Trust me...you're not alone. I grow weary by circumstances, yet I'm learning to thank God for the impossibilities that help to rid me of my independance...after all...that is the true beginning of faith.
The other day my husband and I had a deep conversation about faith...what it is...what it is not! In America, our temptation is to reduce "Faith" to a trinket or a badge. We proudly say, "I'm a person of faith."
But what does that really mean? What are the implications of faith?
Honestly, faith is not faith until it costs us something...
- Faith costs us our pride and demands our humility.
- Faith requires our surrender of "self-sufficiency" and compels us to completely depend on God.
- Faith relinquishes our rights and propels servant hood, first to God, second to others.
- Faith requires hope and is only witnessed in hopeless situations.
- Faith is believing for something that is not yet seen.
- Faith surpasses the here and now, the concrete, the substantial of what we can see, hear, or touch trusts, and trusts in what exceeds the realm of the tangible.
- By faith, we believe the truth of Who God is and hold fast to HIS promises, regardless of our experience or circumstances.
Hebrews 11:32-35, "And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again." (NIV)
In this passage...Every hero, every heroine, faced IMPOSSIBLE SITUATIONS but trusted God...some received their deliverance this side of eternity...some only welcomed it from afar...but each were commended by God for their FAITH.
Friend, I will not be so arrogant to attempt to try to explain the mysteries of God...why some people are healed...why some people are not...why some people receive great victories...while others eek out their existence in life...BUT WHAT I WILL HOLD FAST TO...is that GOD IS GOOD...HE IS FAITHFUL...and HE IS A REWARDER OF THOSE WHO DILIGENTLY SEEK AFTER HIM!
Today, I pray our faith grows strong. Our expectancy soars with the truth of WHO GOD IS. OUR HOPE is restored as we consider WHO it is we serve.
And humbly submit that we trust in God...Because He is GOOD. Remember Hebrew 11:5-6, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (NIV)
Here's a quick reminder for those of us whose knees and soul are worn out from waiting:
- Remember Who God is...His character...His love.
- Remind yourself of what He promised...in His Word and in prayer.
- Rest in the truth that God fulfills all of His promises.
- Remain steadfast...when you've done all you know to do to stand...stand firm. (Eph. 6:14)
- Finally, RALLY forward...put one foot in front of the other...follow God's lead. He will not disappoint.
Yes, yes, yes Julie. I sometimes have thought that we don't really have a true concept of faith in our American culture because most of us are not in a position to COMPLETELY have to rely upon him for our everday needs (food, water, etc.), but I do know that I am in constant need of him for my mental stability, financial concerns, concerns over my children, and the list goes on and on. And every day it is good to hear that we need to just pick up our feet and RALLY forward! Sometimes hard to do, but necessary in order to grow our faith and be a witness of God's faithfulness to those around us. Love you! Melissa B. :)
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