Laying Aside Unbelief (Hebrews 3:19)

So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
– Hebrews 3:19

What a striking verse. It describes God’s people in the Old Testament who missed the promised land. They missed God’s blessing in their families and their community. They completely missed out. Why? Because of unbelief. They did not believe God. They did not trust him. They missed the blessing of God because they did not trust the Word of God, the character of God, and the love of God.

Hebrews 3:19 Hebrews 3:19 teaches that unbelief keeps us from God’s blessing

I want to speak this over your life today and lead us to pray accordingly. God desires your good. He desires to bless you. And do not think that means God wants to give you only material good or prosperity in this world. Think far deeper and greater. God desires you to experience peace, joy, love, hope, and life that surpass the circumstances of this world. God wants that for you today. He wants to give you wisdom and everything you need.

So do not miss out because you do not trust him. Do not miss out because you do not believe his Word or trust his character. This is the essence of sin—to believe we know better than God what is best for our lives, to trust our own way more than his. They missed out because of unbelief. Do not miss out today for the same reason.

Hebrews 3:19 shows the danger of trusting our own understanding.

Oh God, we pray for help in our unbelief. We confess that we are prone not to trust you today. We are prone to think we know better than you and to rely on our own wisdom. Forgive us. You are perfect. You are wise, all-knowing, good, righteous, just, holy, and infinitely trustworthy.

So help us trust you. In every area of our lives where we are prone to unbelief, to disobedience, or to mistrust, help us not miss your blessing. Help us not miss all that you desire to provide for us because of unbelief. Help our unbelief. Increase our faith today, because we want to experience all you have for us. Help us, in a Proverbs 3:5 way, to trust in you with all our hearts and to lean not on our own understanding.

And, God, help us point others toward trust in you. Help us strengthen the faith of brothers and sisters in Christ, so they do not miss out on all you have for them. Help us lead those who do not believe in you to faith in you today. Use us to share the gospel.

A Prayer for the Bafinda People

We pray for faith to spread around the world. We pray for the Bafinda people of Pakistan—over 100,000 men, women, and children, most of whom have never heard the good news of who you are and how much you love them in Jesus. We pray that the Bafinda would be reached and brought to faith, that they would not miss out on your promises and goodness in Christ.

God, may we not follow the example of those who were unable to enter your blessing because of unbelief.

We pray this in Jesus’ name, according to Hebrews 3:19. Amen.