Are You Convinced?

Are You Convinced?

We have a grandson who is a little hard headed. Once he has convinced himself about something, there’s really not anything any of us can do to change his mind. One day at lunch he “told” me that I was not going back to work. Of course I had to, so I patted his little head and told him I was so sorry. He replied with “Well, you are not going to work.” Finally as I went out the door to my car, he shrugged his shoulders and said “hmph”. He was absolutely convinced that if he said it, it was so. He’s that way about meals and activities and circumstances of the day. Once he’s got his mind made up nothing or no one is able to change it. Sometimes he will suffer because he is convinced and won’t change his mind.

I’m reminded this morning about the word convinced. The dictionary describes the condition as to bring (as by argument) to belief, consent, or a course of action. To believe beyond the shadow of a doubt that something is true. Synonyms are bring around, persuaded, influenced, committed, won over, converted. 

Things have gotten shifty haven’t they? Seems like everyone is doing their own thing. It looks like you’ve been hurt by callous disregard to Truth. You trusted and found people, places and things to be so unreliable. You asked for help and yet you have found yourself totally alone and thoroughly helpless. You may have confided in someone who should have been trustworthy but they didn’t keep your confidence. You may have pledged friendship, love, fidelity and honor only to find no one to stand with you. You made a pledge and it was disregarded as so much trash. You are walking in things that are yucky, mucky and messy. And it is so very hard. 

God speaks to my heart: I love you so much that I want you to be convinced about Me. Convinced of my love, convinced about my redemption, convinced about My everlasting care. I don’t want a shadow of a doubt to permeate your life, because conviction is what will hold you tight to Me when everything else is going wrong, when people are straying from My truth and when you feel the hurts and anguish of desolation, abandonment, rejection and more. Study what I say in My Word and take it in. Your life depends on it. In Me, by being convinced that I AM that I AM, you will be able to stand strong, stay committed, and consent to My will. The simplicity of the Gospel leads to such a depth of life in Christ that you must be convinced that My Word is Truth and My Nature is Unchangeable. 

Oh beloved, you can be assured this day that God is True. Convince yourself of this fact and everything else will fall into place. His nature is Fact. His plans are Successful. His ways are Loving, Kind, Generous, Merciful and Perfect. Once you are convinced of God’s nature, you will always be able to trust Him regardless of what else happens. Don’t sit in the dust and cry over anything that you have lost, for surely the Lord Himself will give you His best as you learn to rely totally on Him. He doesn’t just want to be first He wants to be your only. Relationships will blossom, peace will flourish and purpose will come flooding into your life as you lean on, rely on and totally trust the Lord. Stand with God no matter what, hold onto His truth regardless of what you see and know that sinking sand may be all around but you are convinced and remain immovable on the Rock of Ages.

God loves you and He’s for you. Are you convinced? If so, hold on beloved, for the things that are coming your way will be so wonderful that the things that have been taken away won’t even matter as you are quickened to a convinced life of value, purpose and strength, as you learn to live, move and have your being wrapped up totally in Him. 

Romans 4:21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever He promises.

Psalm 119:89 Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.

Mark 9:13 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!

Psalm 33:4 For the word of the LORD holds true, and we can trust everything He does.

Romans 8:30 And having chosen them, He called them to come to Him. And having called them, He gave them right standing with Himself. And having given them right standing, He gave them His glory.

Rest Assured

We get several bank statements at work. This month the one for my office was late arriving. I called the bank to see about it. I was told that because of the weather the mail had been delayed. She said rest assured, as she told me that ours would be there. Sure enough it did come in the next day’s mail. I need that statement to reconcile our checking. Without the information on the bank statement I wouldn’t be able to prove a thing and thus would not be able to report on it. I waited and was concerned but it came through in the end.

Rest assured.

God speaks to my heart: Rest assured in Me. I am all the assurance you need. And when you have assurance, when you know that you know, you will find rest in Me as well. In this world you will not find such promises and oaths. But in Me you are assured that what I have pledged I will do. While you may be looking for answers that haven’t arrived yet, you can rest in the fact that I AM with you, so keep you, to guide you and to reconcile you to Me. My love covers all and through it, you will find confidence, composure and calm assurance. There is no place else to wait except in My presence. Fretting and worrying and wondering and wringing your hands will do nothing. But resting in assurance for Me to deliver the answer is your place of ultimate safety. This is how you reconcile your life to Me – in waiting in faith and believing in Me no matter what it looks like, knowing that I will reconcile all things for you in Christ.

Oh beloved, have you been seeking God for His comfort? Are you wondering why God has not answered? Maybe you think that God is not going to answer at all. Just because the answer hasn’t made it all the way to you doesn’t mean God is not answering. Now is not the time to give up. Keep praying and keep holding onto God. Continue to trust in His Word for what He says He will surely do. He knows how hard it is to rest assured in all things, but you are destined to be confident in Him and you are ordained to rely on His Word. Remember that you are not stuck in the situation, but you are on the way to glory. Even when waiting, you are learning to lean on Him more and more. The enemy of your soul wants you to believe God will not come through, so that you will weaken and feel doomed. But God’s Word is your only Truth to rely on. It transcends what the mind and body feel. It permeates your soul and awakens your spirit as you live in the light of His Word.

God loves you and He’s for you. This is your rest as you reassure your heart and mind that God will always give His answer and it will always be right on time.

Romans 4:21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

Psalm 91:1-2 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him. NLT

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. NLT

Psalm 130:5 I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on Him. I have put my hope in His word. NLT