I have been thinking about my life and the life of others - - - like in several catagories! In all that I list in the next paragraphs the one word that has to TAKE HOLD is FAITH.
Like, I asked this fellow how he was doing - in his life; in his family; in his work; and in his church. In all of the situations there was some negative reaction. Like in the "self" there was a lack of finances and some medical problems. In the "family" there were needs in some children and in grandchildren; In the "job" there were situations with people, etc.; In "church" there was the pressure off not having "kingdom workers", etc.
BUT FAITH REIGNS. The old song goes, "My faith looks UP to Thee." I don't undestand why I (we) can't really exercise our faith in God.
It is certainly central to all of life. For example - perhaps you have heard of these statements. You go to a doctor whose name you cannot pronounce and whose degrees you have never verified. He gives you a prescription you cannot read. You take it to a pharmacist you have never seen. He gives you a chemical compound you do not understand. Then you go home and take the pill according to the instructions on the bottle. ALL IN TRUSTING, SINCERE FAITH.
How it must make God sad for us not to faith him in the difficult times in those catagories I mentioned above, i.e. "self", "family", "job", and "church". In one sence of the word, "faith" is a gift of God to be used in the "acts" of God.
Let me explain. Air is a gift, but you have to breath it. So it bread, but you have to eat it. So is water, but you have to drink it.
So, how do we accept this gift? Romans 10:17,
"Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."Through the situations I must not just sit down and wait for faith to come, rather faith will come when I (we) take God at His Word.
Lord, I ask, in the name of Jesus, that this dear friend hear the bells of victory ringing for them through faith. Yes, things can be better; but we praise you Lord that you are IN the present state of affairs. May this one say "yes" or "amen" to you while being in a present experience.
Amen