I Encounter God by Faith, Not Feelings

One of the things we are doing with our core office team at Church Without Limits in 2012 is participate in the Leadership Development Program out of Bethel Church. It involves monthly video conferences, reading and listening assignments, and a number of practical exercises. We are just in the first month but are enjoying it immensely already.

The first book we have to read is Victorious Mindsets by Steve Backlund (short book… really good). As I was reading yesterday one of his points really jumped out at me regarding the topic of receive the love of God during these 12 Days of Relentless Love. God ministers to each of us in a personalized, unique way and in every season there are some that ‘get it’ really easily and others whom it seems to be harder for (I write with experience because I have been on the ‘harder’ side a number of times). For those who are having a ‘harder’ time it can be frustrating to watch others move forward ‘so easily’ and they can be tempted to give up but Steve shared some outstanding insight on receiving by faith and not by feelings.

Check it out:

I Encounter God by Faith, Not Feelings (Overcoming the “something is wrong with me” syndrome)

I remember when I was a “joy-impaired” and “encounter- impaired” Christian. This was highlighted to me during the mid to late 1990’s when there was a fresh move of God on many lives. During that time, multitudes experienced God in dramatic, life changing ways; but when I would receive prayer, nothing hap- pened. I saw others right by me touched powerfully (shaking, falling, seeing visions, and other ecstatic experiences), but I was like the Rock of Gibraltar. It was frustrating.

The devil would “encourage” me at that time by saying, “There is something wrong with you! Actually, there is something seriously wrong with you. If there wasn’t, then you would be having encounters like everyone else.” I would meditate on those words, believe them, and then try harder to experience God. Things though only got worse.

The Lord finally broke through my condemnation and dissappointment. He told me, “Steve, of course there is something wrong with you. That’s why Jesus died for you. Get over it and trust me to take care of anything dangerously wrong with you. And realize that you are misunderstanding how to receive from Me. You are trying to receive by feeling instead of faith. It won’t work if you do it that way. You must believe you are being touched powerfully even if you feel nothing. If you believe; then the feelings, experiences and encounters will come.” Oh, how I needed those words, and I am sure that many of you reading this need those words, too.

I followed this heavenly instruction. I purposed to receive by faith everything that was prayed over me. I didn’t care any more if I felt things or not. It was a whole new victorious mindset that God gave me.

I finally relaxed and received. The amazing thing that happened was that I actually began to have my own experiences (because experience follows faith). It is wonderful to trust God!