Have You Ever Thought About God's Word As Our Greatest Cheerleader?
God Is Our Greatest Cheerleader
I understand that thinking about God in such terms as our greatest cheerleader is probably not the way we commonly think about God or His word. One common view and understanding of many people when reading the Bible seems to be more related to our actions, how we live, or what we do. Not to say that is not an appropriate way to read, view, and understand Scripture, but God speaks so much more.
When I think back over my journey with Jesus through His Word, I am amazed at the power and effect of God’s word, but I am also amazed at the journey. Once upon a time, I really did not understand His word. I read it, but didn’t really get it. But I just kept reading and studying. Over the past twenty-seven years of walking with Jesus, I learned that we are all on a spiritual growth journey. Sometimes God uses His word to correct us, strengthen us, comfort us, give us peace, turn us around, shake us up, and sometimes He cheers us on.
If you haven’t experienced God’s word to you in the ways I just mentioned, maybe you are like many other women who have said things like: “I’m reading my Bible, but it doesn’t it matter. I don’t understand anything.” Have you ever said that or something like it? Probably at some point in our journey we all felt that way. If that’s you right now, I encourage you to keep wrestling with the things of faith and pursing God.
Faith, Benefits, & Blessing
All believers know sometimes faith is hard. We are so visual, yet God calls us to believe without seeing. However, we must love the fact that God blesses us when we walk by faith, not by sight. Remember Jesus’ words to Thomas when he doubted that Jesus truly rose from the grave.
Jesus said to him,
"Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed.
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
John 20:29
Jesus promised to bless those who believed beyond what their physical eyes could see. When we seek and pursue God persistently even when we physically see no evidence that our faith matters or that our prayers are being answered, God grows, develops, and builds our faith, and yes, our character as well.
“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
Romans 5:3-4
Now at this point, you might be thinking, “Wait a minute, I thought you were talking about faith and pursuing God.” You are right. However, if you have been through a season of persistently praying for something and God not answering when or how you think He should, that often equates to some level of suffering. Nevertheless, as you endure the hard work of seeking God through His word and prayer, He increases your faith and enlightens your heart to His truth. No matter how you look at it from the “still waiting” side of pursuing God, increased faith and enlightening your heart to His truth is a rich and rewarding blessing.
What Are You Pursuing God For?
Besides the benefits of increased faith and enlightenment of truth, God’s word can often be our greatest cheerleader. Galatians 6:9 gives us encouragement and a wonderful word of encouragement as does Psalm 27:13.
And let us not grow weary while doing good,
for in due season, we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Galatians 6:9
I would have lost heart unless I had believed that
I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Psalm 27:13
What you are praying and pursuing God for? Is there something you have been asking God to do, but you don’t see the answer yet? What comes to mind when I ask those questions? Know that God doesn’t want you to give up just because it looks like He’s not answering. God always works on the behalf of those who seek him consistently and continuously.
I want to encourage you to read two passages from Luke and as you read them keep them in the framework of God being your greatest cheerleader. Take a moment to read Luke 11:1-14 and Luke 18:1-8. Jesus gives us parables like this to signify the importance of not giving up when we seek God for something, but He also gives them to cheer us on.
Notice in Luke 11:1 Jesus’ disciples asked Him to teach them to pray. He gives them what we know as the Lord’s Prayer, and immediately follows that with a story about a friend who came to his friend at midnight asking for bread. The friend tried to send his friend away, but the friend in need would not leave until he held bread in his hand.
Persistence & Shameless Audacity
In Luke 1:8 Jesus said,
“I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence
he will rise and give him as many as he needs.”
Luke 1:8
Notice “because of his persistence.” The NIV translation says because of “shameless audacity” he received what he asked for. Then in verse 9, Jesus said, “So I say to you.” The best way to translate Jesus’ opening words in verse 9 is “Based on all that I just taught you, I now tell you to…” Jesus, our greatest cheerleader, teaches His disciples then, and you and I, today.
"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you;
seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds,
and to him who knocks it will be opened.”
Luke 11:9-10
When my youngest daughter was growing up, my husband and I often said she had a future of “Yes” ahead of her because she was one of the most persistent children. She learned at an early age that persistence paid off, and she taught us that same lesson as well. God’s word teaches us the same lesson. Persistently pursuing God pays off.
In Luke 18:1-8 Jesus encouraged His disciples in another cheering them on parable teaching them “that they should always pray and not give up.” (Luke 18:1) He told them about a widow who pleaded with an unjust judge to give her justice regarding her adversary.
Listen to the words of Luke 18:4.
“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself,
“Even though I don’t’ fear God or care what people think and this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice.”
Luke 18:4
Jesus then pointed out that if an unjust judge acted on the behalf of a persistent widow whom he cared nothing about, their persistence in pursuing God would absolutely pay off.
“And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night?
Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.
However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Luke 18:7-8
If you are praying about something specific and feel like God isn’t answering your prayers, let Jesus be your greatest cheerleader. Spend some time reading, studying, meditating on, and praying through Luke 11:1-14 and Luke 18:1-8 this week or as long as it takes to build up your faith and your persistence in pursuing God.
Leaving you with a prayer for persistent faith:
Precious Heavenly Daddy, Help me not grow weary while doing good that I may reap in due season! Give me persistent faith believing that I will see Your goodness in the land of the living. I want to trust in the truth and power of Your word. Help me to live faithfully rooted in and standing on the truth of Your word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
