God Calls Us to Live our Lives by Faith

God Calls Us to Live our Lives by Faith

Scripture says: “…The person who lives uprightly and justly, shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17b) And Scripture also says that “without faith it is impossible to please God.”  (Hebrews 11:6) Faith is all important to God, and to us too, so just what is faith in God? The Bible is not talking about having faith in ourselves but we are to live by having faith in God. Living by faith is leaning on God, giving ourselves and our lives to Him. Faith is believing that God is what He says He is and what the Bible says He is -holy, loving, just, forgiving and merciful.  Faith is believing that God will take care of us.  And faith is going ahead and doing what you believe you are supposed to do. 

The Bible is filled with stories of men and women who did great things by their faith in God. These men and women of God all faced their fears and followed God anyway. God reassured each one with promises that He would be with them, and they believed Him. God will also do the same for you if you believe Him. God offers you faith but Satan offers you fear. Which one will you take? We can be stuck and trapped in a miserable little life if we play it safe and listen to our fears.  Or we can live the great adventure of following God and allowing Him to provide if we let go and trust God. God keeps calling us to give Him our fears and step out in faith and give Him our lives. The answer to fear is faith that God is with us.  Scripture says: “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid, for the Lord your God is with you, wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

Too often we have faith in ourselves, or faith in others. Then others let us down or we let ourselves down and we become fearful and discouraged. Jesus said: …” Apart from Me you can do nothing.”  (John 15:5)   If God calls us to do something He will give us the power to do it. Sometimes we are looking to ourselves and our problems when we should be looking to God.  God promises to be with us and that is really all we need.  His strength is made perfect in our weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

The Holy Spirit will pour strength into our human spirit as we follow Him.  Great joy is released into our lives by believing in God!   It is an exciting way to live, this living by faith!  Scripture says: “May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the Holy Spirit indwelling in your innermost being.”  (Ephesians 3:16) When we step out in faith, God never fails to provide what we need.  Scripture says: “…Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that it is granted to you and you will receive it.”  (Mark 11:24)

 Sometimes in this life we can be overwhelmed by heavy sorrows and problems.  If we give these sorrows to God, He will comfort us.  Scripture says: “Casting all of your cares and sorrow onto Him, for He cares for you.”  (1 Peter 5:7) The unconditional love of God is the cure for everything that hurts us.  God’s grace is always available for us in any situation.  His grace will lift us up and enable us to get through a tough time.  We live in a world where everything is based on seeing and feeling.  But that is backwards. God’s kingdom operates on a different principle.  In God’s world we are to first believe and then see later.   

 We are missing out on so much when we try to be our own person and run our own life!  When we don’t give our life to God and let Him run it with His wonderful love and power.  Some people don’t want to give their life to God because they will need to change some things. It is pretty much impossible to be spiritually successful when we allow willful sin to stay in our lives.  We must try to turn from our sins if we are to walk in the power of the Lord.  We can’t have it both ways. If we are just out for fun or worldly success, we will never glorify God with our life by being all He intended us to be.    

 Jesus Christ calls us to Himself.  He loves us and will guide and strengthen us to do the work we are meant to do.  He promises so very much to those who follow Him! Scripture says: “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength: they shall mount up with wings as eagles: they shall run, and not be weary: and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31

Scripture also says: “We are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him (Jesus) who loved us.”  (Romans 8:37) Next time you are feeling down and defeated, remember that you are more than a conqueror through Christ.  In other words, in Christ you already have the victory before you get the problem.  Jesus Christ never fails and when you are in Him you won’t either.

If we have given our lives to Christ, we should start believing what Scripture says about us.  Believe in our ability in Christ.  Believe that we hear from God and that we are led by the Holy Spirit.  See ourselves as gaining the victory in Him.  Next time Satan tries to tell you how bad you are or how impossible your situation is, order him out in the Name of Jesus.  Scripture says that Satan is working to deceive us and cause us to question our faith in God.  Don’t let him get his foot in the door.  Scripture says: “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”  (James 4:7) 

Take another step of faith and decide to build yourself up in the Lord.  Don’t allow yourself to become downhearted.  Scripture tells us that David was very upset, because the Amalekites had burned his town and taken his family members away.  They had also taken the wives and children of his fighting men away and his men were very upset and angry at David, their leader, for allowing this to happen.  His men were even thinking about stoning David since he was their leader and he had not been there to fight when the enemy had come to rape and plunder.  In this terrible moment David could have hit rock bottom but Scripture says that “David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God.  (1 Samuel 30:6)  After David  prayed God showed him where the family members had been taken and he and his men rescued them.  But without God it could have been a very different outcome.

David was confident in God, even in that dark moment when his family was missing and his men were talking about stoning him.  He had no one to believe in him, so he believed in God’s ability through him.  And we can do that too!  When the problems and sorrows come, instead of becoming upset and fearful we can do what David did and “encourage and strengthen ourselves in the Lord our God”.   Remind ourselves that God is with us and in us and that He will give us strength and help. 

Stop and praise God and worship Him. When I remember to sing praises to God and worship Him, I am always amazed at the way it changes and strengthens me.  When doubt starts tormenting you, start speaking out the Word of God.  Remind yourself that you are triumphant in Him. Scripture says: “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ Jesus…”  (2 Corinthians 2:14)

Many of these ideas and Scriptures were taken from Joyce Meyer’s books, “How to Succeed at Being Yourself” p. 67-74 and also “Living Courageously”.   

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