Living out your Faith
Do you enjoy learning and growing? Some time ago, I decided to be …a life long learner.
I never wanted to get to the place in life where I thought I’d learned enough. No matter what my age, I want to be open to continually grow and learn.
My pastor played a role in this. I remember many times at our Wednesday night prayer meetings Pastor Dan would encourage us to be a life long learner. He often shared something he’d learned from reading the biographies of George Muller, Detrich Bonhoffer, Eric Liddell and Jim Elliot. I used to hurriedly write down the titles and purchase the books so I could learn how they lived out their faith. It helped me to read about real people with real struggles …just like me.
However, the best place to learn how to live out my faith was …the Bible.
In Philippians, the Apostle Paul wrote a letter from prison to the Philippians. He encouraged them to stand firm in their faith …regardless of the circumstances.
I don’t know about you but I’ve never been in prison. I can’t imagine all that Paul went through and yet he wrote a letter of encouragement to others. Paul had the bigger picture in mind. He knew that in the midst of difficult circumstances, God had a plan. And Paul could be used to glorify His Lord in the midst of trying circumstances. I’m sure the prison guards noticed Paul. He was probably talking to them about Jesus. And Paul looked on this time as an opportunity!
I want to live out my faith like that. But more often I cry out and complain about difficult circumstances. Oh Lord, please change ____ and take this trial away (you can fill in your own blanks). But Paul had learned the secret of contentment.
Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”
Paul’s flesh wasn’t having a grand time. But he submitted everything in his life to his Lord. God was able to do a good work within Paul so that Paul could be used to impact others.
Paul told the Philippians to focus on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable. And that they should put into practice that which they learned from him and seen in him. I guess being joyful and encouraging others while in prison was something admirable, wouldn’t you say?
The lesson I learn from this is to allow the Lord to work what He needs to do in me and not fight Him. If I want to be used by Him to impact others, I must first submit to the refining process. Whatever it takes and however long it takes, I want to grow and learn. And then I can live out my faith.
It’s great to have head knowledge but it’s better to be obedient and …live out my faith in love.
How about you? Have you learned any lessons in the midst of trials that helped you to live out your faith?
Awesome devotion sweetie.
We are on the latter end of a trial right now. It’s not over but I think we are out of the fire. Trials always teach me patience. They never work out quite as quickly as I hope. So in respect they also teach me endurance. To run the race to the end. God is so good to see us through the whole way!
Beautiful post my friend.
Kim
Powerful devotion, Debbie. You are right, Paul is a great example on how God can use us to share the good news, no matter what the circumstances may be. I believe I am a life long learner myself. What I have learned lately? Trusting God – I mean really trusting (took me a while…)…
This was really good Debbie and of course is so true. I can honestly say that almost all of the BIG lessons (and even some of the small) in my life were learned during times and seasons of trials. I can’t say honestly that as I’ve advanced in years that I look forward to these seasons, but I have leanred not to fight them so. I feel like I might be in a very similiar place as you right now. I WANT to be used by Him. I WANT my life to have counted for something. I have always felt somewhat inadequate to really be used by Almighty God, but I want to live out my life for Him, and I willing to do whatever He leads me to. Thanks for sharing all this…Blessings to you, Debbie
Great words, Debbie! I continue to thirst to learn more, too, and the Lord always satisfies.
In the midst of trials, I often learn that I don’t need to learn more facts (like I think I do!), but I need to learn how to rely more on CHRIST knowing all the facts of my situation, and trust his knowledge and love to take care of me in the trial in a perfect way.
I’ve still got a long way to go to “get” that lesson, but I’m on the road . . .
You said it well:
“It’s great to have head knowledge but it’s better to be obedient and …live out my faith in love.”
What a beautiful devo today Debbie. I believe that it is thru the trials and difficulties that my faith has grown by leaps and bounds. It is in those times that I depend solely and trust completely in my God. “Lord help me not to be in prison but if I am … let me call out your name!” -amen.
Debbie,
Girl, I have found the most amazing peace even in the midst of this long unemployment. I stand amazed as my patience is not of my own but only because Christ lives in me…
Awesome devotion and one I know comes straight from your heart. Love you girl.
God seems to want to keep teaching me daily even when I feel I have learned enough, or when my heart fill so full from learning. But I have found if you are not learning, you are not growing, and if you are not growing you are dying. Hugs.