Staying In Faith
How do you STAY IN faith? The Bible is clear that there is a way of staying in a place of faith amid stress, in the midst of change, and while seeing chaos. So, what is that way?
There have been times in my life when I have had to choose and fight to position my heart in the place of faith that is available for every believer to abide in. Take note; I said available. To STAY in faith, there are some decisions and choices that you are going to have to make. Faith isn’t a prayer we walk in and out of, a feeling we have, and then it goes away; faith is an abiding. Yes, we pray, and God gives us supernatural peace and joy, but let’s talk about the word stay. Stay requires patience and endurance. Staying requires enduring faith when our situations seem adverse or when our flesh wants to give up. Hebrews 6:12 reads, “so that you will not be (spiritually) sluggish, but (will instead be) imitators of those who through faith (lean on God with absolute trust and confidence in Him and His power) and by patient endurance even when suffering are (now) inheriting the promises.” (AMP) Biblical patience and endurance isn’t just hunkering down until the storm passes. Biblical patience and endurance is continuing to do the right things to stay in faith! So, what are some things that will help you stay in faith? I’ve put together a few things that help me….
Stay focused on his goodness.
Don’t try to figure God out! My husband says all the time that after 23 years of marriage, he is still trying to figure me out! Can you even imagine trying to figure God out? When you can’t process how your situation will work out or turn around in your head, lean into God’s character. Whom we know God to be is a safe place to reside. Stay in His goodness. Remember, your mind will always try to talk you out of faith. Let your spirit lead you into the truth of who God is. He is good, and everything that He does is good!
Reflect upon his faithfulness
In times of staying in faith- the enemy will try to get you to complain. Just as gratitude attracts God through faith, complaining repels God. It’s like reflecting on all the negative and discounting the wonderful miracles God has done and is doing in your midst. Take time to think about God’s faithfulness in the past. Set up some stones of remembrance in your mind like the Israelites did— moments to recount the faithfulness of God. When He came through at just the right time, when He protected you, how He provided for you…. Build your faith through His faithfulness!
Take the right account.
There have been moments when I had to decide whose report I was going to line up with. One time, in particular, the doctor was giving negative reports over a family member. At that moment, I had a decision to side with faith or fear. I didn’t neglect the fact of the report. I did, however, use it as a basis of prayer for God’s truth to overtake the facts of the situation. Each time a doctor gave a report, I replied, “good, now I know exactly how to pray!” Take into account Jesus in your situation— not the negativity, not the fear, but stay in faith!
Fill your ears with the right voices.
In Mark chapter 5, Jesus is in the middle of a miracle. He goes into the room of Jairus’s daughter, who has died. He was getting ready to raise her from the dead, and then there were voices. The people in the room began to speak doubt and mock Jesus. The friends surrounding the family were more comfortable with mourning and funeral music than the idea of a miracle. Watch who is in your room when Jesus is doing something miraculous. The wrong voices can take you out of a place of faith!
Keep Sowing
Galatians 5 tells us to keep sowing! Keep doing all you know to do that is good. Don’t quit reading the word and praying. Don’t stop sowing financially. Don’t quit doing what you can in the natural. Keep going! There is an appointed time for your harvest, and the enemy wants to wear you down and back you off. Keep Going!