◄ God, My Faith (Study In God - All I Need-12) ►

Study - GOD, All I Need

Multifaceted Grace

Faith is a multifaceted gift of grace – and each is given a measure of faith. God is both the Founder of my faith and the Finisher of my faith. But God is also the Object of my faith – the One in Whom I place my trust. It was the Lord Who gave me my faith, when He stooped low to love me. It was He Who intended me to keep on seeking Him, by means of His gift of faith. But faith must grow.. and faith must develop… and developing faith must grow. And developing, growing faith, does not come by sight or signs or miracles. And faith must not falter when difficulties and problems arise in my life.

Virtuous Grace

Faith is simply trusting in God, by means of the faith that He has bestowed on me. But faith grows by means of my submitting to Him. Faith matures by Him living in and through me, and working His work through me – until it is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Beautiful Faith

There is something sublimely virtuous and beautiful, in seeking God by faith. I have not seen Him face to face and yet I love Him. I have not felt His loving arms around me, and yet I love Him. I have no physical evidences of His being, and yet I love Him. Jesus said, blessed are those that have not seen Me, and yet have believed. John 20:29

Pleasing Grace

In this world, physical senses hold so much sway, yet we must live by faith, not by sight. Emotions can drastically influence our being – yet we must live by faith, not sight. All the norms of human trust are diametrically opposite to this life of faith. Sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, signs – all contribute to the way we believe things to be – yet we are to live by faith and not by sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, signs – for without faith it is impossible to please God Hebrews 11:6 – and I do so want to please Him.

Initial Faith

The initial faith is given to us by God.. and faith comes by hearing the Word of God, but the faith of a new-born believer can remain for a lifetime in its infant state. Faith, like all living things, needs to grow, develop, and mature. Sanctifying faith is also given to us by God, to enable us to grow in the faith – and maturing, growing faith comes by hearing the Word of God. And faith needs to be exercised daily to enable the growth of faith. But this maturing faith of all believers is also from God and not of us… for faith comes by hearing – and hearing from the Word of God! Romans 10:17

Developing Grace

'But how do you exercise your faith', I hear you say. Well, life is full of choices. I can choose to allow my faith to be exercised or not. I can choose to trust His Word or blame Him for life’s difficult circumstances. I can choose to take responsibility for my action or blame God for my choices. I can choose to accept His 'boot-camp' training – or kick against the pricks. I can invite Him to examine my inner-self so as to identify areas that need His scalpel. I can further invite Him to root out all areas within me that are displeasing to Him. I can permit Him to identify blockages in me, that prevent me from living as He wills – and I can allow Him to search deep within... to heal all hurts that I hide from others. I can choose to admit my mistakes – or I can blame my shortcomings on others – or even on God.

A Maturing Grace

It is only as I am prepared to decrease and allow the Lord to increase in my life, that faith in self will be gradually replaced by faith in Christ – and the faith in which I live.. in ME – will be the faith I live in Christ – until it is no longer I that live, but Christ Who lives in me. Galatians 2:20

Oh for a faith that will not shrink
Though pressed by many a foe,
That will not tremble on the brink,
Of poverty or woe.

A faith that shines more bright and clear
When tempests rage without;
That when in danger knows no fear,
In darkness feels no doubt.

Maturing, sanctifying, growing faith… until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son, that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Philippians 4:13