God's Assurance

    From My Utmost for His Highest

He Himself has said . . . . So we may boldly say . . . —Hebrews 13

What exactly is God's assurance in our lives? Can we count on Him or is there something in us that makes it work? Do I have a responsibility in all this?

In A Rooster Once Crowed, Chapter 9-Tune Into Life's Belief, I list all the instances through Acts Chapter 8 where we are called to "believe." Taken together, this provides a profound list of promises, assurances and costs associated with belief. Some are great gifts, but others are a little tougher to hear. Here's a list through Mark (also, the links below will take you to the full chapter to see it in context): 

Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
     - Genesis 15:6

If they will not believe you or heed the witness of the first sign, they may believe the witness of the last sign
     - Exodus 4:8

So the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord was concerned about the sons of Israel and that He had seen their affliction, then they bowed low and worshiped.
     - Exodus 4:31

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.
     - Psalm 27:13

Therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.
     - Isaiah 28:16

Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them.
     - Jonah 3:5

And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed that very moment.
     - Matthew 8:13

When He entered the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”
     - Matthew 9:28

. . . but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
     - Matthew 18:6

For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him.
     - Matthew 21:32

He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him.
     - Matthew 27:42

And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”
     - Mark 9:23-24

Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.
     - Mark 11:24

They began reasoning among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’
     - Mark 11:31

Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen.
     - Mark 16:14

He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
     - Mark 16:16

For the full list, look to A Rooster Once Crowed: A Commentary on the Greatest Story Ever Told, Chapter 9-Tune Into Life's Belief (odd pgs. 127-141). AVAILABLE FORMATS are linked at Full Porch Press.

I forget this more than I really remember it, but there is power in our belief on God's great assurances.

I love you.

#tuneintolifesbelief