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.

Poison or Popsicle - God's Word is the Guide

As with most children, our Stella will put about anything in her mouth. I can remember when my own babes were little how they liked trying to beat me to a speck of something on the floor. However, one child ate and chewed on literally everything!  Stella is like that.  She walked up to me just last night with black smudges all over her mouth and on her hand. I wasn’t sure what she partook of, so I checked her out well, wiped her off and cleaned her up! You have to watch kids like a hawk, because they don’t know the difference in poison and popsicles. 

If left to their own devices, people will tend to swallow anything as well. If they can’t read or don’t understand the ingredients, they will find themselves sick or in danger or both.  It’s really important, this day and time, to know your stuff. All kinds of messages, greetings, teachings and more are out there. Many have no foundation in Scriptures, but are easily taken in whole hog. Unless believers become people of knowledge, they will veer off course and wonder what happened.

Oh beloved! Are you feeling sick? Did you head for something you really wanted only to find out that it’s made you ill or given you a bad taste in your mouth?  You may have thought you were going to find sweetness only to discover bitterness. Are you having a hard time getting rid of the after effects?  It’s never too late to run to the Great Physician! He will clean your palate and make your life brand new! He will take the poison of the world and as you apply the Sweetness of the Word, you will find that once again your life is flowing with goodness and light.  There’s never a time that God’s Word won’t work as the perfect antidote to the world’s system; all you have to do is apply it. The Balm of the Bible will cover, protect and repel anything that the enemy tries to give you.

God loves you so much that He’s always watching over you to help you keep from taking up the wrong thing, and He’s staying with you so that when you realize how much He loves you and you turn back to Him, He’s for you always. His safety and security is found in His Word created just for His beloved ones!  Taste and see that the Lord is good indeed!

Psalm 34:8-9 Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him!
Fear the Lord, you His godly people, for those who fear Him will have all they need.

Psalm 119:103-104 How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.  Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life.

Psalm 19:7-11 7The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are Trustworthy, making wise the simple.  The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.  The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.  The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous.  They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

God Spoke Wisdom and Light - So We Can Walk in His Ways

At work we do lots of things that have to do with the area of agriculture. We accept customers who come in with various samples for testing, weeds and plants for identifying as well as home related questions about cooking, canning, health, meal planning and more. Some of the most useful things we can offer to clients are the fact sheets created by various specialists and agents. For instance, a plant fact sheet gives detailed information regarding the subject including disease prevention, growing problems and how to increase productivity. One sheet, maybe 2 or 3 pages, can give the person needing it all the information for making informed, educational decisions. They do not contain old wives’ tales, home remedies or secular advice handed down by generations. They are written from an education viewpoint by people who are educated to know the facts in their particular area. 

As believers, we have lots of information that floats around.  Old wives’ tales, secular information taken as spiritual, good old boy systems of dealing with things and more.  If we’re not careful we will take this outmoded, outdated and wrong information as the Gospel.  But if we take the pure undiluted Word of God and read it as a fact sheet for believers, we will find ourselves knowing how to deal with problems, how to respect leaders, how to pray, how to be healed and more.  We can read how to love one another, how to forgive, how to repent, how to get saved…The list of facts contained within the Word of God is almost endless. Everything you and I need for life and godliness is contained in the pages of the Bible. 

Oh beloved, have you tried this world’s system of thinking and found that at the end of the learning you’re still in the dark?  Did you set out to work it all out and pull yourself up by your own bootstraps? Were you sure that the best way to alleviate all pain is to quit feeling anything?  It may be that you don’t want to know the Truth because you have dealt with things so long without Him that you’re wondering if it could be possible to do it any other way. Run to the Lord this morning! Ask Him to give you His information for the situation at hand. He can be trusted; He has your best interests at heart! And, you need to know beloved, that if you will follow His ways and step in His precepts He will bless you beyond your wildest imagination! He loves you so much that He has given you everything you need to know to walk in wisdom and live in His light! His love will teach you, protect you, guide you, and carry you all the way to heaven!

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.  God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.

Joshua 1:8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

John 15:7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!

Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.