s hand. One time, Dave and I were eating at a restaurant. Dave kept talking to the waiter, and I wanted him to just hurry up so I could get home. But when we were almost to our exit, there was a horrible accident. If we had been 45 seconds faster, we could have been right in the middle of it. I wonder how many times things aren’t going the way we want it to, and God is actually saving our life. 

I think sometimes we lose our belief because we ask God for something and don’t get it. But have you ever thought that maybe God didn’t want you to have the thing you asked for because He has something better ready for you? 

Life is so wonderful when we can come to the point of simply trusting God—when we can believe He has a great plan for our lives, even when we have questions and can’t see it for ourselves. 

I encourage you to read God’s Word with a new perspective. When you see what God promises you, choose to actively believe it. Say to yourself, That’s for me! 

Because when you believe, you release your faith, which is a powerful spiritual force…and you get in agreement with God’s amazing plan for your life.