The most significant, most prevailing lesson of my life has been faith. You would think that knowing that I serve an all-powerful, unchanging and unfailing God would keep me worry-free and consistently confident. Unfortunately, this is not so. My weary flesh is easily worried and constantly forgetful. Far more often than I'd like, I fall prey to "spiritual amnesia" (as Francis Chan calls it)--a temporary forgetfulness of the Lord's enduring faithfulness.
To make matters worse, my forgetfulness is completely unfounded. Because God has ALWAYS come through. There is simply not a time where God has let me down or failed to provide. Granted, sometimes the Lord provided in very different ways than I expected. Yet, even in those times, His provision (and subsequent changes in circumstances or the direction of my life) turned out to be something far GREATER than I expected.
The fact is, God has never failed to show up. His timing is perfect. His favour is unmeritted. His power is astounding. And I have to remind myself of that. Especially on days like today...
Today marks 6-months of my new life in California. What a tale it is of how I found myself here in Sacramento--flying out here completely on faith, with only small glimpses of God's potential plan for me in this season. Since arriving here, I've been amazingly surprised and overwhelmed by the Lord's faithfulness of provision. He has made it abundantly clear that He has placed me here for a purpose. Yet now, dragging through a string of relational and financial dissapointments over the last two months, I know I must be intentional about ridding myself of this pesky amnesia problem.
I will not let myself forget God's faithfulness...
I am writing this blog to remind myself (and others) that just because I don't know what the Lord is up to doesn't mean He isn't working. I am writing to remind myself that my God will supply all my needs. I am writing to remind myself that joy comes in the morning.
Jogging my memory is key to stirring up my faith. Daily I am digging into the Word to be reminded of the Truth, yet I also have the beautiful benefit of drawing on an incredible amount of amazing faith stories. Here on this blog, I will share them. To inspire you, but also remind myself. We don't just "have faith" in God. As followers of Jesus, we are called to live our lives in such a way that we are daily dependent on Him for our needs.
I always told myself when I was on the mission field that I wanted to continue to live like a missionary even when I came back to America. Not only in the sense of being "mission minded" to be intentional about helping those around me, but depending on Him for everything. "Living by faith" even with a paycheck...
And this is exactly what He is teaching me. Over the last two months, every day is new. I don't know what to expect. Plans are changing. Circumstances are shifting. God is up to something, but it's not exactly clear what that is quite yet.
But today, I am standing on faith. It is the evidence of all that I have yet to see...
Let faith arise, oh Lord, let faith arise
In the deepest parts of my being, oh Lord
In the most broken parts of me, oh Lord
Friends have failed me Lord, let my faith arise
Loved ones have failed me Lord, let my faith arise
Heroes have failed me Lord, let my faith arise
Let my faith arise
Let my faith arise
Let my faith arise
Let my faith arise
I say NO to the discouragement that keeps me down
I say NO to the things that keep me back from You
And this broken heart inside of me
Broken in so many pieces
By so many circumstances
I say NO to just letting it stay that way
Because I'm learning to trust that it's not You that hurt me
I'm learning to believe that it's not You that deserted meI'm believing that You still love me
Brokenness and all
I'm believing that You've got a plan for me
I'm believing that You will restore meI believe that You will awaken my soul
And let, let faith arise again, I believe
I believe like a little child again
I'm gonna dance in my trust in You, oh Lord
I'm gonna dance in my love for You, oh Lord
I'm gonna laugh again
I'm gonna cry again
I'm gonna have joy, joy on the inside
Circumstances around me try to pull me down
I'm going to believe in that faith again
Cause You're my Creator
You're my Comfort
You're the One that will never desert me
To make matters worse, my forgetfulness is completely unfounded. Because God has ALWAYS come through. There is simply not a time where God has let me down or failed to provide. Granted, sometimes the Lord provided in very different ways than I expected. Yet, even in those times, His provision (and subsequent changes in circumstances or the direction of my life) turned out to be something far GREATER than I expected.
The fact is, God has never failed to show up. His timing is perfect. His favour is unmeritted. His power is astounding. And I have to remind myself of that. Especially on days like today...
Today marks 6-months of my new life in California. What a tale it is of how I found myself here in Sacramento--flying out here completely on faith, with only small glimpses of God's potential plan for me in this season. Since arriving here, I've been amazingly surprised and overwhelmed by the Lord's faithfulness of provision. He has made it abundantly clear that He has placed me here for a purpose. Yet now, dragging through a string of relational and financial dissapointments over the last two months, I know I must be intentional about ridding myself of this pesky amnesia problem.
I will not let myself forget God's faithfulness...
