God help us stop saying we believe while living in total disbelief.

Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for your sins have brought you down. Bring your confessions, and return to the LORD. Say to him, “Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us, so that we may offer you our praises. Assyria cannot save us, nor can our warhorses. Never again will we say to the idols we have made, ‘You are our gods.’ No, in you alone do the orphans find mercy.” [Hosea 14.1-3]

If we look carefully in Hosea, we can see what it is that really ticks God off. Nothing in the book so far has said it any clearer than this prayer Israel is encouraged to pray.

"Assyria cannot save us, nor can our warhorses..." is the statement that says it all.

As I consider my life and all that it is, I have to ask myself, "Am I trusting in in idols? Am I trusting in my own efforts or possessions to save me?"

Even in other parts of today's reading, there is mention of trusting "military might" instead of God (10.13).

What I am seeing is that our trust must be in God and God alone. It is not enough to say, "We trust God!" only to turn to the strength, knowledge, or efforts of man for help. Yes, I am "going there..." When we get sick, we first run to the doctor - only to send a prayer request to our preacher after the fact. We go to the world for our diagnosis "so we will know how to pray." How silly is that? Really.

If God is indeed God, them why do we not go to Him first? Furthermore, if God is indeed God, why do we not go to Him and Him alone? If God is indeed God, and He did not heal us or provide for us, why in the world would we resort to other means? Really.

I mean, really.

I will probably stir the ire of many with this talk here - but does it not need to be stirred?

What are we really trusting in? We quote our faith scriptures while completely "walking out" complete and thorough disbelief with our lives and actions. Is God pleased with this?

I don't think so. I really don't think so. But our society - even our religious society - is so indoctrinated with self-help that God is just a... I don't know what - but He's not our everything.

God help us. God help us stop saying we believe while living in total disbelief.

Father, I am completely disgusted with myself and my faithlessness today. Please forgive me for being so confident in myself and others while giving You lip service, but not faith.