Walk by Faith

We have the idea that God rewards us for our faith, and it may be so in the initial stages. But we do not earn anything through faith— faith brings us into the right relationship with God and gives Him His opportunity to work. Yet God frequently has to knock the bottom out of your experience as His saint to get you in direct contact with Himself. God wants you to understand that it is a life of faith, not a life of emotional enjoyment of His blessings. The beginning of your life of faith was very narrow and intense, centered around a small amount of experience that had as much emotion as faith in it, and it was full of light and sweetness. Then God withdrew His conscious blessings to teach you to “walk by faith” (2 Corinthians 5:7). And you are worth much more to Him now than you were in your days of conscious delight with your thrilling testimony.

Faith by its very nature must be tested and tried. And the real trial of faith is not that we find it difficult to trust God, but that God’s character must be proven as trustworthy in our own minds. Faith being worked out into reality must experience times of unbroken isolation. Never confuse the trial of faith with the ordinary discipline of life, because a great deal of what we call the trial of faith is the inevitable result of being alive. Faith, as the Bible teaches it, is faith in God coming against everything that contradicts Him— a faith that says, “I will remain true to God’s character whatever He may do.” The highest and the greatest expression of faith in the whole Bible is— “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15).

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October 31, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, the scripture is clear that faith comes from hearing the word of God.  But I am learning that I only need faith the size of a mustard seed, because Jesus has all the faith I need for our relationship. Living in me, He brings the faith I need for every circumstance.

And God says…”Absolutely. When Jesus said “It is finished, He meant it is ALL finished. He did not say it is finished as long as you have enough faith, or as long as you do the right things, or as long as you go to the right church.  Jesus brings you everything you need for life and life more abundantly, which includes trials and challenges.  These trials and challenges are essential to helping you realize and understand that the life of peace is Jesus living in and through you. Whatever is required of you, let Jesus deliver and provide.”