I am writing this blog to remind myself (and others) that just because I don't know what the Lord is up to doesn't mean He isn't working. I am writing to remind myself that my God will supply all my needs. I am writing to remind myself that joy comes in the morning.
Jogging my memory is key to stirring up my faith. Daily I am digging into the Word to be reminded of the Truth, yet I also have the beautiful benefit of drawing on an incredible amount of amazing faith stories. Here on this blog, I will share them. To inspire you, but also remind myself. We don't just "have faith" in God. As followers of Jesus, we are called to live our lives in such a way that we are daily dependent on Him for our needs.
I always told myself when I was on the mission field that I wanted to continue to live like a missionary even when I came back to America. Not only in the sense of being "mission minded" to be intentional about helping those around me, but depending on Him for everything. "Living by faith" even with a paycheck...
And this is exactly what He is teaching me. Over the last two months, every day is new. I don't know what to expect. Plans are changing. Circumstances are shifting. God is up to something, but it's not exactly clear what that is quite yet.
But today, I am standing on faith. It is the evidence of all that I have yet to see...
"Faith" by Jason Upton
Let faith arise, oh Lord, let faith arise
In the deepest parts of my being, oh Lord
In the most broken parts of me, oh Lord
Friends have failed me Lord, let my faith arise
Loved ones have failed me Lord, let my faith arise
Heroes have failed me Lord, let my faith arise
Let my faith arise
Let my faith arise
Let my faith arise
Let my faith arise
I say NO to the discouragement that keeps me down
I say NO to the things that keep me back from You
And this broken heart inside of me
Broken in so many pieces
By so many circumstances
I say NO to just letting it stay that way
Because I'm learning to trust that it's not You that hurt me
I'm learning to believe that it's not You that deserted meI'm believing that You still love me
Brokenness and all
I'm believing that You've got a plan for me
I'm believing that You will restore meI believe that You will awaken my soul
And let, let faith arise again, I believe
I believe like a little child again
I'm gonna dance in my trust in You, oh Lord
I'm gonna dance in my love for You, oh Lord
I'm gonna laugh again
I'm gonna cry again
I'm gonna have joy, joy on the inside
Circumstances around me try to pull me down
I'm going to believe in that faith again
Cause You're my Creator
You're my Comfort
You're the One that will never desert me
So Daddy, I raise my hands up to You Lord
I raise my hands up to You, oh Lord
And I dance with my feet, I dance with my feet
And I say, come and, come and hold me Lord
Cause I'm learning to trust You with the faith of a child
Trust You with the faith of a child
I can have joy again like a child
I'm not going to let it come down
I'm not going to let those bullets come down
Come down and hurt me no more
Cause I'm raising up the Shield of Faith
And the Sword of the Lord
I'm believing on your Word Lord
I'm trusting in the Word that You said
And I'm waiting on YouWaiting on You
And I'm rejoicing in the fact that the Bible says
That You are my Victorious Warrior
You're the one that fights for me
I don't have to fight anymoreYou're the one that fights for me, oh Lord
My faith is rising, my faith is rising, my faith is rising
I can see You again Lord.
I can see You on the horizon of my life, oh Lord
I can see Your Son, it's rising up, it's rising up, it's rising up
And I don't have to be discouraged anymore
And I don't have to fight this loneliness anymore
Cause You're in my life, You?re in my life more than anyone can ever be
Father we're building a relationship again, just me and You
We're building a relationship again, just me and You
It's not about the job I have
It's not about the friends I have
It's not about the house I have or the social status I have
It's about me and You
We're building a relationship again, just me and You
I raise my hands up to You, oh Lord
And I dance with my feet, I dance with my feet
And I say, come and, come and hold me Lord
Cause I'm learning to trust You with the faith of a child
Trust You with the faith of a child
I can have joy again like a child
I'm not going to let it come down
I'm not going to let those bullets come down
Come down and hurt me no more
Cause I'm raising up the Shield of Faith
And the Sword of the Lord
I'm believing on your Word Lord
I'm trusting in the Word that You said
And I'm waiting on YouWaiting on You
And I'm rejoicing in the fact that the Bible says
That You are my Victorious Warrior
You're the one that fights for me
I don't have to fight anymoreYou're the one that fights for me, oh Lord
My faith is rising, my faith is rising, my faith is rising
I can see You again Lord.
I can see You on the horizon of my life, oh Lord
I can see Your Son, it's rising up, it's rising up, it's rising up
And I don't have to be discouraged anymore
And I don't have to fight this loneliness anymore
Cause You're in my life, You?re in my life more than anyone can ever be
Father we're building a relationship again, just me and You
We're building a relationship again, just me and You
It's not about the job I have
It's not about the friends I have
It's not about the house I have or the social status I have
It's about me and You
We're building a relationship again, just me and You
