Believe What I Say

“This is what the Sovereign Lord says, ‘If you want me to protect you, learn to believe what I say.” *

If you want me to protect you from a poor decision, from a bad marriage, from friends that are not good for your children, from poor financial decisions….the list goes on…believe what I say.

Rationalization however, is our forte. “But the job pays so well, but he’s so gorgeous and kind and generous and he said we’d work these differences out when we’re married, but the children in this play group have such great parents, but I can pay it off in 5 years....”

That’s the one good thing about living a long time. You’ve gone ahead and made poor choices enough times to know God knows what He’s doing. You’ve repeatedly fallen on your face and each time it hurts so badly and we swear we will not do this again. Until the next time.

“If you want me to protect you, learn to believe what I say.” God told Isaiah to go to King Ahaz who had been scared out of his wits by the threats of King Rezin. Isaiah was to tell Ahaz not to fear or be fainthearted because of this king’s threats. What Rezin said would not happen. Take it to the bank. But “If you want Me to protect you, learn to believe what I say.” Despite everything you hear, Ahaz, despite all that everyone tells you, despite all that you can see, in spite of his prior history of victories over people just like you….in spite of all that, believe Me. Because if you believe Me, you’ll do what I tell you to do (you will obey Me) and I will protect you.

Ahaz had to take a deep breath and make a choice. So do we.

If you are a child of God, “Believe what I say” requires listening to his voice. It’s not that we do not know it’s him. I used to say that. No more. I know even though it’s not audible. He usually repeats himself because he knows I won’t get it the first time. The same little message keeps popping up. It never contradicts scripture. It doesn’t condemn. It is simple and straightforward.

It’s short and sweet like, “Do not take the job.” “ Pick another child to play with yours, not this one.” “ Do not buy it.” Not wordy. No lengthy explanation. Often no explanation at all! This is Who you need to be listening to if you would just shut up and listen. He beams through very clearly. Ahaz had to believe that God was speaking through Isaiah and God did not lie and He could pull off anything He wanted to.

But often we’re like the people in Ezekial 33, “You are to them like a love song by one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not practice them. “ We don’t take them seriously.

Kind of like when the doctor says, “Lose 50#.” We know why….this is not a gray area. Your knees hurt, you’re borderline diabetic, your cholesterol is elevated, your blood pressure has shot up, all your cardiac risk factors are off the chart. Not only do you feel awful but you look awful in jeans, in sleeveless blouses and you’re wearing clothes that scream “matronly.” You avoid all mirrors, naked or dressed. So what do you do? You go have a facial and a burger. You heard the doctor. You believed him. You thought he was exactly right. Amen, amen. But you did not practice what he said. You did not… do…it.

Andrew Murray says, “Obedience. Not knowledge of the will of God, not even approval, not even the will to do it, but the doing of it. Knowledge and approval and will must lead to action; the will of God must be done.”

“This alone is obedience. In this alone it is seen whether the whole heart, with all its strength and will have given itself over to the will of God; whether we live it and are ready at any sacrifice to make it our own by doing it.”

So in your heart you know He is saying, “I know you always go down that road, but go this way today.” “Call Fran.” “Sit down at 8 every night and read this book.” “Email your kid what you just read.” “Hug your husband and tell him he’s still drop dead gorgeous.” “Slow down, you’re driving too fast.”

Or with more black and white verses in the Bible , “Don’t marry him.” He is not a believer. “Don’t take those pens home from the office.” That is stealing. “Don’t say anything else about your mother in law.” You are bearing false witness.

When you’re reading and a verse lights up in a neon sign? Stop. Listen.

Believe Me. I am protecting you.

Ball is in your court.