I Believe – Part 2

Without direction, man tends to lean on his own understanding and believes what he wants to believe. He will interpret his life events and relate to God based on those events, whether good or bad. And through his own understanding and experienced events, he’ll form his belief.

The word believe is an interesting word, and its derivatives are used some 257 times in the Bible. Nelson’s Bible Dictionary gives the following definitions. You’ll see that both the word believe and faith are so closely connected. Belief is defined as placing one’s trust in God’s truth. Faith is defined as a belief in or confident attitude toward God, involving commitment.

Why is what you believe so important? What you believe will set the course for your life, so it’s important to know what you believe. What do you believe? What is your belief based in or based on? Is it faith based on your knowledge of God?

Many associate the word believe with faith. I believe when you ground your faith and trust in God, your belief becomes a firm persuasion, assurance, a firm conviction, grounded in the faithfulness of God and turns from something you agree with to a believing in your heart of its truth.

That’s what Hebrews 11:6, NASB says. “He who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Notice the connection of faith and believing here. Look also at Hebrews 11:1, NASB, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Here is where the rubber meets the road in understanding what God has promised, believing Him, and standing in faith for the fulfillment of His promises. Even when you don’t understand everything, even when you can’t see the answer, even when everything seems contrary to God’s promises. That’s when you believe. That’s when you allow your faith to be steadfast and expectant because of God’s faithfulness. That’s when you know what you believe.