Faith Versus Presumption

Crosswalk Daily Email 'Today God Is First' Devotion | Os Hillman

[WhatNot]

Genesis 16:2
So she said to Abram, "The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her." Abram agreed to what Sarai said.

Presumption is based on our own reasoning. Abraham and Sarah fell into presumption when they got too old to have children. God had promised a son to Abraham and Sarah-a son who would fulfill His promise to birth a nation. But Abraham and Sarah were past the normal age for childbearing. So, they concluded that God needed help to work out His plan.

Many businesspeople make the same mistake every day. We make assumptions about what we believe God is doing and wants us to do. However, before we really have full assurance that God has spoken to us on the matter and revealed His perfect action plan, we move forward with our steps to get it done. How do we protect ourselves from presumption? The Proverbs tell us that there is safety in a multitude of counselors (see Prov. 11:14 KJV). Submitting our decisions to others for confirmation protects each of us from the deceit of our own heart. This process will protect us from presumption and encourage us to move in faith. The next time you believe God is directing you toward a specific action, consult with your spouse first, then some close, spiritual friends who will take the time to prayerfully consider your request. If you don't have consensus, wait until you do before you move forward. God will move through this process to His desired will for the matter.

[WhatNot]

Want to escape contact with God?

Then take C.S. Lewis’ advice, worth quoting in full:

Avoid silence, avoid solitude,
avoid any train of thought that
leads off the beaten track.
Concentrate on money, sex, status,
health and (above all) on your own grievances.
Keep the radio on.
Live in a crowd. Use plenty of sedation.
If you must read books, select them very carefully.
But you’d be safer to stick to the papers.
You’ll find the advertisements helpful,
especially those with a sexy or a snobbish appeal.

[dangus]

An otherwise decent article, but just one nit to pick:

The theological term “presumption” is already taken, and in a fairly similar context.

Presumption is the sin of relying on God to forgive your sins, in the absence of any sincere effort at amending your ways. So “Faith Versus Presumption” would be having Christ change your heart though faith, versus justifying oneself on the mere basis of being a Christian.