The beginning of my faith story started during the darkest time of my life. When I was 14 years old my father passed away unexpectedly. It happened at home and I found his body. I don’t know if you’ve ever experienced a traumatic situation that changes your world in an instant, but that was mine. My entire world froze. I didn’t know how to process what happened and all of the pain I felt. However…
Our faith isn't meant to be passive. There can be a tendency to shy away from praying prayers that would challenge us, like praying for patience or perseverance. However, if we’re serious about growing in our faith then we have to be willing to ask God to change and develop our character, and not just our situation.
I had so much doubt that God would fulfill a certain promise he’d given me that it grew into full-blown unbelief. I was a prisoner of that doubt and it was poisoning my faith. Have you been there? Doubting if what you've been longing and waiting for will ever become your reality? You can’t have hope without faith. We must first believe God can (faith) do something before we can be expectant that He will (hope).
When we finally surrender to His love He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve. On our own, we’re unworthy beggars before him, but through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, we're extended an invitation to God’s table. It doesn’t matter what we’ve done. Once we’ve put our faith in Christ we’re no longer beggars asking for crumbs, we’re heirs seated at His table. Do you realize that? Do you pray and live like that?
So many of us are unhappy and discontent because we’ve fallen into the trap of “I’ll be happy when…”. I’m not saying things won’t bring you happiness, because they can. However, believing that they will be the ultimate source of your happiness; that they’re all you need to be content is a fallacy. Your desire for fulfillment is real, but it can never be satisfied with created things.
You will never have to it all together on this side of heaven. That statement either gives you anxiety or relief. I pray it’s the latter. I don’t say that to make you feel inferior or discouraged, but to help you find freedom. Freedom from the idea that perfection is the goal; from shame and condemnation each time you fall short.
Prayer is how we communicate with God. Often prayer is seen simply as a means to request something from God, but it is so much more. If you want to learn to pray (like Jesus did) or grow in your prayer life then it’s time to start praying for more than your needs and wants.
There’s a reason the Israelites went around the same mountain for almost 40 years. And it’s the same reason many of us are stuck in the same cycles and battles year after year. We’re failing the same tests over and over again because we’re missing the common denominator.
If you don’t get the thing you desire most, will you still believe God is good? Will you continue to believe He is faithful if His timeline never matches yours or His will for your life is completely different than the one you dreamt up years ago? There may come a time when your faith is challenged. You’ll feel like….
So often our prayers focus on what we want and need from God, but how often do you ask what He wants and needs from you? How often do you seek His will instead of asking him to approve yours?
Have you ever felt like your relationship with God was stagnant? Do you want to go to the next level in your faith but unsure how to get there? I’ve been there too. Our relationship with God should always be growing and changing. True Christianity is a lot of things, but one thing it isn’t….
There’s a reason we’re called to partake in sabbath-rest. Not only is it necessary for our physical health, but it’s also crucial for our spiritual health. And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27. So how do we rest? First, it starts with understanding how God intends for us to rest.
