Risk Believing

    “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19, NIV).

    Is there a promise for your life you are afraid to believe? Does making a commitment to trust and step out in faith seem too great? Does a lack of trust hold you back? You haven't really said no to that promise, because that would shut the door on the possibility that it might come true. But you haven't said yes, either, because of the cost. The fence of non-commitment on which you are sitting will keep you from what God has promised you. Non-commitment might feel like it is a place of safety, but it isn't. To receive your promise, you will have to risk stepping off your fence and trusting God. You sit on the fence of non-commitment because not sitting on the fence means that you must make a decision one way or the other. If you get off the fence, you will be forced to commit to something. You will either believe or not believe. You will either have faith or not have faith. You will either accept or reject. You are afraid to commit because either way you might be wrong. So you sit on your fence because you presume it is easier and safer than letting go of it. It is not easier and it is not safer. You may think your fence of non-commitment is safe, but all it does is keep you in prison without any hope. You have to risk in order to believe.

    Staying on your fence of non-commitment is really a choice. It is a choice to remain in bondage instead of discovering the freedom found in letting go and trusting God. "Now the Lord is the Spirit,” Paul imparts, “and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17, NIV). The Holy Spirit will make every effort to liberate you from your fence. He will use the circumstances of life to try and get you to trust God. He will move heaven and earth to shake you off that fence and pry your fingers from its false protection. You must choose to let go and make a commitment to believe in His faithfulness. The fence does not protect you. It is a place where non-commitment will destroy what little faith you have.

    Before his death Moses spoke to the Israelites and instructed them to choose prosperity and life instead of destruction and death (Deuteronomy 30:11-15). They had remained on their fence afraid to go into their promised land, but now was the time for them to choose. Not stepping out in faith to claim their promise was choosing death over life. Choosing to get off their fence and move into their promise was going to cost them their presumed safety. They would have to overcome the barriers to their promise. Letting go of the fence means that you must face your own giants. But you do not face them alone. Just as the Israelites moved forward in faith with God's protection, so will you. Getting off the fence does not mean you will fail. It means that you have chosen to trust Him and His promise.

    Let go of non-commitment. He will not fail you. He will bring you safely through pain, fear, and heartache into your promised land because you have chosen to believe Him. Sacrifice your fence of non-commitment and trust in Jesus Christ who sacrificed all for you. “So do not fear, for I am with you,” He declares. “Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). This is His promise when you let go of that fence. He will strengthen and uphold you because you have risked believing.