Her Faith Thrives

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105 (ESV)

Have you had an experience that exposed your limits?   I have had experiences like this  a few times, but the most recent time was at the beginning of a season of living apart from my husband while he was in training for 4 months.  Coming into this season, I had a 2.5 month old and not yet 2 year old in my care, and I was about to learn a lot about depending on God for every moment of every day.

At first, I was determined to do everything I could to cope well with the increased demands of the season.  I started strong with a healthy eating and exercise routine and tried to rest as much as I could with a baby who did not sleep through the night. I was finding a good rhythm but when we ran into some unexpected health challenges, I realized I was in one of those limit-exposing experiences. The beauty of times like these, is all our illusions of self sustaining strength are revealed and we can walk in moment by moment dependence on God as we should have been all along.

“ You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word. Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments. Before I was afflicted I went astray but now I keep your word.” Psalm 119: 65-67 (ESV)

“ Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.” Psalm 119:73 (ESV)

When I read the words of these verses in the context of the entire psalm, I felt like I had just read the user manual on my own life.  No matter what I walked through, hard or easy,  I had one goal and one goal only: keep (obey) God’s word.  

As we keep His word, in extravagant grace disproportionate to any effort we could put forth, Christ responds by giving life. This life yields the fruit of the Spirit regardless of our circumstances.  As christians, we have been entrusted with His Word – the Living Word- Jesus. We trust in Jesus as Lord, Savior, and King.  We read our bibles because not a single word will pass away. We learn His word and we learn to obey it. Yet, we often have competing interests. We would prefer to have rest, predictability, and practical solutions but God gives us so much more. He gives us the pulse that drives the actions of the ones who hear “well done, good and faithful servant.”  In the end, like the servants and stewards in Jesus’ parables, we too will account for what we did with the word in this life.

So  how do we respond to God by living in a good and faithful way?

There is no substitute for pursuing God in His word.  I have reflected on 8 ways you can do that here, so  let us  reflect on what this could look like in specific areas. Here are 5 reflection questions to get you started:

How am I pursuing God in His word right now?

These would be things like quiet times, bible study, church attendance etc. Get as specific as you can. Answer this question based on what is true over the last week not what you want to be true. When answered honestly, this can expose ways that we think we are walking with God well but that we actually are not.  This is helpful because then we can simply repent and begin to move forward.

What area am I desiring to walk in faithfulness?

This is helpful to define because then as the Lord speaks into this area through His word you are prepared to recognize His provision and act on it. You are also primed to see His faithfulness in communicating with you.

What does God’s word have to say about faithfulness in the area I have identified?

As you answer this question you may realize that you need to frame the area biblically. We are so pressured to frame questions, problems, and challenges from a self-centered, worldly perspective.  However, when we start to look at those same questions, problems, and challenges from a God-centered and biblical perspective the way forward can get clearer.

What does it mean to Keep God’s word in this area?

Keeping God’s word has to do with your obedient response to it.  This means taking action as needed, changing thoughts, attitudes and perspectives and pursuing a great understanding of God’s word. If you make it to this point, it is so rewarding to have specific things you can actually work on and see progress on.  It is not so that you can boast in your own effort, rather so that you can marvel at the enormous work God did to save you and make this level of sanctification possible. 

Where have I fallen short of keeping God’s word in this area?

Answering this question will give you an opportunity to repent and that is so freeing. You will get to lay the burden of doing life outside of God’s design down. A lifestyle of repentance is essential to cultivating faithfulness.

Join me in grabbing your bible and a journal and prayerfully considering  how God is calling you to walk faithfully in your season. I have found that as I work through these questions, God shows me the next step of faithfulness. It is always a walk of faith but He empowers the next step and then the one after that until I start to make progress in the right direction. Friend, I have no doubt He will empower you too.

“ Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning.”  Psalm 119:54 ESV

For Further Encouragement

Were you encouraged by this blog post? I would love to connect with you on our special Her Faith Thrives Newsletter which goes out every other month. In each newsletter, I share a short reflection about how I’m growing in my faith during this season of life. Plus, I’ll be sending you some fantastic resources to inspire and guide you on your own faith journey. When you subscribe, you will receive my all-time favorite tool for making your Daily Quiet Time truly meaningful. It’s called “From Routine to Reverence: 3 Simple Steps to a Deeper Daily Quiet Time.” I can’t wait to hear how it helps you deepen your time in God’s Word.