Training in the Faith Life

Faith is still our subject; I want to make sure that the importance of FAITH is not missed by any of us.

You can find the excerpt below on page 1083 of the New International Version, Women's Devotional Bible - Classic Edition.

Author: Mrs. Charles E. Cowman (emphasis added)
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Mark 9:14-29 (NKJV) *part 3*
emphasis: v. 23

Mark 9:23 (NIV)

²³" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."


The "everything" in this verse does not always come simply for the asking.  God is ever seeking to teach us the way of faith, and in our training in the faith life there must be room for the trial of faith, the discipline of faith, the patience of faith, the courage of faith, and often many stages are passed before we really realize what is the end of faith, namely, the victory of faith.

Real moral fiber is developed through discipline of faith.  You have made your request of God (your need to serve Him; a request that is according to His Will - not just Your want), but the answer does not come.  What are you to do?

First, check your request.  Is it a need to serve our King?  Is it a request in order to serve His people?  Is it a request that is according to His Will?  Or, is it a request rooted in selfish desire?  Is it a desire that God has placed on your heart?  Be real with yourself and with God.  You can't hide anything from Him; and it is just a waste of time to lie to ourselves.

If it is in line with His Will and Purposes, nothing should stand in your way of believing God's Word.  Never be moved away from it by what you see or feel, and thus as you stand steady, enlarged power and experience is being developed.  The fact of looking at the apparent contradiction to God's Word (by what you receive from this world) and being unmoved from your position of faith make you stronger on every other line.

Often God delays purposely, and the delay is just as much an answer to your prayer as is the fulfillment when it comes.

In the lives of all the great people in the Bible, God worked!  Abraham, Moses, and Elijah were not great in the beginning, but were made great through the discipline of their faith, and only thus were they fitted for the positions to which God had called them.  Isaac wasn't born to Abraham & Sarah until, he was 100 and she was 90.  Moses was 80 when he experienced his encounter with God (the burning bush) and received his mission; still having a lot to learn from there.  Remember this: time is used for God's good!  When He has the control, there is nothing to worry about.  This shouldn't make us sad, this should give us hope!  Age and time does not limit God.


Other examples: In the case of Joseph whom the LORD was training for the throne of Egypt, it was not the prison life with its hard beds or poor food that tried him, but it was the word God had spoken into his heart in the early years concerning elevation and honor which were greater than his brethren were to receive; it was this which was ever before him, when every step in his career made it seem more and more impossible of fulfillment.  These were hours that tried his soul, but hours of spiritual growth and development were established.

No amount of persecution tries like such experiences as these.  When God has spoken of His purposes to do, and yet the days go on and He does not do it, that is truly hard; but it is a discipline of faith that will bring us intoa knowledge of God which would otherwise be impossible.

Additional Scripture Readings:
James 5:10-11 (The Message)- ^10-11Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything, and never once quit, all the time honoring God. What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You've heard, of course, of Job's staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That's because God cares, cares right down to the last detail.

1 Peter 5:8-10 (New Living Translation)- ⁸ (Be self-controlled) Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.
¹⁰ In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.


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Daily Prayer: LORD, Your desire is not for any of us to perish; therefore, You are extremely patient with us.  Thank You for the time allotted to us to repent, so that we will not be destroyed (2 Peter 3:9).  Heavenly Father, today I would like to repent of (THIS IS BETWEEN YOU AND GOD; PUT IT OUT THERE TO HIM).  For everyone on this earth will not be saved, there will be individuals who will not choose You.  They will choose the ways of this ungodly world, loving their deceitful and wicked ways.  I do not want to be one of them; I choose not to be one of them.  Thank You for calling my heart and offering the forgiveness that only our Holy Father can offer through Your Son, Jesus Christ.  A gift that we will never be able to repay; nor do you ask us to repay.  It is offered to us freely, because You love us.  Thank You for sending forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to Your holy mountain, to the place where You dwell.  I desire to live with You O God, my joy and my delight.  I praise You!  Let not my soul be downcast nor disturbed within me; but let my hope be in You always.  For I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

CONCENTRATE ON TODAY; HOW CAN YOU APPLY THIS TO TODAY?

SHARED COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOMED!