Feeding My Faith
What activities can we do while we wait on God?
Verse of the Day
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Today’s Devotional
In times of waiting on God, we have an incredible opportunity to intentionally strengthen our faith. As I am typing these words, I recognize that God is speaking to me. My husband and I have been waiting on something for months. We have prayed over this decision, asked God for discernment, and pleaded for Him to deliver. But today as I write this, we are still waiting.
Today’s verse encourages me that as we wait we can be building our faith and belief. There are two very strong words used in this verse: “impossible” and “must”.
I read something very interesting about this verse. “If someone does not believe you or questions your integrity, you are not pleased with that person. In effect, they are calling you a liar. If you have spoken the truth, to have someone call you a liar is not pleasing.
How much more does it displease the God of truth, who cannot lie, when we call Him a liar by doubting His word! What could be more insulting? What could be more arrogant than to imply that we know more than God does? When we do not trust Him, we are in effect saying, “God, You’re wrong and I’m right!” How impudent! So, if we want to please God, we must learn what faith means, and live by faith on a daily basis.”
If I really believe that God is who he says he is, that he is in control, and that he will reward me with his love and presence as I earnestly seek him….why do I EVER get worried or stressed? Why would I EVER question His timing? Maybe it’s because I am not doing enough of what this verse says is a must: BELIEVING.
I personally think it’s ok if I have to redirect my brain a thousand times a day back to God’s truth. I am human, and my thoughts are often stirred by what I see and hear, my physical senses. My faith, however, is a spiritual sense. It is stirred and strengthened by spiritual activities.
Any sense, whether physical or spiritual, gets distorted without proper stimuli. Did you know that studies have been done about sensory deprivation? Specifically with vision, if a subject is blindfolded for more than a few hours, they will begin to see hallucinations that their brain interprets as real. My assumption is that faith can get distorted without the proper stimuli. If I am not actively feeding my faith, I will believe my thoughts when they tell me that it’s not really all that important to keep reading my Bible. I will begin to believe that everything hinges on my own efforts and not God’s strength within me. I will start to believe the news. I will give in to fear. I will put more effort into impressing you than in obeying God.
This reminds me of a native American story. An older man was telling his son a story:
“MY SON, THE BATTLE IS BETWEEN TWO ‘WOLVES’ INSIDE US ALL. ONE IS EVIL. IT IS ANGER, ENVY, JEALOUSY, SORROW, REGRET, GREED, ARROGANCE, SELF-PITY, GUILT, RESENTMENT, INFERIORITY, LIES, FALSE PRIDE, SUPERIORITY, AND EGO.
THE OTHER IS GOOD. IT IS JOY, PEACE LOVE, HOPE SERENITY, HUMILITY, KINDNESS, BENEVOLENCE, EMPATHY, GENEROSITY, TRUTH, COMPASSION AND FAITH.”
THE SON THOUGH ABOUT IT FOR A MINUTE AND THEN ASKED HIS FATHER:
“WHICH WOLF WINS?…”
THE OLD CHEROKEE SIMPLY REPLIED,
“THE ONE THAT YOU FEED”
Today’s verse tells me that my faith is vital. I must believe in God. I must actively seek him and draw near to him. I must believe what the Word says about him. Without those things, I cannot please God. I cannot enjoy his presence. I cannot see or enjoy the rewards of seeing God at work. And I certainly won’t be able to wait well. To do any of those things, I need to feed my faith.
Journal Prompts
Answer only the questions that seem relevant to you today.
How can you feed your faith today?
Maybe we need to deprive ourselves of the things that steal our joy or send us into fear. How can you practice this? What might you fast from as a way of starving the bad wolf?
Maybe we need to spend more time in the Word, in prayer, listening to worship music, and loving others. How can you practice this? How, specifically, can you feel the good wolf?
How do you respond to the imperatives in this verse?
How can you build up your belief in God?