My first lesson from these verses is that I have to believe. This sounds easy, but we all know walking in faith is much easier said than done. However, with God's help I can actually choose to trust Him and believe in His Son.
I am going to use this Lent to work on that choice and just practice believing. I can't stop doubts from coming into my head, but I can choose to turn them into reminders to believe and not to doubt.
My second lesson is that Jesus gives me hope about myself. He doesn't condemn me for my sins nor lack of faith. If He came to build me up, then I need to get out of His way (and my own way) and believe I'm worthy enough for Him to work His miracles in and through me.
I'm going to use this Lent to think positively about myself and others because this practice reflects my faith in Him. I'm going to use this Lent as a time to build-up in strength based on these words.
My third lesson brings to mind that commercial which says, "A body at rest, stays at rest; a body in motion stays in motion." The more I choose to believe, the more I'll want to believe, to seek His light, and to let it shine. The more I believe, the more I'll ask Him to forgive my sins. The more I believe, the more I'll want to thank Him for what He's done for me. The more I believe, the more I'll check my doubts and lack of faith at the door. The more I believe, the more I'll ask Him to build me up and to remind me to live in confidence remembering these verses. The more I believe, the more I'll want to develop a deeper prayer life. The more I believe, the more I'll want to serve others, our church, and The Church. More positive thoughts (my believing!) create more positive action. It's self-fulfilling.
I'm going to use this Lent to remember and put into practice all these positive and, yes, maybe even simple concepts.
Let's choose to believe and practice that choice during this year's Lent. In doing so, maybe it will spread on after Easter into summer, fall, Christmas, and beyond.
Written by Charles Moore
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