Simple Faith

There were 44,760 capable warriors in the armies of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. They were all skilled in combat and armed with shields, swords, and bows. They waged war against the Hagrites, the Jeturites, the Naphishites, and the Nodabites. They cried out to God during the battle, and he answered their prayer because they trusted in him. So the Hagrites and all their allies were defeated. [1 Chronicles 5.18-20]

I love this passage of scripture.

Here is particularly what I love about it: They cried out to God during the battle, and he answered their prayer because they trusted in him.

God seems very motivated to respond to faith. The passage above seems to be a very matter-of-fact statement of simple faith: They cried out to God... God answered because they trusted Him.

Many of us would say, "Wow, if only it was that simple!"

But it is.

Oh, but there is one key ingredient that is a given: repentance. We know from the Bible as a whole that God cannot tolerate sin in our lives. 

Unrepentance is the single most answered-prayer deterring factor in our lives. How do we know if we are unrepentant? Because our prayers are not answered! But here also is where most then reveal through their response where their sin actually lies. It is in these words, "I have not sinned." Or perhaps, "I don't know of any sin that would block my prayers."

The thing is, we are quick to make God our to be something He is not rather than 'read the circumstances and conclude that we must have sin in our lives whether we can see it or not. It is a pride issue.

However, we MUST have eyes to see that our lack of faith is sin all by itself. (Think about that)

Father, thank You for the lesson of this simple scripture passage today. Help me to be so simple in my faith!