I wonder if having faith is one of the hardest things we have to do as Christians. A friend once taught me that we need faith to believe in God and his salvation initially, but we also need to have faith to keep believing it day after day. As Annie F. Downs says we have an actual enemy who lies a lot and tries to persuade us God is not good or trustworthy.
I think having faith requires us to be brave. Having faith in God can make us look foolish to our friends and family. Having faith to believe that God will do something you believe he will can often mean we must balance the hope of that outcome against our fear it won’t happen. Downs references Ephesians 6:16 when she tells us to hold a shield of faith over our hearts. I find holding up that faith-shield to be quite tiring sometimes; sometimes believing the whispered lies seems easier.
This morning I prayed through a verse from Hebrews 12. The context of the passage is Jesus as our example, understanding that trials come as a means to train us, and when we embrace our training and persevere we find ourselves just where we need to be and so share in God’s holiness. I bring this up because Downs quoted verse 2 where we are reminded Jesus is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. Just a few sentences later, verses 12 and 13, are the ones I prayed “Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.” (Hebrews 12:12-13) My faith-shield holding arms get tired sometimes, so I pray for God to strengthen me. My enemy tells me to give up, so I pray to God to ask for more patience.
Downs recommends a song to listen to today (Keep Faith by Matt Wertz). Download it and listen a few times. Share what you think of it below, or share your favourite lines. How did God speak to you through the song, or encourage you through today’s devotional?
I think it’s challenging to see her write of asking God for faith. I would have kind of assumed it’s something that “mature” Christians have, those that have figured out way more things than me. Or if you are lacking it, then something must be wrong on your end. Once again lies of the enemy come up. It’s every time you turn around!
In her writing she mentioned holding up the shield of faith and I wrote down Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield”
One thing I love and am in regular, desperate need of reminding of is exactly what Hebrews 11 outlines.
Faith threads together the things that are promised by God but are so far unfulfilled in our experience. That is, until they are.
We hope for power in the midst of weakness; we hope for peace in the midst of conflict and for joy in the presence of sorrow.
No greater honor can be given a person than to offer them your trust, to have confidence in them. To believe the best in them even when you don’t physically see or hear what they are doing. But this is only to the extent that our trust is sufficiently grounded in the person’s perceived character.
The same can be said for God. Faith is believing God’s Word in order to lay hold of things that He promised and make them real in our lives. Not that faith creates the things we hope for—instead, faith receives from God the blessings He gives.
God gives forgiveness, peace, and provision. Faith is the actual evidence of these things in our lives. Faith is our link to the rescuing, strengthening love of God.
I don’t know about you but there have been loads of times where I forget to notice my evidence. Coincidentally it’s almost always during the times when I need it most… like recently. The evidence of His love is all around me (almost overwhelmingly so) and should reinforce my faith to persevere and love bravely but instead … I have found myself battling daily with the buttons that Downs mentions.
I have heard Hebrews 11 called “Halls Of Hero’s” but the thing I need to remember is that it’s not their personality traits, their training, or their upbringing that makes them special… it’s the way they walked out their faith, propelled by the evidence of Gods love, despite themselves or how they were feeling on any particular day.
I need that.
I think having faith does require us to be brave and to trust at times. Some days it’s a comfort blanket. Other days when I have to take a risk or a big decision, that’s when it’s gets rocky. John 14 describes Jesus comforting his disciples. I try to apply this to myself.
That’s a great idea. To take Jesus’ words to his disciples as if he is talking to me personally! Thank you. Love Tifainé