Superstitious Faith (originally published on March 17, 2018)
I’m writing to you today from the beautifully calm waters of Lake Erie. Oh how I love to be up here! As I have said before, being on open water refreshes my soul. It opens my lungs and broadens my view. It reminds me of how small I am verses how wonderfully expansive He is. I am always so grateful for my time on the water.
As I often like to do, I’m thinking of the goodness of the Lord. I’m also thinking of how misunderstood He can be and how that causes distance between His heart and the hearts of those He loves. As you know, it’s a passion of mine to help bridge that distance. In my own way, I try to help others see Him as He is – as I have been so very blessed to see. Because that is refreshment like no other. It expands our views (and our hearts) more than beautiful blue water as far as the eye can see.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about how our superstitious lifestyles keep us from an authentic faith. It’s funny. We get weirded out by black cats darting across our paths or the accidental breaking of mirrors. We knock on wood or pick up pennies off the sidewalk for good luck. We refuse to come inside before we’ve closed our umbrellas and walking under ladders is for full-blown fools. These things we have memorized. These things we will monitor closely.
But when it comes to matters of faith, we aren’t as particular – generally speaking.
Sure, we’ll be cautious about our words if we sense, almost in a superstitious-style, that they will come back to haunt us. But many Christians have no idea that this instinctual habit actually has some biblical truth to it. What comes out of our mouths matters! In fact, the Bible teaches that our words have the power of life or death (Proverbs 18:21). Life or death! That’s pretty serious stuff. Walking under a ladder won’t hurt you (unless there’s some sort of ladder mishap) but mindlessly uttering words of “death” actually could.
Now, don’t panic. Scripture isn’t saying we’re likely to kill with our thoughts and our words but it IS saying there’s a very real connection between them and our spiritual, emotional and physical health. I have found this to be true in my own life.
I hear Christians say things like this:
“God is punishing me.”
“I must be cursed.”
Even,
“I hate my life.”
Honestly, I used to say these kinds of things, as well (mostly to myself) until I started listening to the loving advice from some of my favorite preachers who taught me to really listen to my words and be careful how I wield them.
Why?
Because out of the mouth flows the issues of the heart. If you want to know what’s truly in your heart, listen to your words. And if you want to know why “bad luck” seems to follow you wherever you go, you need to know your “heart issues” might be to blame.
How we see our Father in heaven will make its way out of our mouths and will very much determine how we live and how healthy we will be. We tend to attract the good or bad, based on our thought life and the words that flow therefrom. For instance, if you tend to think God is always displeased with you, condemning thoughts will form the words of your internal dialogue and shape your relationship (or lack thereof) with Him. You will perpetually struggle with feelings of guilt and believe everything negative that happens is a result of His displeasure. This type of thinking snowballs until you become kind of bitter – like one of those people who could win the lotto and still find reason to be miffed about it.
That type of “faith” magnifies a superstitious-type relationship with God. You’ll live like He’s heavily scrutinizing every little step you take and as soon as you slip from His standards, you’ll wait for the blow. You’ll slip up and you’ll just know the bottom’s about to fall out. It puts you on edge.
Do you see how that type of thinking can’t possibly produce anything good? It’s not at all how our loving Father wants you to live. You can’t be sound or nourished under that mindset. And you’ll have trouble producing real affection for Him or anyone else because you’ll mostly be thinking about yourself and what hoops you need to jump through to stay on God’s good side.
Imagine for a second you’re God. How do we think that looks to Him? He wants to love us. He longs to embrace us and lead us into the fullness and abundance His Son bought for us on the Cross…
and we’re just hoping to make it through the day without a smiting.
The truth is, the more we say we’re cursed, the more we (essentially) are. Saying we’re “cursed” is an invitation for the enemy to come and work in our lives.
The Bible doesn’t make this a secret:
God responds to faith.
Faith is clearly the better invitation. It is the invitation for God to come into our lives and hearts and do what He does best…
love, heal, protect and restore.
The enemy responds to faith, as well. Faith tells the devil to take a hike. As scripture says…”resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). He has no choice. If you choose faith in your loving God, you’ve disarmed the one who comes to curse.
The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)
Don’t give the “thief” any ground by partnering with his lying thoughts and words. God chooses life for you and He always has.
***
It’s up to us to be made new. God has done His part. And He eagerly waits for us to have a real relationship with Him; one that looks nothing like superstition but it based on the truth of who He is.
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. (Psalm 103:8)
So let’s listen to our thoughts. And our words. Let’s believe in His good heart because He is trustworthy and faithful and He is love (1 John 4:8). Everything that encourages the soul is everything He is. Use the words of your mouth to drive those truths deep into your heart and not only will you change your own life but countless lives around you. You have the ability to speak goodness over others, as well. God is not going to respond to silly superstitions but when you act in faith and speak LIFE, you will be amazed at the power He has given you to live life well.
Blessings to you, my friends. Hope your day feels like blue skies and open water wherever you are and as always, I hope you know and can feel deeply His love. I encourage you, only because I speak from experience, not to live as though you’re a bother to God but knowing you’re His precious child. This will transform your heart…and your thoughts…and your words.
And then ladders, umbrellas and black cats won’t be able to touch you…
but the very strength of God will.
To God be the glory!