I Corinthians 10:13 ESV
2 Corinthians 4:7-11 ESV
Romans 12:12 ESV
Ephesians 3:14-19 ESV
I probably lived a little less than half of my life misunderstanding faithfulness in scripture.
While it may have been taught correctly, I may not have heard it correctly. I’m not sure which is true.
Basically I thought the “onus” was completely on me.
I was told that believing in faith or my ability to believe is important and even essential.
Allow me to explain if I can.
I thought faith that moves mountain was my responsibility.
As I matured and studied scripture for myself, I knew Creator God believes and knows mountains can be moved. Nothing in scripture told me faith was mine.
I Corinthians 10:13 tells us, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
I knew God is faithful. Faith is a fruit of the Spirit of God.
In a way, God owns Faith.
When I turn to God and receive God’s attributes (fruit), I can have faith. I cannot conjure it up on my own.
I am simply not that powerful.
The act of believing is a matter of the will. God can give me faith. I cannot create faith on my own.
The act of receiving faith simply involves opening our hearts and hands to God. In order to receive anything from God we have to give God permission because God does not force us.
2 Corinthians 4:7-11 tells us, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”
The power is from God.
I came to believe and accept that I am not that powerful.
Oh…OH! Yes, that is true.
It was actually a great relief to me.
It gave me hope.
In Romans 12:12 Paul wrote, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
When I realized believing and having faith was not reliant on my ability to believe, I did rejoice. Paul also told us that doesn’t mean everything will be peachy all the time. There will be difficulties. Praying and staying in communication with God will help in good times and in bad times.
In Ephesians 3:14-19 Paul wrote, “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
In addition to that, Paul wrote memorable words to the church at Ephesus that remind us of God’s goodness and power.
When we turn to God we ARE given strength.
Christ does dwell in our hearts in faith (there’s the faith thing again). That faith is not based on my ability.
I turn to God/Jesus and relax in His love and God is faithful.
GOD is faithful.
God’s love grounds us and God gives us the strength to understand the fullness of God’s love for us.
All of that is beyond me. It really is beyond my ability to comprehend. Only God fully understands and knows and is faithful. But when I turn to God I can relax in the arms of God and let God be God.
It is God who is powerful. I am not. I am simply a child of God.
By turning to God I surrender and acknowledge that I am a child.
As a child, I do not need to know or understand all the details. God has it all covered. If you choose to memorize these scriptures, think of how they have or will impact your life.
Spiritual Practice: God is Faithful
Think of a time when God was faithful to you. Say thank-you.
In God, Deborah
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