Begone unbelief. [Hebrews 11.]

John Newton wrote a hymn which starts ,/Begone unbelief,my Saviour is near,and for my relief will surely appear/.We read how the disciples often fell into unbelief,in spite of the fact that Jesus was with them,and witnessed
many miracles.[Mark 16v14] Israel in the wilderness  likewise had hearts full of unbelief,in spite of the wonders and miracles they had witnessed.
[Hebrews 4v6].Unbelief can open the door to many things,it can be the door to  disobedience,and can shut us out of the blessings of God. The opening words of Newtons hymn,/Begone unbelief/,paints a picture of him speaking to it ,things are difficult,there are needs,challenges to face,his reply is to take a hike.He is refusing to let unbelief rein in his life,he is declaring you are not coming in,I do not want you in my life.Those words are not just bravado,but are spoken of one who believes that his Saviour is with him,
and will help him.This is not a passive thing,no, he writes of wrestling in prayer,we can only advance on our knee's,George Orwell  visited the coal mines,and saw the hard labour that was needed to extract the coal,in those days,the miners literally worked on their knees. So it is if you and I are to advance in our Christian life,it must be on our knees in prayer.Our heart must be in that place of humble [as it were on our knees]dependence on God to undertake for us.
                                         A  prayer.
Dear God preserve us from a heart of unbelief,in Jesus name Amen.