If unbelief is not counteracted with the promises of God and His word, it is easy to fall prey to the enemy’s lies. It begins with a simple thought of, “oh, just this once” or “it’s not really that bad, is it?” Not only does unbelief creep in through sin, but it can also find a way into your heart and mind but causing you to doubt God’s love and promises for your life. Before we even know it, we have entered a downward spiral that leads to a hardened heart turned away from God. If you let the little sins and thoughts in, slowly they will morph into a wall of hardened responses, thoughts, and perspective. How great of a God do we serve that He loves us unconditionally and His grace is sufficient for us? The most awesome God! We must keep our unbelief in check so that we may live our lives to the fullness Christ intends. The Bible gives us this warning about the dangers of sin and unbelief:
Hebrews 3:19 NIV | Warning Against Unbelief
So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ” See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. As has just been said:
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion.”[b
Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness? And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.
Steps to preventing an unbelieving heart:
- Fellowship with other believers
- Talk about your mutual faith daily.
- Be aware of the deceitfulness of sin.
- Encourage others with love and concern.
Personal Reflection:
How are you going astray in your walk with Christ?
In what areas of your heart do you feel like God is asking for a complete surrender?
How can you make better steps to stay committed to your faith?
Dear Heavenly Father,
I come to you seeking forgiveness, willing to turn from sins, and follow You wholeheartedly. Make known any areas in my life that I have allowed anything that is not of you into my heart. As you reveal them, give me the grace to follow through in obedience of your will for my life. Equip me with discernment to know when seed of unbelief are being planted and pluck them from my heart.
In Jesus’ Name, I pray! Amen!
Be encouraged in your faith!
Hannah B.
Collective Circle Gathering 