To Feel His Wounds

I was inspired a couple of weeks ago to write about the proof of God's existence. Now knowing my audience, the thoughts that are running through the minds of my readers are probably running along the lines of, "Ash, I think you took a little to much than you can swallow." And i must agree, the topic is a little grand in scale, but when is anything concerning God any smaller than grand? 


And as a side note the article on the topic of God creating evil will be written soon. but like anything that i do, i want to be fully studied and confident in my convictions on the topic before i open my mouth or cyber lips as it were to share it with the world. 


There was an personal incident that took place a couple of weeks ago that both hurt me, but also taught me a lesson on the belief or existence (regardless of the thing in question). Without sharing all the gory details of what happened, i just want to previse  this article by saying that this article is inspired and an open letter to a specific person who is struggling with this very topic. He knows who he is. I also want to further previse by saying that there will be a quote in this article that came directly from this person that will further fortify the topic of this article, and that is the only reason why i put it in the article. If it had other wise held no bearing to the topic i would have kept it out. 


"You know sometimes i wonder if you are real. I know you're there and i've tried to get to you and i have come close but i always seem to fall short. It's the same way with God. . ." -Anonymous


I was reading today (as i usually do) and i came across a quote that absolutely shook me. And even though i had subconsciously known it, learning the lesson consciously took it to a whole different level. The book i was reading is titled, "The 100 Absolutely Unbreakable Laws of Business Success, and it said, "You do not necessarily believe what you see, but rather you see what you already believe." The topic was on the Law of Causality, and i was reading the four sub points of cause and effect. The first sub point was the Law of Belief. And as i was reading this book though business based, my mind and heart was drawn to the spiritual ramifications of this law. 


I thought of atheist's that argue that there is no God. they ask, "can you see him?" Has he spoken to you?" "is there any proof in the earth or even universe that is tangible for the existence of God." But what shook my world about this quote was the idea that they have already decided what they believe, so even if God Himself had walked up to the man and shook his hand, he would continue to deny the existence of God because before God had even walked up to him he had already mentally decided on what he would see. that is why so many people walk right past a blessing or a personal experience with God without even knowing it because they were unable to see Him there. they saw what they had chosen to believe instead of believing what they saw. 


The truth is that short of God in all His blazing and glorious power swooping down to earth in a fire chariot nothing is good enough for some people to believe in the existence of God. And for some, even if they had seen God swoop down with lightning and such, they still would not have accepted God as their creator. and that is the reality of the power of humanities mind. We can blind ourselves from the truth so powerfully that we hinder our own spiritual condition. 


Furthermore; when you become so materialistic in your mindset the practice of faith is drastically hindered. It is by faith that true spiritual inspiration reveals that God is real and that the world in which we know was framed and created by God, 
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. . . by faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible." -Hebrews 11:1
Faith cannot be touched by finding the perfect evidence scientifically to prove the existence of God. Because, creation in itself is proof of God's existence. 


C.S. Lewis wrote in his book Mere Christianity, "If there was a controlling power outside the universe, it could not show itself to us as one of the facts inside the universe-no more than the architect of a house could actually be a wall or staircase or fireplace in that house. The only way in which we would expect it to show itself would be inside ourselves as an influence or a command trying to get us to behave in a certain way." 
So many people are looking for the existence of God in the wall of the universe. We have to understand that God is not the wall but rather the architect who designed the universe. We can see aspects of who God is through His creation but we can't expect to see God himself in His creation. It is only a reflection of his nature.


Take for instance the time when Jesus went to see Thomas after he was risen. Thomas had said, ' unless i see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.' (Acts 20:25) And after Jesus had visited, and Thomas had touch his wounds and his side, Jesus spoke and said, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (Acts 20:29)  I like how it was so simply put by Jamie in Walk to Remember, "God is like the wind, you can feel it but you cant see it." The proof is in the wind. You dont need to see the wind to know that it exists and that it is there. That is why Jesus said, blessed are those that have not felt Jesus' wounds and believed. 


1. Nature itself is a testament to God's existence.
2. Your conscience, the very law of human nature is the faint whisper of God's voice  
3. And the Holy Spirit that dwells within you is the feel of His presence. 


these are just a few examples out of the many that prove the existence of God. And yet many people do not see God in these things. 


So the real question is not whether God is real, but rather do you choose to believe that God is real? Because though you deny God's existence does not mean that He ceases to exist. Just as truth does not cease to exist just because everyone believes a lie. 


do you not see God in your life? Do you not see him ministering to you on a daily basis? Just close your eyes for a moment, and ask God to minister to you. because he is already all around you, He is just waiting for you to realize it. I don't know how He will speak to you, what you will feel. But what i can tell you is that God will never disappoint. God desires to be near you. If you will only allow Him to minister to you. Don't wait until you see something to believe that God can perform miracles in your life because then it will be to late. Believe and have faith and then you will see what you never imagined.


So it all boils down to this . . . You believe in the existence of God, but you have a hard time believing in His existence in your life. He feels so far away, you feel you can only get so far and then you fall once again. At least that is how my friend feels. I want to share something with you. we all at times feel this way, but it is His word that we cling to when we feel like our prayers are bouncing off the clouds. i have learned four valuable lessons on how to keep marching even when you don't think you can take another step


1. lift your hands and worship God anyway. You were created to worship your creator. When you hinder yourself from worshiping you are hindering everything else in your life. Worship God even when its hard to, when you don't think you can. Just lift your hands, clap your hands, say hallelujah, just let God know that you love Him and that you are trying to seek Him even in your pain
2. Read the word of God. In your darkest times, the book of psalms can be such an encouragement. One of my professors told me that i should pray the psalms when i cant seem to find the words. When my parents were getting a divorce the psalms gave me comfort through the heartache. reading God's word gives you strength and guidance. You'd be surprised how much you recall later.
3. praying. How can you expect to get anywhere spiritually when you aren't even willing to get to know your God. You can't move anywhere without communication. God knows that sometimes there are no words. All He asks is that you lean on Him when all you have are tears. As my mothers says, just give it to Him, Give God your sorrows, and He will replace it with peace and joy.
4. And lastly i cannot begin to tell you the value of fasting. It is an underrated practice in the Christian faith but i am starting to realize how powerful fasting can be in your life. You want to get Gods attention! Fast! Fast like you are desperate for a change, that you are desperate for an answer from God, that you need to feel Him surround you right then and there. And i can assure you, nothing gets Gods attention more than when you lay aside food and focus all your attention on Him. He see's your sacrifice and desires to bless you for it.


Don't lose hope. It is only when you give up and decide to walk away that you become a failure. But if there is one thing i am learning in God. Is that no matter what i have done he still loves me. No matter how many times i have walked away, he still desires to give me my inheritance, no matter how many times i sin, he still loves me enough to forgive me. He may feel far away and non existent in your life. But i assure you if you practice these things regularly in your life you will see a change. But you need to be desperate. You must desire a change! only then will you see the change come to pass. It doesn't start with God, it starts with you. 


God wants to show you the wounds in His hands and in His side, but you have got to be willing to meet Him in the meeting place. But those of you who already believe without seeing His wounds God says you are blessed. It is the power of His wounds in which you are healed. Allow God to heal you tonight. Allow Him to minister to you like you have never allowed Him to before.