Faithfulness

Trust, it’s something many of us struggle with.  Whether we like it or not we have to trust people all day, all the time.  If you were to ask people, many would say that trust is something to be earned.  In reality, we choose to trust others before they actually earn it. 

Now we know some may not agree with our statements above, but let us explain.

From the time we are born we trust our caretakers implicitly.  We are completely reliant on others; we are forced to trust because we are completely helpless.  As we grow we are taught by our caregivers who and what to trust in life.  And in this, lies the beginning of our choice to trust.  Going back to our previous statement, we trust people before they actually earn it.  That trust may be motivated by necessity; however it is a choice we have to make.  When we get into a cab, we trust that the driver is not going to kidnap us, murder us, etc.  Other times we choose to trust others in our personal relationships because we all have the need to be loved and accepted.  When you meet someone new and you think you could be friends, you choose to spend time with them trusting that they will be kind to you.  When you are dating someone past the third date mark, you choose to continue seeing them trusting that they will treat you well and there is potential in that relationship.  It is only when we choose to trust, that growth is possible in a relationship.  To maintain a relationship, the trust that is given must be reciprocated and that is how trust is earned.  We are sure you are well aware that trust can be broken.  That is why extramarital affairs are so painful.  They reveal a terrifying vulnerability; because trust has already been earned in that relationship and then it is broken.  In a situation where restoration is an option, the wronged individual must choose to trust again without any reassurance.  It is a leap of faith.

Trust requires faith.  Who better to use as an example of faithfulness than Daniel?  Daniel resolved to trust God wholeheartedly, confident that God would prove His faithfulness.  He had a keen understanding of God’s sovereignty and was committed mentally, spiritually and physically to preserving God’s presence in his life.  He did this by refraining from anything that would defile his mind or his body and upheld the law of God without fail.  As a result, the individuals of the satraps, could find no corruption in him or charge any offence in him without manipulation.  Daniel was so distinguished and exhibited such exceptional qualities among his peers, his colleagues had to devise a plan to defame his character.  Knowing that they would not be able to catch Daniel doing wrong, they created a law that put Daniel’s faithfulness to the test.  Because faithfulness leads to predictability, Daniel was convicted.

Faithfulness is not a guarantee against hardship.  Faithfulness enables God’s character and glory to be manifested within us.  Just like Daniel, if we choose to trust God, His faithfulness will, in turn, inspire our consistency and commitment to Him.  This is where the devil preys on us as Christians.  He knows that the more we lack faithfulness, the less we will mirror Christ.  It is only through our faithfulness that we receive and maintain God’s excellent spirit within us.

To being wise,

Meredith, Jennifer and Marisa

Peace

In our last post we spoke about joy being the evidence of trust in God. If joy was a pill, than peace would be the effect. You cannot have one without the other.

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. Philippians 4:6 – 7 (KJV)


What we see here is a three-fold process. Joy brings forth peace, but both are bound through constant communication with Christ. In the case of Stephen, he was wrongly accused of speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God. When questioned, Stephen gave a speech which revealed a strong conviction in Christ. His response caused the people to be furious and stone him to death. Before Stephen was stoned, he looked up to God and asked for the forgiveness of his accusers. He did not fight back, or declare vengeance upon them. He was totally at peace with his fate. Such resolve did not come from regular church attendance, praying over meals or periodic scripture reading. Rather, this was a result of his consistent, intimate friendship with the Lord.


You cannot have peace if you are constantly robbing God of His supreme position. The control belongs to Him. Peace comes with the understanding that only God reigns over your life.


“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord”. Isaiah 55:8 (NASB)


Once you relinquish control, then everything that enters your life you give to God to handle. You do not have to be concerned for your well-being because you know there is One greater who has your best interest at heart. In other words, peace is not fighting your own battles, but being still and allowing God to work. Peace is the devil’s kryptonite (follow us on another tangent). We all know that Superman has the best powers, but even he has a weakness. Kryptonite paralyzes Superman. It may seem sometimes that the devil has so much power, but he has a weakness too. The devil’s weakness is our peace, which is our total trust in God.


Faith is the source of joy and joy is the source of peace. Faith comes from hearing and hearing comes from the word of God.


“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”. Matthew 6:25 – 27 & 33 (NIV)



To being wise,


Meredith, Jennifer and Marisa

Joy

When you think about joy, you think about moments in life that are pleasurable and satisfying. Things that come to mind are parties, gifts, weddings, promotions, friendships, family and love. Joy is a foreign concept in times of suffering and pain. In times of strife we subconsciously go into survival mode, our minds drown with thoughts of worry, confusion, frustration, doubt, anger and fear. These thoughts are innately self-centered and these feelings come from bearing burdens alone. This self-reliance in times of trouble exposes the absence of joy in our lives. Joy is a choice. It is a choice to trust in God in times of happiness and in times of sorrow. Joy is not dictated by circumstance, it is the proof of total dependence on God.


“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance”. James 1:2 – 3 (NIV)


Having trust in God brings you complete joy, but could you be joyful if you lost your job? Could you be joyful if your home was destroyed by a hurricane? Could you be joyful if you were imprisoned for doing the right thing? Paul and Silas did. During their travels, Paul and Silas met a demon-possessed slave girl who was a fortune teller. Being agitated Paul commanded the demon to leave her and she was healed. She lost her powers of fortune telling and because of the greed of her masters no longer able to make a profit from her, they had Paul and Silas beaten and thrown in jail. Rather than blaming God for their misfortune, despite the fact they were doing His work, they chose joy. They were not worried about how they would be released or that their work was being halted, they totally surrendered to God’s all-knowing power. And because of such assurance they sang hymns of praise to Him.


The thing about joy, it is not only for the sufferer, it is for the on-lookers. While Paul and Silas were singing other prisoners were listening and were touched. When you have joy the blessings will follow. God delights in our optimistic attitudes that display complete submission to His sovereignty. Joy is complete loyalty to God. It says “Come what may, I choose not to succumb to my emotions, but to submit to God’s will”.


To being wise,



Meredith, Jennifer and Marisa