What a crazy world we live in. We are blessed to live in America with amazing opportunities and freedom. We can choose where we want to live, and what we want to do to earn a living. We are free to express ourselves, choose our own religion, and choose who to worship. Some choose to worship God, some do not.
Who we worship is a choice that affects our entire lives, and the lives of our families. Some choose to worship God, some do not. Some worship their career, or money, or nature. Some worship themselves, or material things, or sex, or fame, or technology. There are plenty of distractions out there.
My point is we can choose who to worship. Then we can put our trust in that and build our faith. Faith comes down to trust. Who or what do we trust? Do we rely on ourselves all the time? Do we rely on God or a Higher Power? Do we believe that God exists and wants what is best for us?
The definition of FAITH is:
- complete trust or confidence in someone or something
- an allegiance to duty or a person – loyalty
- belief and trust in and loyalty to God
- something that is believed especially with strong conviction
“But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.” – Hebrews 11:6 AMP
I didn’t always believe in God. I didn’t know him. I wasn’t raised in Church like many that I know. Yet, here I am. God called me out of darkness into His marvelous light. I lived 30+ years without Him. Yet, He knew me before I was born. He knows you too…
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a [special] people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people [at all], but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” – 1 Peter 2:9-10 AMP
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you [and approved of you as My chosen instrument], And before you were born I consecrated you [to Myself as My own]; ” Jeremiah 1:5a AMP
“Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].” – Hebrews 11:1 AMP
So how do we build our faith? If faith is being sure of what we do not yet see, what do we base it on? In my journey I have chosen to follow Jesus, read the Bible, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. I need God in so many ways in my day to day life. When my life is crazy, I need to know that God has a plan that is bigger than what I see. I had to learn the difference between lust and love. Not everyone who told me, “I love you,” meant it. I had to relearn what love really is, from the one who is love – God.
“For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11 AMP
““For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts higher than your thoughts“ – Isaiah 55:8-9 AMP
Faith is a choice, just as worship is. We get to choose who to put our faith in and who we worship. Trust is a choice. Living without God and the Holy Spirit for so many years really messed up who I trusted. I used to trust everyone with everything. That didn’t work out so good. I would give my all to people who would walk all over me and betray me. My ‘trust meter” was broken. I needed God to help me make better choices. I needed an anchor – someone I could trust who would not betray me. I needed God.
After a while I didn’t trust anyone or anything. That was a pretty dark tunnel. Led me to do all stupid things like self-harm. Without God, there is no light in the dark. I followed that depression train right down to the depths. What a liar that Devil is. He almost got me. But God… Yes, He called my name, He brought me out of the depths of despair and gave me a reason to live and love again. God is so faithful. He really did pull me out from the fire. And I believe He will do it for you too! Yes, YOU!
“I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; And He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of a horrible pit [of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock, steadying my footsteps and establishing my path. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear [with great reverence] And will trust confidently in the Lord.” – Psalm 40:1-3 AMP
I can build my faith by:
- Choosing to believe in God and what the Bible says
- Reading the Bible for myself to read, know, and meditate on the Word of God
- Attending a Church to learn more from fellow believers, we are not alone in this journey
- Pray every day, in all situations
- Repent, admit that I have been living my life without God and make a choice to turn towards Him
- Get baptized in Jesus Name to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost
- Worship and be thankful
- Open my heart to let love in, and trust God
- Practice my faith, act on it
- Hang out with other believers to serve God and my community
“For You have delivered my soul from death. Have You not kept my feet from falling, That I may walk before God In the light of the living?” – Psalm 56:13 NKJV
Today is a new day. It is a new beginning. I have learned I can always make a new choice, and so can you. Like someone once said to me, “What have you got to lose? Why not ask God to show you who He really is?” Guess what, He did, and He shows me more and more every day. Ask, and you will receive.
“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” – Numbers 6:24-26 NKJV