I have to admit, that is one area of my life in which I am suffering. I start out strong, with good intentions, but then the drive and motivation begins to fade and I have trouble with the "stick-to-itiveness"...
But the area I am lacking in the most is exercising my faith. This really should be the easiest, since it requires no physical exertion whatsoever. But I find that the mind and negative thoughts are the hardest to get control over. The Bible is full of promises and full of examples of where the Lord has blessed those that have put their complete faith in Him. Why is it so hard for us to believe that even today, the Lord will fulfill His promises to us? Look at Job, how he lost everything, his family, his health, all of his belongings, and yet his faith never wavered and the Lord delivered him. Look at Abraham, being willing to offer up his son as a sacrifice, never wavering, never questioning the Lord...he had complete faith that the Lord would either provide a way of escape or raise his son from the dead...and the Lord delivered a ram as a sacrifice, instead of Abraham's son, Isaac. I just don't know that I could pass that test of commitment and faith. Could I offer up my only son as a sacrifice to God? Even now, I have to shake my head that I don't believe I could go through with it. But isn't everything God's anyway? My son doesn't belong to me, he is the Lord's and God has entrusted me with his care.
So, as we go through the various trials and valleys of life, why is it so hard to exercise our faith in the Lord to deliver us? He has promised He would, and yet, we think we can take matters into our own hands and solve the problems ourselves. If we remain steadfast, never wavering in our faith, He will reward us.
Just as in physical exercise, we don't see immediate results, it's a day-by-day process and then the hard work will pay off. Lord, help me to day-by-day, exercise my faith in You, knowing that my spiritual reward awaits me...for You have promised it to be so.
Just as in physical exercise, we don't see immediate results, it's a day-by-day process and then the hard work will pay off. Lord, help me to day-by-day, exercise my faith in You, knowing that my spiritual reward awaits me...for You have promised it to be so.
4 sweet friends had to say...:
Wow Tracey...that is an awesome blog...tying the two together like that! Definitely food for thought for today..and tomorrow..and the next day! Thanks!
Very thought provoking....why is it so difficult? Because many times we would rather have it our way instead of God's. The Heb. 11 list tells of the many who were delivered...escaped...obtained....quenched, etc., but it also tells of those who were sawn asunder...stoned...slained....yet they ALL obtained a good report through faith. Am I willing to accept HIS WILL instead of mine?
For me, it's like why I am so surprised when God answers what I like to think is a "hard thing"....I'm always so amazed, and why should I be???? He has answered me and shown himself to me many, many times. Is it because my faith was lacking and yet, God still answered? Living by faith is the hardest thing, yet the most rewarding!
Thanks, Tracey. Too often I can get so involved in 'life' that I forget to Be Still and Know that He is God.
If I didn't have my faith, I would be certifiable, for sure.
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