My Sermon To Myself

"Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen."
- Hebrews 11:1

"Through acts of faith, they toppled kingdoms, made justice work, took the promises for themselves..."
- Hebrews 11:33

I was reading about Abraham a bit earlier. It made me think about my life and myself. There are all these things I want to do to change the world and serve God, and then there are also parts of me that seem to always hinder that desire. It's like they're always fighting each other. I just don't see how I will be able to do these things. I don't always see how God can use me. I don't see how I can have what it takes. But I guess that's where faith needs to come in.

"Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen."

I can't see everything. I can't understand everything.

A conviction...

"An unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence."

An unshakable belief that God will help me, use me, give me wisdom, give me power to do what He wants. An unshakable, unwavering, unrelenting belief that God will do everything He says He will.

"'Look up to the heavens and count the stars - if indeed you can count them.' Then He (God) said to him (Abraham), 'So shall your offspring be.'"
- Genesis 15:5

Abraham have a son at 100? Offspring as countless as the stars from such an old man? Impossible! It doesn't happen. It can't happen. He can't do that! Oh, but God can!

Abraham had a conviction that God can and would do everything He promised.

"Abraham believed God, and he credited it to him as righteousness."
- Genesis 15:6

I feel like I'm at a crossroads right now. I know God's promises:

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
- Joshua 1:9

"...do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit."
- Mark 13:11

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
- Matthew 28:18-20

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
- Acts 1:8

"With God all things are possible."
- Matthew 19:26

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."
- Philippians 4:13

It seems like I'm running out of excuses. Yet it's so hard to step out of this nice comfort zone I'm in. It's so hard to see change. It's so hard to step into the unknown. But...the hard, the unknown, the unseen, the uncomfortable...why do I also have this deep desire to step into those things anyway? It seems to be drawing me to itself...

"Through acts of faith, they toppled kingdoms..."

Where is your faith Jim? Through faith you can topple kingdoms!