We are all believers. We were born that way, and we believe many things good and bad. What does believe mean?
The dictionary defines believe in a few ways:
to accept something as true, genuine, or real. ideals we believe in, believes in ghosts
to have a firm or wholehearted religious conviction or persuasion: to regard the existence of God as a fact Do you believe? —usually used with in believe in the Scriptures
to have a firm conviction as to the goodness, efficacy, or ability of something. believe in exercise
to hold an opinion: think I believe so
Only Believe is a powerful truth
We all believe things we haven’t seen or really even thought about, like life is good, pain is bad, there is power beyond us, our desires are worth fulfilling. I would say this kind of belief comes from God; a philosopher might say it is “intuitive.” A great poet puts it like this:
I never saw a moor;
I never saw the sea,
Yet know I how the heather looks
And what a billow be.
I never spoke with God,
Nor visited in heaven.
Yet certain am I of the spot
As if the checks were given. — Emily Dickinson
Only Believe was Jesus’ Command
Jesus uses the word to mean trust and expect good. When He used it in Mark, it was in the context of a heartbroken father whose daughter had died.
Darkness and despair were pressing in on him; his friends told him don’t bother Jesus, your little girl is dead! The weeping had already begun; plans for the funeral were afoot.
Jesus pushed all of this aside and asked the father and mother to take Him to where the girl was lying. There, He took her by the hand and said, TALITHA CUMI, translated “Damsel arise.” And the twelve-year-old girl arose to the astonishment and joy of those who loved her.
His joy was gone; his little girl was dying.
“Don’t bother Jesus, now,” the skeptics said.
“ONLY BELIEVE,” the Master told Jairus,
And took her hand, and raised her from the dead. (Ken Kalis)
When Jesus comes, the Tempter’s power is broken!
When Jesus comes, the tears are wiped away!
He takes the gloom, and fills the life with glory,
For all is changed, when Jesus comes to stay. – Oswald Smith
Only Believe was a song at my healing:
When I was a little boy, my mother feared for my life. She took me to a meeting in New York City where William Branham prayed for the sick. There were thousands there at St. Nicholas Arena, and we stood in a long line. When our turn came, Branham looked at my Mom and said, “Little mother, your son has asthma; he was born with it. But if you only believe right now, Jesus is going to heal him. Only believe!” And then he began singing this song:
Only believe, only believe; All things are possible, only believe, Only believe, only believe; All things are possible, only believe. – My Mom and I joined him, and so did the vast multitude in the arena. As we sang, healing came. I don’t remember if we then sang the verses below, but I have since sung them thousands of times and thanked the Lord for giving me my life’s verse and life song in those two words, “Only Believe.”
Fear not, little flock, He goeth ahead, Your Shepherd selecteth the path you must tread; The waters of Marah He’ll sweeten for thee, He drank all the bitter in Gethsemane. – Refrain
Fear not, little flock, whatever your lot, He enters all rooms, “the doors being shut,” He never forsakes; He never is gone, So count on His presence in darkness and dawn. — Refrain, Paul Rader,
Read more on Paul Rader in SPIRITUAL LIVES