Faith: such a tricksy word full of meaning; expectation; value.
My definition of faith:: believing that MY God is a God of His word & because of that I can believe in His promises; all that has been written is true and is real; He is my provider, my rock, security, et cetera; He has a plan for me & within that plan He has a way to provide in order to bring it to fruition.
Typically in my own life, “faith” isn’t something I’ve struggled with accepting. These last 2 years I’ve learned a lot in the area of God working in my life in every situation. I have most definitely seen choices i& options in my life as God ordained, others, not so much; especially in the last year & a half. It’s been a really awesome experience seeing Him unfold my path of not getting certain jobs, not going to grad school, not living in certain places, not going to certain schools or churches, living in Denver, et cetera… In the beginning, I didn’t define what I was doing or how I was living as living by faith, but as I’ve grown & been refined, I absolutely see myself as living a lifestyle of expectant faith. it’s hard to live any other way (especially when God hasn’t opened any doors to allow me a different lifestyle!).
This whole race has come only from God. I have to live in expectant faith when it comes to all aspects of the race, the biggest being financially. I have no money and I have no income. Seriously. I’m in debt to many people; some of this debt is being deferred (loans). Other debt, 3 credit accounts, is growing daily & quarterly. My bank account is currently overdrawn, a lot. I have no savings. I am wholly and completely relying on other people right now.
There are some people on my squad and on other squads who could afford to pay for their own trips, pay bills while abroad & still have money left to live on when they come back. God has blessed them immensely, in a completely different way than He’s blessed me. As for myself, the only way I can go on this trip, is if it is God’s will (which I believe it to be). If this were not His will, His plan for me, if He were not putting this on the hearts of those around me, I would not be going. It’s as simple as that. Because of God’s faithfulness, I reached my first deadline of $3000 cash in my account.
One thing I’ve learned from God lately is that, while He does work on our behalf for His glory, He expects us to step up to the plate, too. While we have nothing to prove & He doesn’t need our help, He wants us to make an effort as well. If I am in need, I cannot not say something and just expect God to do something. He wants us to take some ownership.
James 2:14-17, 22:: What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother of sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily good, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.’, ‘You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works”
To reach my deadline, I had to make known my need so that God could work through others. This isn’t to say that God isn’t capable of doing everything on His own, because He can. But, what does that teach us if we don’t do anything, or at least if we don’t speak of our need.
Because of God’s faithfulness & call on my life, I am believing with strong faith that He is going to provide for my next deadline of $6000 (an additional $3000) by August 18. My God is a great God;
“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?’ ‘Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?’ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” ~Romans 11:33-36
