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In December 1994, at a church men’s retreat, I accepted a call to come up to the altar to accept Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. I was so excited when the minister said, "You are now saved!"
But, when I got back to my room and reflected upon what had happened, I was uncertain if I was truly saved. I did not understand how a simple verbal confession could be the key to eternal life. Later that day, I was in a cabin with my mentor, who was sleeping under the bunk bed. I woke my mentor up and asked, "How do I know I’m saved?"
My mentor took me to the pastor’s cabin, and asked the pastors, "This young man just got saved, but he is not sure if he is truly saved. How does he know if he is truly saved?"
One of the pastors said, "Turn your Bible to Romans 10:9." I did, and he said, "Read it." I read that "if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
When I finished reading, he asked, "What do you think?" I responded, "What do you mean?" He said to read it again, and I read for the second time: "if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
When I finished reading the second time, he asked, "What do you think?" For a second time, I responded, "What do you mean?" He said to read it again, and so I read it for the third time: "if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and BELIEVE in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
I said, "So all I must do is BELIEVE?"
He said, "Yes! Do you BELIEVE?"
I said, "Yes, I BELIEVE!"
He replied, "Then you are saved!"
I shouted with joy, "I’m saved! I’m saved!"
That was the happiest moment of my life! It redefined my life, and set the course of my destiny. What was it about that day that changed everything for me? Was it the confession? No, it was the belief in the truth that I had confessed. Words have meaning, but belief has power. The Bible is true, but you must belief, as it is belief in the words that you confess that releases their power.
What is it about belief that is able to get one saved, move mountains, and do miracles?
To believe is to trust with conviction. It is to allow the meaning of the words to sink into your heart and release their power. Faith is a belief and trust in God through His word, even when the "evidence" or "proof" has not yet manifested. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)). Belief in what God has said through His word is the catalyst and foundation of our faith.
What areas of your life and business do you need to see change? What dreams do you want to see realized? Are you realizing God’s promises for your life and business? In order to see them come to pass, you need to believe, so do you believe in them?
If you do, and if they are according to God’s plan for your life, it will be realized. If belief can change someone’s destiny and give them eternal life, imagine what it can do for your life and business. Now the question is, how do you believe?
Here are the keys to believing as you read God's word and confess it over your life and business.
1. Trust in the words you read and say
2. Be convicted by the words you read and say
3. Have confidence in what you read and say
4. Accept what you read and say to be true
5. Act on what you read and say.
As you do so, you can be sure that your plans for your life and business are aligned with God's plans because His word is truth (John 17:17).
Belief and trust in the Word of God convict us of its truth and release faith. Faith has the power to help you realize God’s plan for your life and business.
My prayer for you today is that God will give you the belief and trust - in other words, the faith - to believe in His promises for your life and business, so that you can fulfill His plans in the marketplace.
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