**I have posted this elsewhere, but I wanted to post it here to share this with everyone on the site.**I have been reading "Do You Think I'm Beautiful?" by Angela Thomas recently, and I came to the chapter titled "the whispers of unbelief" and the majority of the chapter is highlighted and I wanted to share the points that I really liked about it...
■"Maybe more than anything, its unbelief that trips us and keeps us from dancing. Actually, unbelief causes more than a little stumble. It whispers into our souls like a quiet disease and leaves us spiritually crippled and paralyzed.
■But we look into the mirror with our eyes. That is the problem, God does not see as we see. He never has. And we have always tried to rationalize that He thinks and acts like us, be He does not. He is God.
■For heaven's sake, where is it written? Where is it written that what the world calls beautiful is correct? Where is it written in Scripture that God takes instruction from us? Where is it written that man can understand the heart and mind of God? Nowhere. In fact, God makes it very clear that He does not think as we do: "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 my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9
■Why do we have such a difficult time allowing God's unfailing love to embrace the ugliness of our flaws and the desperateness of our sin?
■We struggle with unbelief because we have insisted on humanizing God. We have resolved that God must think and process in the same ways we do. Essentially, we have decided that God is not able, when in fact we are the ones who are not.
■We've never been close enough to see God work before. It is incredibly difficult to trust someone that you don't know. And if you have only an acquaitance relationship with God, you may not know how trustworthy He is.
■If you haven't ever falledn back into the arms of God, you don't know the joy of being caught and carried. You haven't seen what He can do with the burdens of your life because you havent' been close enough to allow Him. Maybe you resist Him and struggle with the whispers of unbelief because you just don't know Him and you haven't begun to see how powerful He really is.
■God does not hand out maps and a schedule of events. It's frustrating sometimes, but if we can ever get the hang of life as God intended, then it becomes an adventure to be lived instead of an unknown to be feared. Henry Blackaby says that when you can see, no faith is required. You do not have to be afraid of what you can't see with God. We may need some restraining here, but God will be patient. Lean into Him and when unbelief whispers to you, lean harder. leaning is learning how to believe. God is faithful. The dark is unknown only to us, not to Him.
■The pride thing. I almost hate to bring it up because we've heard it so many times, but it can't be avoided. Pride will keep us locked in unbelief. It is humbling to give up, put everything down, and then fall into presence of God. We thought we could make it just fine. We are women, very strong women who've learned how to cope with a multitude of situations and circumstances. We don't like to say we can't. We don't want to believe it's possible to come to the end of our abilities or reasoning. Give me just a little more time or a few more resources and I can figure anything out. There is the whisper of unbelief: "You can make it on your own." Scripture offers a different view. Jesus said to disciples, 'Apart from me you can do nothing' (John 15:5) and then Peter instructed 'Humble yourselves...that he may lift you up in due time.' (1 Peter 5:6) One huge step toward greater belief is realizing that you are unable and putting everything down, especially your pride, so that God can pick you up.
■This is what I know about your spiritual life: if you look just about the same now as you have for a very long time, then your about God have not deepened, your trust has not grown, and your faith has not been stretched. I'm not saying that you're shallow; I'm just saying that you're stuck -- you are not becoming. The whole idea of belonging to Christ is to look less and less like we used to and more and more like Him.
■Sometimes we are riddled with unbelief becuse we have stopped growing and becoming
■As long as we continue to disbelieve the intimacy and faithfulness of God's love for us, then we live apart from His fullness and complete purpose in us. We may be walking around breathing, but we are not living in strength.
■Unbelief leaves us empty, powerless, and wandering. Unbelief keeps us living beneath the possibilities that God dreamed for our lives.
■What is so amazing about God is that He really does hold us. He is not put off by our struggles. He does not wag a finger in disdain at our honesty. We can lean into Him with the full weight of our lives. And maybe for the first time in a long time, when you feel God hold you, then doubt and unbelief will begin to fade in His presence. Unbelief becomes belief. Eventually belief becomes trust. Trust becomes strength and rejoicing
■It would be momentous for you to finally believe. Everything would change. What if you began to live as if you believed God's words -- all of them? What if you just went for it -- staked it all on Jesus, leaned in, gave Him the load you've been carrying and fell down on top of it? Traded what you feel for the truth of His words? Do youave anything to lose? Nothing. And to gain? The rest of your life dancing in the arms of God.
■I have heard the whispers and yet, I am dancing with God. Maybe more intimately than I ever have in my life. I can hear the music, feel the strong arms of my Beloved, sense His gentle leading in every turn, and know that my soul is resting in the assurance of His presence
■I have come to this dance because my world caved in, pretense fell away, every prop I had leaned on broke, and finally there was nothing. Nothing but God, His music, His unfailing love for me, and the dance...this beautiful, intimate dance of trust and grace and mercy. I m overwhelmed to be held in His embrace. Overwhelmed to know that He looks into my eyes and still calls me beautiful. Sad to know that I had been invited all along but missed His nearness becomes sometimes I had listened to the whispers and turned away. Dancing with God means that you have chosen to respond to the invitation. He said, "Would you?" and you said, "Of course, I'd love to." It's an act of the will. It is an intentional choosing to believe and rest in His strength. It's really your only responsibility.
■When the world cuts in and we listen to the whispers, then intimacy is broken. The music is still playing. The invitation from God remains, but we have wandered away from His strong arms. There is distance, distraction, and stumbling. Remember that you and I were made to dance with God. Another partner just won't do. Dancing with someone else will be awkward and embarrassing. we will feel insecure and anxious. We can easily lose our step.
