Wednesday, July 10, 2013

By: Rachelle Hitt Bilbo

Believe Dat?

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not SEE.

In the very small town where I grew, there was one family known by everyone for their extreme devotion to the New Orleans Saints. Their patronage did not come once the Saints won their first divisional championship or when they won the Superbowl. They were fans when the Saints were called the "Aints" and when people said "hell would have to freeze over before the Saints would ever even make it to the Superbowl let alone WIN!

This family didn't JUST dress in Saints paraphernalia; they painted their entire truck black and gold. They had lawn decorations year round supporting the "losing team" at the time.

Recently, the son of this Saints fanatics family told me that when the Saints did indeed win the Superbowl, he cried like a baby! He explained that for him, it was more than just a big win. It was what he believed could happen his entire life. He said that at that moment, he felt validated for all of his devotion AND all of the criticism from others who didn't "Believe Dat" throughout the years.

Maybe winning a football game is not a great example of the "miraculous" (well, unless you are from South Louisiana lol...) However, the impressive thing to me is the relentlessness and undying faith of this family.

They had faith in the Saints when the thought of a Superbowl win was unfounded to many. It had NEVER happened before. They had never actually SEEN that type of victory for their home team.

Today's verse reminds us though that faith has nothing to do with "seeing" but everything to do with our confidence in God that He can provide the things we hope for and believe in Him to perform.

Even when there is no concrete evidence in the natural and no history of past successes, know that God can do anything! God THRIVES on impossible situations.

Luke 1:37 says, "For with GOD, NOTHING shall be impossible."

I challenge you today to ALWAYS expect and believe for the BEST! You ARE on the WINNING team. Even if you have been given a bleak doctor's report and everyone else around you seems to have lost faith, DO NOT GIVE UP....paint your truck and put out yard signs believing that it's not over yet! Believe DAT!

Dear Lord, I thank You that through You, all things are possible. Please strengthen my faith and the faith of those around me.

I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.