Nougat 15

Greetings and salutations to you my dear reader!

Can you imagine we’re actually midway through January already! I suspect the days truly are being shortened. Of course, it’s a matter of perspective, whether we need modern Science to prove the Biblical ‘facts’ or not. But that’s Life in general. We have to make choices about what we believe. Today’s Holy Nougat invites us to think of Faith, what we believe as part of our arsenal.

“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;” Ephesians‬ ‭6:16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

‘Whose report shall you believe? We shall believe the report of the Lord! … His report says I am healed, His report says I am free. His report means Victory! We shall believe the report of the Lord’

When doubts assail us, it is best if Faith is already up and in place, for there’s usually no time to run and search for cover. Faith is being sure of what we believe regardless of all else around us. It is not so much about belief in the tangible, as it is about intangible sometimes impossible ‘facts’. The writer of Hebrews argues that it is substantial and evidentiary, in the face of hopes and invisible concepts. And God often asks us to believe (Faith) long before we have tangible proof of what we’re asked to believe in, including our Faith in God.

While many question believers Faith in God, those very same persons have no qualms about Science, which they say is factual. Yet, for the most part, Science begins with a hypothesis (that is, a theory), which could be described as an unproven Hope. Faith can be the opposite of both Doubt and Fear. This might be why it is a shield (body length): to provide cover from those twin challenges.

What Doubts and Fears seek to bombard us in these times? Are we willing to declare that we know Whom we have believed and are persuaded that God can keep us safe from our fears and whatever doubts we face? Especially after God said No to some substantive request in time past? If we can’t, are we honest enough to cry, ‘Lord I believe. Please help my unbelief!’? I assure us, God CAN handle our doubts and fears; and if we are open enough, God can restore our Faith.

In Christ’s love and grace . . .