Step 2: We came to believe that a power greater than outselves could restore use to sanity.

February 1, 2007

Scripture reading for today: Exodus 16 - 18

Have you ever wished God would make himself perfectly clear to you? In today’s reading, that is exactly what he does for the Israelites. He makes himself perfectly clear. Why did He do this? Was it a reward for perfect behaving? No! “In the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaints, which are against him…” (Exodus 16:7 NLT) As you keep reading, it will become crystal clear that even God’s perfect revelation of Himself didn’t net him a people who perfectly believed.  

Thought for today:

Most people know that a Higher Power exists – few believe. “ Coming to believe ” is a process. We move from giving lip service to God ’ s existence to a belief that I call – “ knowing that you know that you know. ” Listen. This is very important. You were created to believe. We were not created to live in a vacuum of unbelief. As the writer of Ecclesiastes points out in chapter 3, verses 10 and 11 - this belief is a messy, complex thing. That ’ s why coming to believe is such a process! Unless we grapple with the existence of the unseen world, it is my firmly held conviction that we cannot live well in the seen world. Most of us have been cheated out of our belief and the abundant life (see John 10:10) that accompanies radical believing. Our past has left many of us hurt and damaged. We ’ re in bondage to a lot of lies – misuse of religion, cultic experiences, traditions of man that run counter to God ’ s truth – these harmful exposures leave us scarred. Now is the time to do three things: 1. Figure out what you truly believe. 2. See if your belief is false or true. 3. Decide to believe that which is true. This is not an easy process, but you were created for this. Don ’ t allow the junk in your trunk to hold you back from your true God-created self! At this stage, coming to believe is pretty simple. Simply get honest. Get to know what you believe about God. Practice believing.*

Thought for tomorrow: Jesus answered, “The work God wants you to do is this: Believe the One he sent.” John 6:29 New Century Translation

Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name. John 20:30-31, emphasis mine

February 1, 2007
Teresa McBean

* The Christ-Centered 12 Step Study Guide: Step 2, A NorthStar Community Publication, copyright 2005, p. 9.

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