Fully Persuaded…

We have all been taught through the years that in order to receive something from God we have to have faith, or said another way, believing. And it is certainly true that believing pleases God. What you believe is what you receive with no limitations at all. But, where this formula gets messy is when we have an important need and go to God in prayer and now the onus shifts back to us and how large or small our faith (believing) is. Further, in the interest of congruity, it has been my experience when the onus shifts back to the man, failure is right around the corner. Then logically, we must employ activities that increase our faith (used interchangeably with believing to make a point) such as more study, better behavior, longer prayers, and whatever else some kind soul tells us to do in order to get our need met. The more we question our belief, the more our belief is diminished. Then, sadly, people go their entire lives with unmet needs while God wanted to meet those needs all along. As such, something must be wrong with the system because there is nothing ever wrong with God. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. This conundrum that I face just as much as you do, is worth considering a little deeper. What if we have gotten it all wrong? Maybe our practice is keenly close to the truth, but lacking in one important bridge in our understanding. Perhaps we have all been so hard-wired to believe that life is hard that we naturally assume God must be hard as well. I mean if we listen to what people say with the “rules” and “regulations” I would call that “shit” pretty hard. So where does all of this leave us? It leaves us concluding by pure logic that there must be a better way. People have wrestled with this Nirvana seeking mindset for centuries and have rarely cracked the code. Others in simple acceptance and trust like little children, receive easily and often. Fully persuaded anyone?

It is always a red flag to me when what I must do becomes more important than what God must do. Whenever life’s game of spin the bottle stops at me, I know something isn’t quite right. In this grand scheme of existence with it’s uncountable variables, pitfalls, obstacles, so called accidents and generalized suffering and oppression for all, what power do you and I have to change outcomes? Oh you might wear your lucky cap backwards to help the Dodgers get a win, but their victory or defeat had nothing to do with you. We are human beings living in a spiritual world where all of the spirits aren’t good, only capable of functioning in the moment we are in, unable to change the past or see the future. We have no magic power in our minds that a guru needs to help us access. The only power we truly own is the decisions we make in our minds. Choices we control fully. To believe is also a choice. When we don’t believe or if it makes you feel better, have some doubts, the real question is why? If I have solemn responsibility to choose for myself, then why would I choose not to believe? Something must have gotten to me inside assuming I ever learned about God in the first place. Some malcontent must have slipped something into my drink. I am always the one choosing. Therefore prayer to God for something must involve you choosing that He can do what you cannot do. Why else would you talk with Him about something? But, in order to receive from Him you have to believe Him (His promises). So what would cause us to choose not to believe His promises? There may be a thousand reasons why but I guarantee they all point back to one thing – you! You and where you think you fit into the equation. But, what if it aint all about you and never was all about you? You and I are far too vulnerable to have our life’s happiness and blessings depend solely on us. You can get us off track with a gloomy day. Instead, when it comes to getting our needs met, our focus cannot be on ourselves and our own inabilities. God does not meet your need because you are so good, but rather because He is so good. What kind of father only takes care of their children if they do it all right? Absurd. God already wants to take care of you because He loves you. Without any condition or strings attached. The only question to ask yourself is why am I choosing not to believe Him? Maybe you are not yet clear on who He is, maybe? Getting persuaded?

When we choose not to believe God it is more about not understanding who He is rather than what He can or will do for us. You may falsely conclude, why would God help me knowing how I have lived my life? Interesting, but the wrong question. Your assumption is that God only rewards performance and withholds as is necessary. But, that is not who God is, my friends. You might know God wants to meet your need, but still question if you are doing your part to make it happen. Enter believing nirvana mind where the magic happens. Beware, there will be plenty of things you still need to do, or give up, or fix, or overcome, or stop doing before He will help you. Man, just get that clay pot shiny enough and He will surely listen. Truth is He heard you long before you ever prayed it. The problem will never be solved by focusing on your flesh. The problem gets solved by focusing on who He is. He is pure, unadulterated, perfect light and perfect love. That is who He is. He can’t change. He only gives, only helps, only blesses, only loves always and all times. Only only only. He has no shadow of turning or variableness. Oh my God, you do. I do. We are consistently inconsistent. But, He’s not like us! When you go to Him in prayer, it’s more about knowing who He is rather than any other factors intertwined. If you ever knew how good He really was and is, you would never choose not to believe Him again. You would simply expect Him to do what He said He would do with the heart of a child. It is never any harder than that. Fully persuaded.

Sometimes we have to be honest with ourselves about why things are happening the way they are. Instead of beating our heads and lives against the wall, we have to admit there may be something we do not yet understand. Believing God or having faith if you prefer, is not about you and me and what we are doing. It is about God and what He will do. Yet, even more than knowing what God will do, it is about getting to know who He is. Understanding His character and nature that never vary. You don’t get fully persuaded about what it is you are believing for God to do for you. You get yourself fully persuaded about who He is! Once you get clear on who He is, there will never be a reason to choose not to believe Him again.

Just some good thoughts…