Can You Hear Me Now?

What are the messages you play over and over in your heart and mind? Your life will reflect the voices you are listening to and the messages you are believing and rehearsing.

If you feel condemned, inadequate, or judged, perhaps you are hearing that God is disappointed with you or that He is a God ready to condemn, a rule keeper—expecting more of you than you can give.

If you live in bitterness or anger, you are listening to voices that say life is unfair to you and God has not heard your prayers. Or perhaps you believe that no one really loves you and He is not really good.

On the other hand, if you are living with a real sense of His love and goodness, perhaps you are listening to messages that say, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1, NIV). Or perhaps this one: “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him” (Psalm 103:13, NIV).

Maybe you are living in hope and peace of mind, and the message in your heart is, “We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28, NASB). Or it could be, “I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day” (2 Timothy 1:12, NASB).

You are what you believe, and your actions show those beliefs to the world.

His Promises

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body

and knit me together in my mother’s womb.

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!

Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.