No Shortcut to a Strong Faith!

"When we pray for the Spirit's help ... we will simply fall down at the Lord's feet in our weakness. There we will find the victory and power that comes from His love."  - Andrew Murray

Everyone takes a shortcut now and then. They usually don't harm anyone, and may even be beneficial. For example, we might find a new route to work that shaves off a few minutes from our commute. Or, a friend might suggest a slight modification to a recipe that saves a little time.

Shortcuts such as these, are welcome in our busy lives because they save us time. Who doesn't like cutting a corner or two if, in the end, it results in the added bonus of more time to spend with families and friends, or in relaxation. Very few of us would argue against such time savers.

There is, however, one very important area in our lives where shortcuts can be detrimental or outright dangerous. I am talking about our faith. A portion of faith; a kinda-sorta faith; or a more-or-less faith is really not faith at all. You can't just dip your toe in faith. You have to jump in all the way!

Satan is always lurking around, poking away at our faith to find any weakness. Even the smallest crack or opening is enough to let him slip into our lives. Though he may be the unseen enemy, you can rest assured that evidence of his powers of destruction and control are quite visible.

In Luke 22:31-34, we see a dialogue between Jesus and Simon Peter on this exact topic. Granted, even though Satan has no power over Christ, and has been weakened quite a bit, his attempts at temptation and manipulation are boundless. At times, he may be permitted to rattle us, as a test of our faith.

What this means to us, is that our faith must be strong to withstand Satan's attacks. We needn't fear Satan since our Lord Christ has already defeated him (Hebrews 2:14-15). Nonetheless, he is a crafty foe who stops at nothing to overcome the weak and mushy in faith. (2 Timothy 1:7 )

"But what if I stumble?" Then pick yourself up and get back in the fight. Christ has your back, but you need to do your part in the battle, too. You may have been weakened, but you are not defeated. Passivity in faith is not allowed. You must be an active participant! (2 Corinthians 12:10 )

We all will suffer a collapse or breakdown in faith at one time or another. This is not a reflection of Christ, but on our own faith. Taking some hits is part of the process. How in the world is our faith ever going to  become stronger if it is never tested? (James 1:3; 1 Peter 1:7)

Failures in faith are not the end of the world. If anything, they serve to make our faith ever stronger and more resilient. They also leave us better equipped to assist others in their time of weakness, and point the way to Him who saves by our own humbling experiences (1 Corinthians 10:13; Romans 3:23).

The best means by which to strengthen a feeble faith are through the Word of God (the Bible), prayer and fellowship with other believers (John 20:29). But remember, a faith not put into action, is not a  robust faith. Don't just sit on it, use it!

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:9; Philippians 4:19; Psalm 37:4; Philippians 4:13

Prayer: Holy Father, strengthen me when I am weak; lift me up when I fall; so that by your eternal grace and mercy, I may summon a faith that is more restored and tempered than before. Amen

May God bless you always!

Brandi