Reaching for God. Searching for Peace. Wanting Happiness. Yearning for Love. These are all things we desire and even a hundred more things beyond that, but to seek these things is a clear indication that we feel as though we don't already have them. On one end we can acknowledge and say that God has already given us everything, but to truly believe that and apply it to all aspects of our lives, that is often a whole other story.
The Bible has many undeniable truths. Some items in
Bible might be argued or totally disbelieved, but that doesn't matter. The Bible and other sources of Gods words to us, were never meant to be either totally accepted or totally rejected. This method of thinking limits your ability to clearly see truths that are there.
To totally accept every word in Bible as end-all be-all, you have mixed Gods truths with personalities, opinions and folk-lore of writers. You will find so many contradictions that you are forever trying to explain them in some way in which they don't contradict. Real truths need no defense or explanation.
For example, concept that God was not able to bear actions of people he created ( he was so upset ), that he flooded entire earth, killing life upon life, upon lifeform...does not agree with concept of a loving and forgiving God. We can justify it by seeing God how we see ourselves and assume it was his right to do with us as he pleases and we should just be thankful he didn't just kill us all...or we can see that writers totally misunderstood an event that occured and treated and viewed God as all ancient tribes did and ASSUMED they were being punished and therefore wrote God in as they saw themsleves...angry, unforgiving, frightened and vengeful people.
On other hand, to not accept any part of Bible at all, you have restricted yourself from being exposed to truths that God has shared with us. Gods truths are all that matter...not when something happened or if something happened, but who we are to be...how we are to live...who God is to us...those things are important. His truths are there and in so many other places as well. They are in songs you hear and movies you see. Once you begin to open your heart to see truthfully, everything becomes so much clearer.
A favorite verse of mine sums up just about all you need to do, be and know. You can virtually throw whole book away, but hang onto this one truth...
"Trust in Lord with all your heart and do not depend upon your own understanding. In everything you do, acknowledge Him and he will direct your path."
This one phrase, one seemingly simple statement, contains everything you need to know in order to have a successful relationship with God and find your way home. All other spiritual truths in Bible, Course in Miracles, etc, are based upon spirit of this one phrase.
"Trust in Lord with all your heart...." It flows off our lips so quickly, yet, have we ever fully comprehended what it means or entails? To Trust God is to have full confidence in what he would decide for you. Trusting consists of removing all fear from your heart about what your past, present or future may hold. Trust includes having forgiven everyone and everything of what you believe they have done to you. Trusting means you have released all grievances with yourself, world and God. Trusting removes all faith in what you believed you can do on your own and acknowledges that everything and anything of value can only be done through God.
To trust God is to see yourself without means to pay a bill, while never fearing what may come of it. Whether it is paid or not, you believe path you are on is one that is perfect for you and you can therefore only be content with life. God knows what is necessary for you to learn and grow, so to fear what is brought before you, is not trusting him.
God never tests you. That's an ancient concept of a Zeus-like God. When times are tough, you can know that no matter what appears to surround you, you have it within God in you to rise over situation. Every situation, whether good or bad, is actually an opportunity to learn and grow. These moments are mighty blessings that give you opportunity to choose differently than you had chosen before. These moments are opportunities to stop cycles in your life and to move past them. God uses everything at his disposal to teach you everything you need to
