God has been showing me this summer and over the years that the more I trust him with simple situations the greater faith that he gives me. My faith has been growing as I trust God and surrender my daily struggles to him. This has evolved into God showing me that he is good, faithful, compassionate, merciful, and gracious toward us daily.
In the Bible, Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. He trusted him when an angel spoke to him to build an altar to sacrifice his son, Isaac and listened to the angel when he didn't kill Isaac. Though this situation, Abraham trusted that God would provide for him daily. His belief and trust in God's goodness was credited to him as righteousness. It says in Hebrews 11 that he is in the faith hall of Fame because of this belief and trust in God.
I never really thought of myself as a faithful person until recently. The other day I was reviewing my spiritual gifts inventory test I took with my small group and realized that faith was one of the fourth or fifth highest on my spiritual gifts. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) says that "faith is the confidence of what we hope for and the assurance of what we do not see." It's an ability to look to the future though it may seem dim. I feel it can mean an ability to trust in the inevitable as well.
Everyone is given a certain amount of faith when they become a Christian. We gain more and more faith as we get older and learn to trust God in different situations that we are put in. As a serious circumstance comes up, we are called to trust God in faith that he will provide for us and see us through that circumstance.
Lastly, a maturing type of faith is one that will be able to withstand a lifetime. It is a daily struggle that we are put through in order to conform us to his image (Rom 8:28-29). Once we go through these struggles, then our faith produces a level of maturity in us. Then, we able to trust God and he will produce a sense of righteousness as we go about our lives. This type of faith that I am describing, is a faith that saves us.
How has your faith helped you through tough times? What are the way that our faith can save us? What are the characteristics of a mature faith?
Monday, June 16, 2014
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Faith that saves us
God has given me a level of faith through certain times in my life in order for me the have greater trust and maturity in him. When I was younger, I had a small level of faith, but through the years this faith glass has transformed into a pitcher. Christian maturity as defined by Will Wyatt in the discovery Bible study I went through at Discipleship Focus is the ability to trust God in more and more situations.
After graduating from college then going through the transforming study of Discipleship Focus, I thought I knew I wanted to go into broadcasting or journalism. God closed down those paths, (sounds cliche), but God knew the direction where he wanted me to go. He led me to seminary and back to a desire to serve him in ministry in 2011 after a year of joblessness. Looking back on that time in my life, I knew God was leading me into the ministry. I have always had a passion for youth ministry from my time serving in Young Life.
In my time at seminary, I have gained a greater passion to serve the youth in student ministry at the church. God has been confirmed my desire to serve the youth in student ministry in serving him at church and taking classes at the seminary. I just feel that God wants me to use my gifts to serve, minister to, and love the students/youth in full time ministry eventually.
Lastly, I recently graduated with my MACE degree from Southwestern seminary and I have been trying to figure out God's direction for my life. God has given me faith to trust him every step of the way because of his past faithfulness in my life. Recently, God has blessed me with this part time job in the Fort Worth area to work at Kroger's on University as a Courtesy Clerk doing multiple things. This will allow me to work my way up with the company gain certain benefits and still serve at in the Christ Chapel student ministry for a few years until a full time job or internship comes open at Christ Chapel or somewhere else. In Hebrews 11:6 NIV it says "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.
God has increased my faith during these times in my life. He has increased my faith from a glass into a pitcher and helped me grow into maturity in him.
After graduating from college then going through the transforming study of Discipleship Focus, I thought I knew I wanted to go into broadcasting or journalism. God closed down those paths, (sounds cliche), but God knew the direction where he wanted me to go. He led me to seminary and back to a desire to serve him in ministry in 2011 after a year of joblessness. Looking back on that time in my life, I knew God was leading me into the ministry. I have always had a passion for youth ministry from my time serving in Young Life.
In my time at seminary, I have gained a greater passion to serve the youth in student ministry at the church. God has been confirmed my desire to serve the youth in student ministry in serving him at church and taking classes at the seminary. I just feel that God wants me to use my gifts to serve, minister to, and love the students/youth in full time ministry eventually.
Lastly, I recently graduated with my MACE degree from Southwestern seminary and I have been trying to figure out God's direction for my life. God has given me faith to trust him every step of the way because of his past faithfulness in my life. Recently, God has blessed me with this part time job in the Fort Worth area to work at Kroger's on University as a Courtesy Clerk doing multiple things. This will allow me to work my way up with the company gain certain benefits and still serve at in the Christ Chapel student ministry for a few years until a full time job or internship comes open at Christ Chapel or somewhere else. In Hebrews 11:6 NIV it says "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.
God has increased my faith during these times in my life. He has increased my faith from a glass into a pitcher and helped me grow into maturity in him.
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