Renewing Your Personal Vision

Living by faith is not just a religious cliche or empty advice for when you run out of answers. It’s about overcoming humanism, doubt, and fear. It’s about understanding how to live a life that is directed by God that enables us to have great impact.

Why It’s Hard to Live by Faith

Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.

Daniel 10:12 

Like most, my wife and I get afraid when life is uncertain. It leaves us feeling unstable and insecure. When our first pregnancy ended in miscarriage, we were afraid we would never be able to have children. When our son was hospitalized with a concussion that temporarily affected his motor skills, we were afraid that he would be unable to live a normal life. When our marriage was full of bitterness and unbelief, we were afraid that it would never be strong and would corrupt how our children saw God.

When life discourages us and we feel defeated, it’s easy to play it safe, to rely on what we can see, and to fear more disappointment.  We settle for survival and lose confidence that we make a difference.

Living by faith is about setting your mind to overcome your fears when life’s challenges come.  It’s about trusting and believing in the path that God is guiding you down. This belief allows you to be surrendered to God. It teaches you to pray and connect with Him in new ways. Be open and attentive to God’s leadership and you will find him responding in ways you’ve never seen before.

The Adventure of Living by Faith

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.

Isaiah 42:16 

God usually leads us down unfamiliar roads; through new life experiences and new relationships. It can be scary and it’s easy to be filled with doubt, but don’t allow yourself to waver in unbelief because of the unknown (Romans 4:19-20.) Choose to trust and rely on God. His road is the road less traveled, but it leads to confidence, calmness, and clarity.

It was by faith Abraham obeyed God’s call to go to another place God promised to give him. He left his own country, not knowing where he was to go.

Hebrew 11:8 (NIV)

Recently, we moved to lead a part of our church that was in need of families that were currently navigating the middle and high school years. It forced us to examine our hearts, test our convictions, and restore our belief that God wants to use us.  We made the move in the middle of the school year, which required a lot of faith. We were starting over in a new, unfamiliar place. This presented an opportunity for us to pray new prayers, with new faith.

The Joy of Living by Faith

Lord, I have heard the news about you; I am amazed at what you have done. Lord, do great things once again in our time; make those things happen again in our own days. 

Habakkuk 3:1-2 (NCV)

After many specific, daily prayers, God has started to unfold his plan for how he wants to use our family to have impact. Every day has become a new adventure of answered prayers that are inspiring us and our children. We are becoming more confident and secure as we see God making connections and allowing us to have immediate impact.

The Good News shows how God makes people right with himself—that it begins and ends with faith. As the Scripture says, “But those who are right with God will live by faith.”

Romans 1:17-18 (NCV)

We all experience change of different kinds. It’s never new circumstances that make us different, but the way we respond in our hearts. We decided to not just change our address, but to transform who we are as a family and approach this next chapter in our life with faith. We are learning the difference between living faithfully and living by faith.

Being faithful is about perseverance and stability.  It can often be predictable and routine, but lack vision or impact. Living by faith is inspiring because it challenges our comfort by expanding our limits with an expectation to live with purpose. As we relinquish control, we are able to see God’s plan and live lives of impact.

As we look forward to this year’s expo, “Epic”, we can make this summer transformative for ourselves, our marriages and our families by doing four simple things…

1. Set Your Mind – Daniel 10:12
2. Let God Lead  – Isaiah 42:16
3. Believe You’re Chosen – Hebrews 11:8
4. Pray for “Unforeseen” – Habakkuk 3:1-2

Questions

• How would you or your family be different if you start living by faith?
• Whose life could be impacted if you believed you are chosen to do something great?
• What unforeseen things could happen if you prayed specific prayers like Habakkuk?

Make a decision to live by faith and live an inspired life!