■Lean hard on your decision to believe in God. Put your full weight down. Lie there in His presence and wait for Him to carry you. The love of God is like an authoritative shout -- the final word -- that comes to hush the whispers and squelch the rumors. Will you say again today, I believe. Oh God, help my unbelief
■"Maybe more than anything, its unbelief that trips us and keeps us from dancing. Actually, unbelief causes more than a little stumble. It whispers into our souls like a quiet disease and leaves us spiritually crippled and paralyzed.
■But we look into the mirror with our eyes. That is the problem, God does not see as we see. He never has. And we have always tried to rationalize that He thinks and acts like us, be He does not. He is God.
■For heaven's sake, where is it written? Where is it written that what the world calls beautiful is correct? Where is it written in Scripture that God takes instruction from us? Where is it written that man can understand the heart and mind of God? Nowhere. In fact, God makes it very clear that He does not think as we do: "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 my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9
■Why do we have such a difficult time allowing God's unfailing love to embrace the ugliness of our flaws and the desperateness of our sin?
■We struggle with unbelief because we have insisted on humanizing God. We have resolved that God must think and process in the same ways we do. Essentially, we have decided that God is not able, when in fact we are the ones who are not.
■We've never been close enough to see God work before. It is incredibly difficult to trust someone that you don't know. And if you have only an acquaitance relationship with God, you may not know how trustworthy He is.
■If you haven't ever falledn back into the arms of God, you don't know the joy of being caught and carried. You haven't seen what He can do with the burdens of your life because you havent' been close enough to allow Him. Maybe you resist Him and struggle with the whispers of unbelief because you just don't know Him and you haven't begun to see how powerful He really is.
■God does not hand out maps and a schedule of events. It's frustrating sometimes, but if we can ever get the hang of life as God intended, then it becomes an adventure to be lived instead of an unknown to be feared. Henry Blackaby says that when you can see, no faith is required. You do not have to be afraid of what you can't see with God. We may need some restraining here, but God will be patient. Lean into Him and when unbelief whispers to you, lean harder. leaning is learning how to believe. God is faithful. The dark is unknown only to us, not to Him.
■The pride thing. I almost hate to bring it up because we've heard it so many times, but it can't be avoided. Pride will keep us locked in unbelief. It is humbling to give up, put everything down, and then fall into presence of God. We thought we could make it just fine. We are women, very strong women who've learned how to cope with a multitude of situations and circumstances. We don't like to say we can't. We don't want to believe it's possible to come to the end of our abilities or reasoning. Give me just a little more time or a few more resources and I can figure anything out. There is the whisper of unbelief: "You can make it on your own." Scripture offers a different view. Jesus said to disciples, 'Apart from me you can do nothing' (John 15:5) and then Peter instructed 'Humble yourselves...that he may lift you up in due time.' (1 Peter 5:6) One huge step toward greater belief is realizing that you are unable and putting everything down, especially your pride, so that God can pick you up.
■This is what I know about your spiritual life: if you look just about the same now as you have for a very long time, then your about God have not deepened, your trust has not grown, and your faith has not been stretched. I'm not saying that you're shallow; I'm just saying that you're stuck -- you are not becoming. The whole idea of belonging to Christ is to look less and less like we used to and more and more like Him.
■Sometimes we are riddled with unbelief becuse we have stopped growing and becoming
■As long as we continue to disbelieve the intimacy and faithfulness of God's love for us, then we live apart from His fullness and complete purpose in us. We may be walking around breathing, but we are not living in strength.
■Unbelief leaves us empty, powerless, and wandering. Unbelief keeps us living beneath the possibilities that God dreamed for our lives.
■What is so amazing about God is that He really does hold us. He is not put off by our struggles. He does not wag a finger in disdain at our honesty. We can lean into Him with the full weight of our lives. And maybe for the first time in a long time, when you feel God hold you, then doubt and unbelief will begin to fade in His presence. Unbelief becomes belief. Eventually belief becomes trust. Trust becomes strength and rejoicing
■It would be momentous for you to finally believe. Everything would change. What if you began to live as if you believed God's words -- all of them? What if you just went for it -- staked it all on Jesus, leaned in, gave Him the load you've been carrying and fell down on top of it? Traded what you feel for the truth of His words? Do youave anything to lose? Nothing. And to gain? The rest of your life dancing in the arms of God.
■I have heard the whispers and yet, I am dancing with God. Maybe more intimately than I ever have in my life. I can hear the music, feel the strong arms of my Beloved, sense His gentle leading in every turn, and know that my soul is resting in the assurance of His presence
■I have come to this dance because my world caved in, pretense fell away, every prop I had leaned on broke, and finally there was nothing. Nothing but God, His music, His unfailing love for me, and the dance...this beautiful, intimate dance of trust and grace and mercy. I m overwhelmed to be held in His embrace. Overwhelmed to know that He looks into my eyes and still calls me beautiful. Sad to know that I had been invited all along but missed His nearness becomes sometimes I had listened to the whispers and turned away. Dancing with God means that you have chosen to respond to the invitation. He said, "Would you?" and you said, "Of course, I'd love to." It's an act of the will. It is an intentional choosing to believe and rest in His strength. It's really your only responsibility.
■When the world cuts in and we listen to the whispers, then intimacy is broken. The music is still playing. The invitation from God remains, but we have wandered away from His strong arms. There is distance, distraction, and stumbling. Remember that you and I were made to dance with God. Another partner just won't do. Dancing with someone else will be awkward and embarrassing. we will feel insecure and anxious. We can easily lose our step.
■Lean hard on your decision to believe in God. Put your full weight down. Lie there in His presence and wait for Him to carry you. The love of God is like an authoritative shout -- the final word -- that comes to hush the whispers and squelch the rumors. Will you say again today, I believe. Oh God, help my unbelief
