I Know It

I have four grandchildren. Two sleep with a night light and a white noise machine while two prefer white noise and total darkness. Bedtime is tricky already with four exhausted toddlers trying not to fall asleep by egging each other on but when I switch the lights off entirely, I hear, “You forgot the moon and star light, Lolly.” When all four kids are asleep, I usually switch off all the lights anyway. I tried explaining this to Amelia once before she complained about the night light. I even tried telling her that if she would just close her eyes, she wouldn’t see the light until I switched it off. “Even if I close my eyes,” she answered, “I still know the light is on.”

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬ ‭NET‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/107/heb.11.1.NET

How convinced are you of the Truth of God’s Word? Are you prepared to give a reason for the hope you have in Christ? Do you make the most of every opportunity, knowing how to answer anyone who questions you about your faith? Faith is first assurance and firm conviction and it is also evidence or proof of unseeable things. Even when I told Amelia that if she closed her eyes, it would be completely dark in the room, she couldn’t un-see the moon and star light once she had seen it shining on the ceiling. Arguing with a sleepy toddler is pointless, especially when she had made up her mind that she cannot go to sleep with any lights on. You will encounter people you cannot convince. 

“Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. 

They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. 

They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. 

For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬, ‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.4.4-6.NLT

Paul said in his letter to the Colossian believers that making the most of every opportunity meant making sure their gospel conversations were gracious, pleasant and winsome but most importantly, their words should be backed up by their behavior.

“Be wise in the way you act toward those who are not believers, making good use of every opportunity you have. 

Your speech should always be pleasant and interesting, and you should know how to give the right answer to everyone.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭GNT‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/68/col.4.5-6.GNT

How will you know the right words to say at the right time? How will you keep your temper from flaring when you are contradicted or ridiculed for your belief in Jesus as the the Way, the Truth, and the Life? Will you have the courage or the boldness to speak up when the opportunity arises? I can assure you from experience that when you are abiding in Christ, a branch connected to and nourished by the Vine and when your convictions are rooted in scripture, God will bring His Words from the recesses of your mind at the exact moment you need them. Passages I have memorized and those I have only read repeatedly will come to mind while I am teaching, talking with a friend, praying with someone, or even answering a text. When my words reflect what people see in my life, I become a credible witness.

I learned a valuable lesson in a public speaking course in college. There is a huge difference between speaking on an assigned topic and one I am passionate about, interested in, and knowledgeable of. I can’t give very accurate directions to somewhere I’ve never been. I probably won’t be able to convince you to try something I’ve never experienced. On the other hand, I can tell you about the places I love to visit with my grandchildren and you’ll want to go. Give me the opportunity to share something God is teaching me through His Word and l promise you we will have an animated conversation. Knowledge, interest and passion matter. 

“Though you have not seen him, you love him. 

Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/59/1pe.1.8-9.ESV

“For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 

But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. 

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭24‬-‭25‬, ‭38‬-‭39‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/100/rom.8.24-39.NASB1995

My Jesus ~Anne Wilson https://youtu.be/cWLm6z42Gk8?is=Wx2yUm6K3e1GemvM