Faith as a Daily Exercise

 When you are in a season of attack, as I have been,  we learn to have faith. Through seasons of attack and  experience, we develop a strong and unique testimony. 

Be Still and Alert. Through stillness, we learn to listen. This is when God speaks to us and helps us process how we should react to events.  I have always loved hiking and nature. This is when I feel most at peace and where I learned to first listen to God. A recent series of events and people continue to remind  me that I need to stop, listen, and pay attention. A recent sermon online populated on my feed last week. The sermon was entitled "For Those Under Attack" and draws on 1st Peter.  In this message, the pastor quotes 1 Peter 5:9:  The devel is like a roaring lion. The roar is a warning and serves as a reminder that we will be alerted if an attack is coming. We must be alert and learn to listen. This morning my new pastor, Coleman, had no idea that I had been seeking God during the last week reading up on spirtual attacks in 1 Peter. He pointed us to Isiah 30:18-24 this morning and asked the following quesiton: Are you a good listener?  He stated that this is an intentional act or focus. Yielding is hard for me but I recognize that this is a skill in further need of development. 

Humility Releases Pride:  This is hard for me as I come from a long line  of strong independent pioneers. It's hard for me to humble myself. Perhaps betrayal in my past plays into this need to prove or hold on to my accomplishments or pride. I often feel the need to prove truth. Past abuse tends to trigger fear or anxiousness. However, this is where faith comes in. 1 Peter reminds us that the lion is on a leash and that there is a time for resistance. However, that is God's timing. Gentleness communicates a yielding to others. It important to remember that God will restore and he doesn't need me to push truth or restoration on others. Instead we should ask God to help with reminding us to remove  pride and to walk toward Jesus as Peter did. Humility is also an intentional act. Am I casting my anxiety on God and keeping my pride? Pride and anxiety are often found in the same package. Faith  reminds us that God is leading us. The hand of God is providing protection, favor, and hope. He will teach and sheppard us through our daily interactions with  him.




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