“Praise the LORD, O my soul!
While I live I will praise the LORD;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.” (Psalm 146:1)
Faith is delicate: both a choice and a gift
As I embrace this psalm I am aware of how my attitude is instrumental to my faith. Yes, faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) but my attitude is my own. By the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1-2) we can have the mind of Christ, but this depends upon the choice we make daily, whether to embrace the LORD or to embrace the world.
Gratitude is a way forward
When we face all circumstances, we can rejoice. But how? One recent Shabbat morning, I began to list all the good things in my life. Though life is fleeting and both joys and sorrows come in like measure, we can choose which events, conditions, or circumstances we dwell on. Choose life! Choose Jesus. Choose abundant life because he came to give us life and that more abundantly. (John 10:10)
More Faith
When our hearts are downcast, when situations are full of strife rather than life, what do we do? We are human beings, made of flesh with blood coursing through our veins. What if we feel overwhelmed by our external circumstances or our internal frustrations? Then we ask the LORD for more faith. Faith is the substance of things hoped for. Faith is the evidence of what is unseen, intangible. (Hebrews 11:1) Faith carries us when what we experience is bleak. Faith enables us to endure. Faith is not what we drum up by our will, but rather it is a gift from GOD. GOD is a giver of good gifts; when we ask, He is able to deliver.
Trust Faith
When we feel at the end of our tether, we look to faith which endures. Our feelings are fleeting. They are robust and passionate and all-encompassing at times, but they are only based on our thoughts and attitudes. Faith endures beyond ourselves. Trust faith, that which we know in our hearts and have built through life experience, that which is in the word of GOD which never fails us.
Emotions are temporary, but faith endures.
Trust faith. Choose faith. Ask for more. And allow endurance in our faith to carry us through any challenge, surprise or obstacle.
When the Hebrews were in the most desperate situation, trapped between the Red Sea and the advancing Egyptians, all looked bleak. But Moses took faith and proved the salvation of the LORD. We each face our Red Seas and our Egyptians from time to time, but we have our LORD, who is mightier than any sea of affliction or man of war. Trust faith: “stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD”. (Exodus 14:13) Be still, wait upon the LORD, allowing Him to renew your strength and deliver you from all fear, affliction, entrapment or snare of the enemy.
Hallelujah, Jesus conquered and through him we also are “more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37) Trust GOD, ask for faith, and he will deliver.