A Mask of Unbelief
by Andrew White
When I’m unable to sleep, around 5 am, as sunrise approaches, I see the light beginning to fill our bedroom. We have blackout blinds on our windows to stop a streetlight near our house lighting up our room. The blackout blinds keep out the light of the streetlight, but, as the sun comes, the light pours in around the edges where the blind is just 2 cm away from the frame. On a bright morning, it shines through the curtains. So, I’ve resorted to wearing a sleep mask.
Fitting snugly on my face, it obliterates the light completely, allowing me to sleep, but the light is still there! It’s still surrounding me. Despite blinds, curtains and mask, I’m still bathed in that light. It’s just that I’m choosing to block it out. As soon as I lift the edge of the mask to remove it, light floods in and I squint at its brightness. So too, if we remove the little patches of unbelief in our hearts, light, truth and life can flood in, and we can enjoy more of the blessings God has for us.
"In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Corinthians 4:4).
Satan will try anything to blind us with unbelief. We can understand how he uses negative things to sow doubt and unbelief into our thinking; perhaps experiences that hurt us, or times when prayers are not answered the way we want.
He may try to twist our understanding of Scripture, or he may cause many who read the Word of God to believe that some passages are ‘not for them’. He could also cause people to believe what God says about them intellectually, in their mind, but somehow not receive the truth in their spirit.
I know of folk who understand in their mind that God loves them, because they’ve read it in Scripture, heard it preached, had it said to them, and can tell others this truth. But they still can’t feel it deep in their own spirit. Rejection, lack of love and nurture, or abuse has sown unbelief deep within. They believe they’re not loved, or even that they can’t be loved.
Whatever the blinds, curtains and masks of unbelief are in your life, you can work with the Lord to remove them.
Prayer: Lord, please show me where there are areas of unbelief in me. Help me to understand, deep in my spirit, Your truth. Help me to surrender to You any hurt, pain, or behaviour where unbelief is rooted. Come with Your truth, and bring healing to me in the deep places. Help me, Lord, to look above the circumstances and experiences of life, that Satan has used to bind me in unbelief. Help me to look to You and Your Word for the truth of who I really am in You, and know Your love, grace and power in me, so I may be all You want me to be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Andrew White Having first come to Ellel Grange in 2009 seeking deep personal healing for the roots of health issues that had ended his secular career, Andrew attended the Modular school of Healing and Discipleship. He is now on the Associate Ministry and Teaching Teams at Ellel Grange. He enjoys using creativity to help people gain freedom and healing and to deepen their relationship with God.
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