Topic: I Believe ~ In order for change to take place, we have to first believe it is possible. Refute your own thoughts of doubt with declarations of faith.
In order for change to take
place, I have to believe it is possible.
I do believe change is possible for anyone, but one must be dedicated to that change and have
something on which to rely for strength.
I use the Nicene Creed as my
declaration of faith. Repeating it gives
me confidence and clarity. It is as
follows:
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of Life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
the Father, the Almighty
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of Life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Change
is the act, process, or result of making different. The bible has numerous examples of people who
have been changed by God's word and by Christ's healing power. I call on these verses
when I need to make a change.
See, I am doing a new thing , Now it springs up; do
you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19
I will give you a new
heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of
your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:26
Ezekiel 36:26
Revelation 21:5(NIV) He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!' Then he said," Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." Revelation 21:5(NIV)
When I lack confidence or have thoughts of doubt I can turn to these verses:
Jesus looked at them and said, “With
man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Matthew
19:26
The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God,
and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. Exodus 15:2
For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,
my confidence since my youth. Psalm 71:5
Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:4-6
So we say
with confidence, “The Lord is my
helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Hebrews 13:6
Thanks for sharing your I believe and pointing out that in order for a change to take place we must first believe it is possible. There is no room for doubt to co-exist, because our hope and confident come from God so we have nothing to fear or be afraid. Blessings as you continue allow God to speak to you through this OBS.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn V (OBS Group Leader)