“The essence of surrender is getting out of God’s way so that He can do in us what He also wants to do through us.”
As Lamech held his firstborn in his arms, he named him Noah, which means quiet/rest. He also tells him that “out of the ground that the LORD has cursed, this one (Noah) shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands” (Gen. 5:29).
Little did he know that Noah would live up to that name! I won’t repeat Noah’s story, but the ark “rested” on Ararat. Coincidence?
Before Noah built the ark, however, he was the only who lived completely for the LORD while everyone else was inventing new ways to do just the opposite (Gen. 6:9). How did Noah stand up for and walk with God regardless of the fact that literally everyone else was against him? The power of belief.
His dad named him Noah. His dad gave him a purpose for living. And, his dad was around to encourage him when he might have gotten discouraged, “Hey son, believe what I told about your future. You have a purpose. God is going to use you in a mighty way. Keep walking with Him.” Noah did. The power of belief.
We are not living in the same days as Noah; yet, do we believe what our Father has told us? Through belief in Jesus, we have been given a new nature – Christ’s (2 Pet. 1:4), a new mind – Christ’s (1 Cor. 2:16), and Christ’s righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21) to fulfill a new purpose for getting up each morning (Eph. 2:10).
We can think correctly. Do we believe it? We can choose correctly. Do we believe it? We can live meaningful lives that will make an eternal difference. Do we believe it?
Belief. It has the power to take us down like the generation of Noah’s day. Or, it has the power to raise us above the mountain tops like Noah.
How do you talk to yourself. I can because of who my Father made and sees me? Or, I’m such a (fill in the blank), so why keep going?
Belief. It can affect your thoughts, which affects your words, which affects your choices, which will then mold you into Christ’s eternal character.
That’s the power of belief.