Becoming A Daily Believer (+Video)

 

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see". (Hebrews 11:1) Faith, in the dictionary, is defined as a noun, but in the bible it's described as a verb. All throughout God's word faith is viewed not as just a one time action, but as a lifestyle in which the believer is, "[living] by faith, not by sight." (2 Cor. 5:7)

    It's sometimes easy to think once we have "prayed the prayer" to become a Christian we can just go back to living our normal lives, but it isn't just a one time choice that an individual makes. Faith in Christ is a whole lifestyle change, it transforms our lives in ways we never thought possible. How though do we live faith in Christ as a lifestyle rather than an action? There are some simple concepts we first have to understand about this newfound faith we have in Christ.

1. Faith is a day by day process

      "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23)

     Faith, like the verse says, is a daily action of denying reliance on our own selves and instead placing our burdens and needs and wants on Christ. It's depending on His power instead of our own. Faith isn't something that can be perfected overnight, in reality because of the brokenness in this world we will probably never perfect it until we reach Heaven. We have to treat our faith like a plant that needs to be daily watered and weeded and care for it to grow.

2. Faith requires effort, time, and perseverance.

      "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." (Matthew 2:27)

      Faith in Christ is something that requires our full attention for it to properly flourish. It needs not just our hearts to be focused on it, but our souls and our minds too. For our whole being to be put into a mindset that desires and wishes to find any way to allow our faith to thrive. The more we are intentional with finding time and putting in effort and persevering with our faith, the more formidable God allows our faith to become.

3. Faith wasn’t meant to be easy, but God’s grace, mercy, and love is renewed daily to us.

    "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor. 12:9-10)

     God never says anywhere in the Bible that having a life dedicated to following Him would be easy. Will it be a lifestyle that fulfills all of our longings and desires in Christ? Yes, but it comes at a price. It's not really the "popular" thing to be a Christian in today's world, I've had many moments where I've experienced opposition with others because I identify my life in Christ. Here's the good part though: no matter how hard or difficult our faith can is at times or how we can't seem to find the strength to take one more step His power gives us a supernatural strength that we couldn't of mustered up on our own.  His power is made perfect in our weakness, because of this promise and the confidence we have that God's power will help us to endure every trial we can rejoice when hardships come our way knowing full well that He will sustain us.

"Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (Hebrews 12:3)

   Lastly, we endure opposition and hardships because Christ first endured them for us. Jesus, while on this earth, faced every type of cruelty we could imagine when it came to following God. Even to death on a cross. Since we know the opposition he endured for God while on this earth, it gives us hope and strength in our own faith when trials arise.

   These three fundamental foundations of faith are things most Christians have a hard time realizing. We live in a society that wants to have what they want when they want it, and anything that takes time or isn't easy they quickly back out. We can fall into this trap as well when it comes to our faith. When it's not easy, or it takes time, or we realize it requires our full effort. God says though,"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because...that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:12) We have faith and endure the things that it brings because we know what it will hold for us at the end. We have such a greater prize in heaven than we could ever imagine, so we "run the good race" and fight to hold our faith in God close until the end.

    Want some practical ways to live out your life as a daily believer? Check out Annabelle Kiefer's Youtube Video: 5 Ways To Love God Daily Also go check out. her Instagram @annabellekiefer for the giveaway details.

- Rachel