Faith and trust are often strengthened through trials and tribulations. When we allow God to lead us, He draws us near and opens our eyes to beautiful blessings we may have missed if we had not had faith and trust in Him. Take a moment to read Stories of Faith/Learning To Trust God written by Michelle Hicks.
Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me for times my actions do not mirror my words about You. Give me strength, courage, and peace as I walk in faith and trust. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
John 20:29 NIV — Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Are you in a hard season? Do you feel like the world is crumbling around you? Are your circumstances so heavy you feel the weight crushing the breath out of you?
We all have had those kinds of times. The real question is what do you do when the world around you comes crashing down? How do you react and respond in times of crisis?
Julie, Ray, and I are reading and watching The Bible Recap by Tara-Leigh Cobble (aka TLC) this year through the YouVersion Bible app. It is a “one year guide to reading and understanding the entire Bible” in chronological order. Recently when referring to John 20:29, TLC said “Trusting God means we live in contentment now.” In other words, even when we are in the valley, we should find peace and joy in the moments we walk through. For me, that means letting go of control and asking God to prepare me to accept whatever His will is for me and the circumstance that is troubling me. For me, it means living out the words He has given me to write to you over the years. For me it means walking out the definitions of faith and trust.
Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me for times my actions do not mirror my words about You. Give me strength, courage, and peace as I walk in faith and trust. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Hebrews 11:1-3 NIV — Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines faith as belief and trust in and loyalty to God; firm belief in something for which there is no proof; complete trust. Trust is defined as assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something; one in which confidence is placed.
In who or what do you place your trust? The answer defines your faith.
Writing for our Water Walkers blog began as a hobby and blossomed into a ministry and calling from God. Julie and I write and share because we feel led to do so by God. However, it is all for naught if the way we act and react to life’s ups and downs does not match the words we write and speak. I sometimes fall short, but God keeps reminding me of my call as a Christian to be His image bearer. The same goes for you. Others are watching you. What image of faith and trust in God are you reflecting?
Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me for times my actions do not mirror my words about You. Give me strength, courage, and peace as I walk in faith and trust. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV — For we live by faith, not by sight.
What do you do when the going gets tough? How do you react to tragic news? What is your response to a devastating diagnosis?
Recently, God reminded me that as Christians we can’t just “talk the talk.” We must also “walk the walk.” What does it mean to live by faith? For me, living by faith means that sharing my faith with you through our Water Walkers blog is not enough. I have to show that I believe the words God gives me to write by living it out every day. That means I must trust God for whatever is next, even when I can’t see the next step. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
How are you walking in faith? How do your actions show others your faith and trust in God?
Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me for times my actions do not mirror my words about You. Give me strength, courage, and peace as I walk in faith and trust. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Take time to read and meditate on the featured scriptures for our week ahead.
2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV — For we live by faith, not by sight.
Hebrews 11:1-3 NIV — Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
John 20:29 NIV — Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Join us this week as we share about faith and trust. Let’s begin today by worshiping through listening to Walk By Faith by Jeremy Camp and Trust In God by Elevation Worship.
Instead of our usual “See You Saturday” post and video, Julie and I thought we would share with you moments from the week that we have savored. Merriam-Webster defines savor as the taste or smell of something. Savor also means to delight in or enjoy. So today, I will share something from this week that takes on both meanings of savor.
I love tomatoes!
Over the last several years I have taken delight in growing my own tomatoes. My favorite variety is an heirloom tomato named Purple Heart. I enjoy the bite size of the Sungold tomato which is a hybrid Cherry tomato. This year a friend gave me a Juliet tomato plant which I had never grown before. The Juliet plant is a rare hybrid of a Roma and Plum tomato. I have enjoyed eating them on salads, with my eggs at breakfast, or just as a snack. As much as I have enjoyed this tomato variety, I was surprised by the vast amount of tomatoes it has produced and continues to produce. For the last couple weeks, everyone who visited our home left with a ziplock bag of tomatoes. This week, in an effort to not let my harvest go to waste, I searched the internet and found a recipe for homemade tomato sauce made with Juliet tomatoes. Yesterday I sliced tomatoes, minced garlic, chopped onions and fresh basil to prepare the tomatoes to roast for 2 ½ hours. As the tomatoes roasted, my house was filled with the most delicious smells. The smell gave me joy as I relished the thought that I had grown and prepared the soon to be sauce on my own. Then I transferred them to the food processor to finish the process. My roasted tomatoes did not create a great deal of juice so the result is more of a concentrated paste that I will use as a base for homemade spaghetti sauce. I will use my homemade Juliet tomato paste and home-grown Purple Heart tomatoes to make a version of my mom’s spaghetti sauce. What a blessing to share with my family who don’t like fresh tomatoes but love spaghetti!
What did you savor this week? Maybe you haven’t thought about it, but going forward we hope you will be mindful each day of the moments you savor. Enjoy each moment and find joy in your journey. Even the valleys of life grow flowers to be relished. This week, even in the valley, I relished tomatoes!
1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV — So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
