Dear Friends, everything in this life is a journey of faith. We live by faith, walk by faith and obey by faith. But faith must be led by the Holy Spirit. It must come through intimacy with the Lord. Faith is not simply deciding what we would like to have and expecting God to provide it. There is a difference between trusting God and being driven by our own desires.
Therefore if you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, sharing in His resurrection from the dead], keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value] (Col 3:1-2 AMP).
God provides for our needs, not just our wants. That teaches us contentment. Contentment is not the absence of vision or expectation. It is learning to trust God’s wisdom above our own and learning to keep Him at the centre rather than becoming consumed by things that can easily distract us. It is understanding that God sees the bigger picture, even when we cannot.
Contentment also protects us from striving because it reminds us that our lives are not measured by possessions, titles or outward appearances. They are measured by our relationship with the Lord and our willingness to trust Him. “Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth” (1 Tim 6:6 NLT).
God’s Timing
Sometimes we are believing for something; a car, provision or a breakthrough and it takes longer than we expected, it may take two years or more. That is often where our faith is tested because we naturally want things to happen quickly. Yet God’s timing is not always our timing. There are seasons when we simply have to trust that God is working, even when we cannot yet see the outcome, “…for we live by faith, not by what we see with our eyes” (2 Cor 5:7 TPT).
For me, some things I am not even personally bothered about. But when God speaks, then I can stand. Then I can say, “No, I believe God. I am standing on His promise because I believe He has spoken to me.” That changes everything because we are no longer pursuing something simply because everybody else has it or because we think it will somehow prove our success. We are standing because we believe God has spoken.
For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed in a way that awakens more faith]. As it is written and forever remains written, “THE JUST and UPRIGHT SHALL LIVE BY FAITH (Rom 1:17 AMP).
This is important because presumption is not faith. We cannot have faith for something God has not spoken to us about. Genuine faith is always connected to what God has revealed, whether He speaks through His Word, through prayer or through the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Learning Dependence
Promised Land living is a life of dependence upon God. The world teaches us to chase after things, but the Kingdom teaches us to seek the Lord and trust Him with the outcome. As we walk with Him, we learn that He knows exactly what we need and exactly when we need it.
That does not mean every answer comes immediately. It does not mean every desire is fulfilled according to our timetable. But it does mean we can trust Him. We learn that God’s delays are not necessarily denials and that His timing is often part of His preparation.
If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit] (Galatians 5:25 AMP).
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you (John 15:4-7 NIV).
As we mature, we begin to understand that our confidence is not in possessions, titles or outward appearances. Our confidence is in the Lord Himself. Because in the end, we are not living for things. We are living for Him. And as we live for Him, we trust Him to supply everything we need.
Excerpt from Dr Alan’s new book, Joshua Generation (pages 100-103).
Available on Amazon. Click here to get your copy today!
NOTE: Don’t forget—Drs Alan and Jennifer’s books are now available in French, Spanish, Portuguese and German language! Click here to visit your local Amazon store, to get your own copy (instant eBook download).
Also available on iBookStore, NookStore, Lulu, and other retail outlets. As well as Audiobooks, on Amazon.com and Audible.com. For more details please contact our office.
Leave a Reply