I have that upper arm flabby skin that when I wave, the lower skin has its own wave going on. Ugh! I know the solution is exercise. I lift weights occasionally, and I’m a wimp when it comes to push-ups. Ahhh, if only such hard work wasn’t required!
I wonder if sometimes we approach growing in faith in God in a similar way—I need to work on trusting God more. I need to try harder to believe God.
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10.17)
We receive the gift of faith from God, when we receive Jesus as our Savior. God grows our faith as we engage in relationship with him. Our exercise is to walk with him. When we do, we get to know him more, he helps us learn to talk to him more, and he helps us believe him more. Invite God to show you how. He wants you to experience his faithfulness and grow your faith in him.
When I read this, my lungs inhale hope and exhale relief. “That’s right, that’s right.” This truth pushes out the echoes of doubt or discouragement that battle for position in my head and heart.
This is one verse that I use to help me know God. I have it posted at my desk to help me remember and recite that he is faithful and he is growing my faith STRONG—like a muscle grows through exercise.
“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2.6-7, NLT)(italics mine)
You and I believe in God. And many days we believe God—We look to him; we trust and depend on him. We have faith that he is the fullness of all that the scriptures tell. Yet, we also live days and don’t seek him. We look and listen elsewhere instead, and we end up trusting that. We place our faith there. But God remains with us. He hopes that we’ll see, turn around, and return to him, and continue to grow.
We become faith-strong as we exercise our faith. We practice what we’re learning and God gives growth.
Dear God,
I have realized that I spend a lot of time thinking, fretting, and worrying about people or outcomes or how to make something happen. You are LORD. You are sovereign. You want me, all of me, all of my heart to trust you. I need your help to lay down unhealthy patterns of thinking and doing, to lay down fears—and to be still and absorb the peace of your faithfulness. Search my heart that I can unload all to you now. And fill these spaces in me with you. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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