One of my favorite devotionals is One Minute Uplift by Rick Ezell. I recently was taught by Dr Ezell that faith is a common practice. We exercise faith everyday in numerous ways. We place our faith in the strength of a chair when we sit in it. It takes faith to send the kids to school, to drive a car, sign a contract, or to eat in a restaurant.

Everyone has faith but Christian faith is unique. It sees God in every situation. Christian believers are able to endure circumstances that devastate others. Are you facing hard times? Got God?

Personal Faith: Do you know God? Do you spend time with Him? Talk to Him? Christian faith grows out of personal relationship with God. Our faith grows as our walk with God does. Our level of trust increases as we get to know Him better. There are people in our lives we trust more than others because we know them better. There are needs we would never entrust to strangers. Our confidence in God grows as we step out in faith to obey his calling. He gives us victory on victory. The would-be witness who never witnesses will never be a witness. But once you have stepped out on faith and experienced God’s enabling, you are ready to try it again and before you know it God is getting all the credit and you the blessing.
Fear knocked at the door. Faith answered. There was no one there.
Faith is no bigger than its object. We face enormous challenges in life. Many of the things we place our trust in fail us. But trusting in God and resting in Him as our all in all brings unimaginable strength. We can face anything. That is what Paul meant with “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Growing Faith: There are several Scripture commands having to do with increased faith. You can increase faith by thinking back on your toughest experiences as a Christian (Heb. 10:32-5); you may do so by becoming better acquainted with Scripture (Rom. 10:17); you may do so by getting rid of excess spiritual and psychological baggage (Matt. 6:24).
The Fight, J. White, IVP, pp. 105ff
One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, “Jump! I’ll catch you.” He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flame, smoke, and blackness. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. His father kept yelling: “Jump! I will catch you.” But the boy protested, “Daddy, I can’t see you.” The father replied, “But I can see you and that’s all that matters.”

Maturing Faith: In a national study of Protestant churches done in 1990, Peter Benson and Carolyn Eklin surveyed hundreds of people and distilled seven characteristics of a mature faith. You may not agree with everything on their list, but it’s still instructive to look at their conclusions.
1. Trusts in God’s saving grace and believes firmly in the humanity and divinity of Jesus.
2. Experiences a sense of personal well-being, security, and peace.
3. Integrates faith and life, seeing work, family, social relationships, and political choices as part of one’s religious life.
4. Seeks spiritual growth through study, reflection, prayer, discussion with others.
5. Seeks to be part of a community of believers who give witness to their faith and support and nourish one another.
6. Holds life-affirming values, including commitment to racial and gender equality, affirmation of cultural diversity, and a personal sense of responsibility for the welfare of others.
7. Serves humanity, consistently and passionately, through acts of love and justice.

A church sign read: Come in and get a faith lift. Do you need a faith lift? I believe it is a Gaither song that says He (God) made something beautiful of my life. That is what happens when he does a faith lift in us. Begin by asking (James 4:2). Then open your Bible and take it into your life (Romans 10:17).




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