How’s Your Faith?
Part 2
Today’s Truth
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
~ Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Friend to Friend
Valleys are lined with disappointment and discouragement. Some people
seem to thrive on adversity, emerging from their valley with greater
strength and deeper faith. Others stumble and fall, giving in to
discouragement and dropping out of the race. The difference in outcome
is determined by the way we choose to handle discouragement.
We must respond to each valley with trust and faith.
The word “trust” means, “to lie helpless, face down” and is the picture
of a servant waiting for his master’s command or a soldier yielding
himself to a conquering general. “Heart” refers to “the center of one’s
being.” In other words, to trust God completely means that from the
very center of our being, from the very core of our existence, we trust
Him, totally abandoning ourselves in childlike faith to Him and His
plan. We come, holding nothing in our hands, pushing no agenda, with
one word in our heart—“whatever!” “Whatever You want me to do, Lord, I
will do. Whatever You want me to say, Lord, I will say. Whatever You
want me to think, Lord, I will think. Whatever path You have for me,
Lord, I will walk.”
If you are like me, you sometimes think you don’t have
enough faith. The amount of faith is not nearly as important as the
right kind of faith—faith in God alone.
A mustard seed is small but can still take root and
grow—just like faith. Faith is also like a muscle. The more we use it,
the stronger it becomes.
We must remember that faith doesn’t rest on what we
have done. Faith rests on what Christ has done. As Paul says, times of
stress accentuate the presence and power of God.
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and
trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to
endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and
character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this
expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us
because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his
love” (Romans 5:3-5, NLT).
When the valleys come, we are tempted to abandon our faith and strike out in our own strength. What we should do is embrace our faith in God, look for our Shepherd, and follow Him.
The story is told of a shepherd who tried to persuade
his sheep to cross a swiftly flowing stream. Since sheep are naturally
afraid of rapidly running water, the shepherd couldn’t get them to
cross. Then he had an idea.
Picking up a lamb, the shepherd stepped into the river
and carried it to the opposite shore. When the mother saw that the
shepherd had safely led her lamb across the stream, she forgot her fear
- and stepped out in faith and into the rushing current. Soon, she was
safely on the other side. The rest of the flock followed.
Faith rests in what Christ has already done on the cross and in our lives.
Faith hopes for what God will do for us in the future.
Faith builds on the victories of yesterday to help us face the valleys of today and the questions about tomorrow.
Faith in God is sure and certain, believing that God is
who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do. When we
believe God will fulfill His promises, even though we can’t see a
single promise materializing, we are exercising faith.
Faith does not bypass pain, but it does empower us to
deal with pain. Faith steps up to the bat and invites the opponent to
throw his best pitch. Sometimes faith strengthens us, and other times
faith surprises us. Great faith is forged in the deepest valleys,
beginning where our strength and power end and God’s begins. How’s your
faith?
Let’s Pray
Father, I want to be a woman of faith, but I am so weak and so often
afraid. Today, I choose against fear. Instead, I choose to believe You
and Your Word. Please help me learn how to reject the lies of the enemy
and celebrate the absolute truth of Your Word.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now it’s Your Turn
One of my favorite descriptions of faith is:
F: forsaking
A: all
I: I
T: trust
H: Him
Read Hebrews 11:6 and record it in your journal. Then write the verse in your own words.
Hebrews 11:6 “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.”
More from the Girlfriends
Our faith is tested when the storms of life hit. Are you sitting in a rocking boat that you fear is about to capsize? Mary has a message of hope for you! Check out her CD, Strength for the Storm, and discover how to find strength and the courage to face the trials in your life.
Need help learning how to study the Bible? Check out Mary’s weekly online Bible study, Light for the Journey. The current topic is How to Tame Your Tongue. And be sure to connect with Mary on Face book or through email.
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