Stinky Cheese

I catch a whiff of something more often than I'd like to admit.  

Sometimes it comes as a passing breeze that I immediately dismiss without thought.

Other times, it's so overwhelming I'm paralyzed and unable to process or move forward.

I bet you've experienced it, too.

                                          It can start as something so small.  

Such a faint breeze.

::the stench of disbelief::

The Bible says that the very essence of us longs for eternity…for purpose.  

It's no wonder this stench most often starts as a simple question..a faint nagging.  That's how Satan likes to start his feast oftentimes.  

"Did God really say that you must not eat the fruit…?"

Things really straightened out right at the last second…was that really an answer to prayer?

That's a pretty…insane "miracle"…did that really happen?

Could God really use you?

You have a disease…do you really have enough faith to be healed?

That person was healed…were they really ever sick?

An orphanage burned to the ground…does God really care?

That person has gone through hell and back…did they really bring it on themselves?

If you're really the Messiah…

Smell that?

It smells an awful lot like the fertilizer farmers spread around their crops.

And boy does Satan love to get us knee-deep in it.

 See, he desires to harvest crops of destruction and is earnest in his planting of seeds….his questions.

**(see bottom for disclaimer if you're about to freak about all questions being from the Enemy).

The longer we allow those seeds to grow…the longer we leave this "stinky cheese" sitting around – the stronger it gets and the more damage it will do.

See here's the deal – this stuff is totally trackable.  It has a root.  It started somewhere.  And if those questions lead to anything other than life and the things of God.  Well, friend – it might be time to get rid of the stinky cheese instead of just talking about it.

So many times we find ourselves in broken relationships, shattered reputations, pockets full of rumors, mindset of defeat, chip on the shoulder, elephant on the chest, knee-deep in a harvest of destruction…because we start to grow accustom, and maybe even expect, the stench of disbelief.

 

Maybe our problem doesn't lie in what we believe we're capable of

what we understand 

                                  what can wrap our mind around

                               what we believe to be impossible

what we theorize, interject or conclude

Maybe our question sounds an awful lot like the one that rolled off the Enemy's tongue not so long ago…

If you really are the Messiah…

If you really are God…

If you really are good…

If there really are things such as faith, hope and LOVE…

Maybe it's worth digging up some of these seeds of disbelief and getting rid of them before they make themselves so comfortable that we catch a whiff of that familiar smell….

Oh, the stench of my disbelief.

Lord, I just want to know You.  And really, really know You.  You invite me into YOUR heart and THAT'S where I want my eyes filtered through.  Thank You so much for Your patience and faithfulness to this heart so, so prone to wander.  You never stop being good.  You never stop loving.  Regardless what pit I find myself in.  Give me the courage to walk in faith where my heart fails me and my mind says, "impossible."

I have an exciting announcement that I will share with you all soon!  
Feel free to send me your address as a comment (either directly on the blog or on the left of the homepage) if you'd like to get my Spring newsletter.  

***(Asking questions isn't bad.  It's healthy.  God isn't playing hide and go seek…He desires to reveal Himself.  I'm not about to tackle discernment and checking motives in this blog  – but I will say that retracing the fruit of our actions will always indicate the author of those questions)***