What Have you Been Hearing?

“So then Faith comes by hearing…and hearing by the Word of God” Romans 10:17

My husband gets tickled at me as he watches me grab bits and pieces of conversations all around the room. Problem is I just get bits and pieces. I may hear two or three words, but then if I don’t hear the whole thing I may perceive a whole different story than was actually spoken. Later I might ask him about the $90,000 house to find out that particular conversation revolved around 90 people not $90,000!

There is much to listen to in this world. Even the weather channel no longer deals strictly with weather. You can find politics and other stories if you watch for very long. And when it comes to reporters, even those who are considered conservative will wander over into views that aren’t really that conservative. So much information, only two ears and throw in muffled talk and muted voices and you could make up your own version of most any story.

When it comes to faith, though, we don’t have to take other peoples’ word for the truth. They may be speaking the truth, but for us faith comes by hearing and that hearing should be coming straight from the Word of God. Our best quality of information gathering comes when we go straight to the Word of God for our information.  There are many “channels” of faith talk, but we must always sort through the Word of God for ourselves – straight to the source – to make sure we’ve heard things right.

What have you heard?  Maybe you heard that you are useless, castoff, done for. You may have been given a piece of information that said you don’t fit in, you don’t have the right criteria, you are less than. You may have thought you were hearing correctly when the sentence of judgment came past your ears. Those things don’t feed your faith because they don’t line up with the Word of God. Unless you go straight to the source and find out the truth for yourself, you will be destined to live in the darkness of untruth and half-truth.  Partial information hinders your walk, maims your life and keeps you fettered on the sidelines, unable to break the chains and run free.  

Oh beloved, faith comes by hearing! Hearing the Word of God! Hearing the truth about you! You are not less than, you are more than. You are not beaten down, you are an overcomer.  You can dance free from any chains that seek to bind you by others’ words because you are free in Christ! It doesn’t matter what others say, because it’s not about them. Keep your ears attuned to God’s Word and watch as your faith grows and grows. And when your faith grows your fears subside.  It doesn’t matter what the enemy says, for you don’t have to listen to a word he speaks. He is a liar and the father of all lies. Get that  - the father of, the originator of – all lies. Anything that is spoken about you or over you that doesn’t line up with the Word of God is not a word of faith. You may need to repeat the Word out loud over the lies that come your way or the half-truths that threaten to derail your faith, but lies cannot stand in the presence of Truth.

Every Word of God holds true. The more you hear the truth, the stronger your faith will be. The stronger your faith is, the better your hearing becomes. Eventually you will begin to cast out the things you hear in the background as you discern the difference. God loves you and that’s the truth, backed by the Word of God, and He’s for you – which is another truth backed by the Word, so that you can live with clear hearing and strong faith and that’s what God has for you all the days of your life.

Luke 11:28 Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.

Matthew 4:4 But He replied, It has been written, Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

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

John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

Psalm 119:38 Establish Your word to Your servant, As that which produces reverence for You.

Psalm 138:2 I will bow down toward Your holy temple And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word according to all Your name.

Your Story - God's Glory!

A lady I know shared that when a mutual friend went to their office to apply for a position a couple of years ago, she took one look at him and thought, “Oh my, he’s an old hippie! What have I gotten myself into?”  But over the years, he’s proven to be one of the best employees ever.  As we were discussing the story I thought to myself you can’t judge a book by its cover.

You can’t.  But you can judge that book by what’s inside. At least you find out the truth about it once you’ve opened it up and looked inside. Read a few pages, get to know the character and the plot and you will know what’s really going on.

Books come in all shapes, sizes, colors and some are hard bound, others are paperback. The oldest books may seem a little tattered and torn but inside is an awesome story worth picking that book up.  Other books look very sophisticated and fresh, yet when you look inside its pages there’s nothing there but pulp fiction. 

We’re a lot like books. Some of us have been through a lot – left out in the rain, dropped in the dirt, leaves dog eared and pages soiled.  Some of us were passed around, thrown in the trash and left untended and uncared for. It shows.  Others are simply different – no special gold foil, no elegant cover, no exciting draw for the crowd to pick up. 

Get to know either type and once they share their story, it’s pretty much the same:  Started out great, cared for greatly. Then someone got tired of them and put them away.  Story after story abounds with joy, tragedy, being discarded or misread.

No matter what the real story, no matter the background, there is One Who wants to rewrite your story. He wants to give you incredible edits and magnificent rewrites so that you will shine with the glory of His love on each page. It doesn’t matter what you look like, where you’re from, who you know or don’t know – He’s ready and willing to give you another shot at life.  Although your story may have started with a tragedy, it will certainly end in triumph when the Lord is the writer.  Every single chapter will be given His once over so that there’s courage and victory no matter what. The plot will be changed as well, so it’s not about you but about the Lord and His incredible love and care for you.

If you’ve never given your life to the Lord, it’s so easy – just give Him the entire novel, cover to cover and let Him do what only He can do. He will change everything and that’s all good because His ways are best. He is the greatest Writer of people’s lives ever. 

If you’ve grown tired of going your own way, even if you gave Him your heart, then let Him start doing the editing right away. It’s not too late to let Him change the design, edit the pages and redo the ending. His plans for you are a best seller yet you have to pay nothing for His amazing touch.  He doesn’t look at what you’ve been through; He only looks at your life through the eyes of His love, the touch of His grace and the knowledge of His glory.

Oh beloved, your Editor, the Lord Himself, bids you to step into His sanctuary and give it all to Him. Each page of your life is working into the finest novel ever known. You are His beloved and His magnificence will be revealed on the last page and it will be truly glorious! He loves you and He’s for you and that’s worth letting Him write your story all the way to heaven.

Psalm 40:3 He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what He has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.

Psalm 139:16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in Your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

Hebrews 10:35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!

Psalm 25:1 O Lord, I give my life to you.

Psalm 138:8 The Lord will work out His plans for my life— for Your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for You made me.