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When we quote the promises of God and the glories of our redemption in Christ, or when we speak of healing and long life, all too often the response of some begins with ‘but….what about…?’ ‘But what about Aunt Sally who died of that?’ ‘But what about the man of God who preached that and then died?’ ‘But what about this and that?’
What I’ve realized is that the word ‘but’ when spoken in response to a divine promise is a manifestation of a natural mind and perhaps even a spirit of unbelief.
Until we can read God’s promises and believe them without our brain crying out ‘but…!’ we know that we are still approaching Him in our own strength and with un-renewed minds.
Far too often we allow logic, memory and our own feelings to limit the promises of God. “But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him.” (1 Cor. 2:14)
There are no ‘buts’ in faith. “Now faith is the … evidence of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1) ‘But’ is the evidence of lingering unbelief.
Because I have set my love upon Him, therefore will He deliver me: He will set me on high, because I have known His Name. I shall call upon Him, and He will answer me: He will be with me in trouble; He will deliver me, and honor me. With long life will He satisfy me, and show me His salvation. (From Psalm 91:14-16)
No ‘buts!’ Don’t let a natural mind dilute a spiritual promise. The Bible and God’s promises IS the Holy Spirit speaking to you. Don’t reject Him by saying, “but…”
Barry Bennett is an instructor- Charis Bible College Colorado. He is a graduate of Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas, and has been serving the Lord since 1972. He and his wife, Betty Kay, have served on the mission field in Mexico, Guatemala, and in Chile, where they spent almost 12 years before returning to Texas in 2001.
