For me the risen Jesus is so real that He’s beyond unbelief! Unbelief can go to church and quote a creed but it’s unwilling to consistently obey and depend on the living Jesus in everyday life. Many people use unbelief in God as an excuse to justify living however they want to.

Hand-me-down creeds seldom produce passionate heart-felt faith full of love. To refuse to really rely on and depend on the living Jesus in day-to-day life is unbelief. A great illustration of unbelief among Christians is the refusal to believe that the risen Jesus can personally lead a church service without a pastor and/or a program holding on to control.

Faith is relying on Christ living and working in, thru, and around you every moment rather than relying on your own effort. Following Jesus isn’t about good behavior. It’s the gift of Spirit-led and Spirit-empowered behavior that comes from fully surrendering to “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” It is believing that goes beyond a mere list of beliefs to a Jesus-led lifestyle.

The more we dare to depend on the risen Jesus instead of on self-effort, the more we will experience His power and presence. Jesus is my bublewrap. He surrounds me with His love and protects my heart from harm so that I can be led by His Spirit without fear.

Much modern Christianity is like hospice care. It’s goal is to keep people comfortable until they die.

When people in a church service aren’t allowed to openly express their love for Jesus someone or something is quenching the Holy Spirit.

Doubts that deny
And encourage you to defy
The power and presence
Of the risen Jesus
Don't want you
To daily rely
On HIm to rectify
And to beautify
Your hurting heart.
Courageously rely
On the living Jesus
Anyway.