Hi everyone. Rob here.
I was irritable last night. I was grumping at my teenage son for having expensive ideas after a week where we’d had to pay some big bills. Behind my irritability was fear and shame. Brand New Heart Ministries doesn’t pay the bills and my search for part-time work has been fruitless so far. Some of the shame is the masculine ego that says, ‘you have to be the provider.’ Behind the fear of running out of money is the fear that I didn’t hear God correctly when he said (twice!) ‘be patient. I will provide.’ My irritability eased when my wife calmly said, ‘our finances are fine and your activities did contribute this week.’ I sense the enemy at work and I’ll pray into that more today, but for now let’s confess that just below our very real faith, fear and shame lurk.
This scenario is not unique to me. This is common territory for people venturing into the unknown of new ministries and new businesses. It’s also being played out around the world as people lose their jobs or see their businesses suffer hit after hit. It’s a fragile and scary time. This is a time that requires us to have a lot of kindness and compassion, not just for others, but for ourselves. But it’s also a time that really requires us to put our faith into action.
Photo by Luis Quintero on Pexels.com
One of the definitions I use for faith is, “believing what God believes.” Or to go deeper, “taking to heart what God has taken to heart.” Part of this act of faith is believing what God believes about us.
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1)
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Romans 8:14-17)
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. (John 15:15)
Those verses are but a small fraction of the beautiful things that God believes about us. If we can come to a place where we take those beliefs to heart it brings constant assurance and security. We also come to see more clearly and regularly that these verses apply to every other person also. We are all invited to take our place as God’s children. Like the son in the story all we need to do is wake up and come home.
I just spent my lunchtime walking around a park and declaring these things to be true in my life. I chose to believe what God believes about me. Tomorrow I need to believe it again. Fear and shame may lurk but I get to decide who and what I open the door of my heart to. When I believe what God believes I become a much better guardian of my heart.
This week may you meditate on the above verses and take to heart what God believes about you. May that truth give you courage and strength to live and love in his name. Grace and peace.
P.S. If you are wanting to support this ministry here’s a great way to help and grow at the same time.
Brand New Heart Ministries 