The Aha! Moment

Aha! (Interjection) used when something is suddenly seen, found, or understood

Aha! Moment

The “Aha!” moment, the light bulb idea, the “Ohhhh, I get it now” realization. That split second when the answer to the question you’ve been asking is suddenly deposited deep into your heart and mind. I think it’s what the Prophet Jeremiah had when he realized just Who God really was and what HE could do, “Ah, Lord God! Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power…nothing is too difficult for Thee!” (Jeremiah 32.17)

Pre Aha! Moment

I’ve personally had a few “Aha!” moments in my life, and especially in my Christian journey. I had one just the other day. For years I have been perplexed about 2 Chronicles 7:14, and specifically, where God says, “If My people… would turn from their wicked ways….” I wondered, what wicked ways? I mean, as Christians, we’ve kind of sworn off the whole obvious wicked ways stuff, haven’t we? Is there some secret wickedness present in some Christians? Perhaps. But just knowing my own heart and life, and having some familiarity with the lives of some Christians I know pretty well, I can definitively say that there is no “secret wickedness” permeating the Body of Christ that we can “turn from.” So, there was my dilemma. If it’s not the external, obvious wicked ways, what exactly is it that we need to turn from?

Basking in the Aha! Moment

What’s cool about the “aha/revelation/ lightbulb” moment is that no one can take it away from you. Once the light is turned on and you know, it seems to me that you can’t “un-know” it.

I was minding my own business one day when it hit me. “…whatever is not from faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23) From the beginning of time, faith has always been the main thing. Faith is the only thing that has ever pleased God. He doesn’t need our ability, He wants our belief and trust. In fact, Hebrews 11:6 tells us that it’s IMPOSSIBLE to please God without faith. So, just off the top we see some pretty serious issues in regard to a lack of faith. One, we can’t please God, and two, whatever we do that is not from faith is SIN.

The Post Aha! Blues

So, whatever is not from faith is sin. Wow. That’s harsh. Think about all the things we as Christians do apart from faith. I consider myself a pretty solid believer, but when I look at my life through the lens of Romans 14:23, I’m not so squeaky clean, after all. I’m basically sinning all over the place! Was that form of entertainment “in faith”? Can I complain about my government, my community, my family, the weather, the snow plow guy, the Church, or really anything “IN FAITH”? Am I raising my kids in faith, or doing my work in faith? Do I believe GOD for everything? Everything? You might be thinking that that’s an impossible standard to reach. Surely God doesn’t mean it like it sounds. AHA! God knows that whatever we don’t begin in faith will end in sin. But, here’s the good news! Along with the conviction, God always gives hope through the “Aha! Application.”

If it’s a Care, it’s a Prayer

These wicked (faithless) ways are never clearer than when we are complaining. I have learned that if I have time to complain, I have time to pray. You see, God knows that if we complain it will only lead to more anxiety and a deeper sense of helplessness which is then spread to others through our words. On the other hand, praying in faith will lead to peace of mind and can build more faith in others who watch our faith-filled lives. Besides, maybe God will actually ANSWER our prayers and change an impossible situation!

What kind of things should I bring to God? Well, in Philipians 4:6, God tells us to bring everything that could cause us anxiety. Is the government driving you crazy? If it’s a care, it’s a prayer, so we take it to the ONE Who is the sovereign ruler over ALL of mankind and pray for the salvation of our leaders. Do you have a wayward child, a sick relative, do you need wisdom, is the price of gas too high, is your washer broken, are there too many mosquitoes, does something need to change in your Church? The list of cares can be endless. I challenge you to take whatever it is to the Lord in faith instead of complaining about it.

There is so much power in prayer. We are not victims. We are not powerless. In fact, as believers in Jesus, we hold the power through prayer to literally HEAL OUR LAND!

The Prophet Jeremiah got it. We serve the very God Who made the heavens and the earth, and nothing, absolutely nothing is too difficult for Him. And that, my friend, is the Aha! moment we can live in every day by faith.

Shalom,

Big D

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