Reconcile Faulty Beliefs

 Yesterday's blog stressed the importance of relationship; to know God's voice requires relationship with Him.

As we have relationship with Him, we are better able to recognize and discern the character of His voice. As a quick reminder, here are some helpful questions we might ask to help discern God's voice: 

• Could we imagine Jesus saying this?
• Would Jesus’ nature promote such a thought?
• Does this message line up with Who Jesus is and what He taught?

The best way to answer each of these questions is to know GOD's Word (the Bible). The word of God mirrors Who God is, reveals His thoughts, and reflects His image. Scripture describes God as holy (Psalm 99:9-100:1), as good (Psalm 100:5) as faithful (Hebrews 10:23-24), but above all, as love. 1 John 4:16 says, “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love.”

Studying the Word of God helps us know God’s character and is the only infallible truth worthy to "test the spirits" or "discern whether the message is from God."

However, knowing the truth and reading about the truth is not enough; we need to experience the truth of Who God is! Head knowledge is not enough; we can read “God is love” but experiencing God’s love, brings us life.

Over twelve years ago I sat at the end of a bar; my intent?—to get as drunk as possible as quick as possible. How did I get here? I wondered to myself. It was the darkest season of my life. I felt isolated, alone, and discarded. While sitting alone at the edge of the bar, making one bad decision after another, the Spirit of God impressed in my mind, "There is no place you can go that my grace won't find you still." In an instant, God’s love blanketed over me, covering me from all my shame. His love came searching for me. “Lord, this is a bar. You’re not supposed to be in a bar.” I thought to myself. But the love of God knew no boundaries and in an instant the truth that “God is love” etched in my spirit forever. Ephesians 2:8-9 became life to me, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” God loved me so much, He broke through all the barriers of where I thought He would show up and met me in a bar. I was the lost sheep and Jesus left the ninety-nine to rescue me. The truth of God’s word, and my encounter with His love, forever changed my knowledge of God’s character; His love surpassed my greatest imagination. 

Isaiah 55:8-9 says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” 

Since we accurately discern God’s voice and distinguish it from our own, by judging what we hear with His character; we must allow the Holy Spirit to reconcile our faulty beliefs with Who He really is. We need to ask God to help us experience the truth of His character, as described in His Word. God’s character and the tone of His message complement one another.

Today, I encourage you to ask God the following questions:

• Father, do I have faulty beliefs of who You are?
• Have I limited Your power? Your love? Your character?
• Am I spending time to discover You in Your Word?

Tomorrow, I'll begin to highlight how we can accurately discern God’s voice from our own by judging the tone of the message. Hope these hints are helpful!