Practicing

Most of us pursue the practice of our faith with all sincerity but, speed bumps surface and we are tempted to give up. If you are like me, a recovering perfectionist, you may try harder or redouble your efforts in the pursuit of doing “it” right or better.

• What if we have made faith too complicated?  
• What if there is another way to practice our faith? 

Stained glass windows are made from thousands of small intricate pieces and are cut to reflect light. Whole panes of colored glass may be striking, but when the glass is later crafted into a beautiful window, the results are spectacular and stronger in the finished form than when it was whole.

It is impossible to eliminate uncertainty from our lives. 

The phone rings with news you didn’t see coming. The doctor speaks words you don’t want to hear. Your children choose a path of heartbreak. The job you loved is eliminated and your identity is rocked to the core. Your spouse has chosen another and you are overcome with feelings of rejection.

No one knows what waits around the bend. 

This year has rocked my soul in ways I could not have imagined. When I received “the call” from my doctor’s office with words I did not want to hear, I was shaken. Tears mixed with prayers as I hung onto Jesus with all that was within me. 

God is good always, but my frail fleshly frame has been weak and weary. While courage and trust are what I purposed in my heart to keep at the forefront of this journey through cancer, in many ways, I am still in the weeds and work daily to lean into my Heavenly Father for strength.

What does Practicing Faith look like? 

The practice of walking out your faith will be personal. Some connect with faith on a deeper level in times of solitude, places of creativity or nature. Some of the practices I use have included centering prayer, worship, solitude, journaling, praying parts of scripture, rest, and reflection through the prayer of examen. 

• Centering Prayer– quiets your heart allowing you to focus on God alone.
• Worship – acknowledges who God is and his place on the throne of our lives.
• Solitude – unplugging and choosing to be fully present in your interactions with God and others.
• Journaling – being aware of what God is speaking to your life, listening and reflecting on his presence through writing.
• Praying Scripture – allowing God to shape your prayer life as you pray the words of the Psalms or verses which speak to you personally.
• Rest – choosing restful rhythms for your mind and body by respecting your need for physical, mental and emotional rest. 
• Examen – an intentional reflection of gratitude, considering where you are most and least present with God throughout your day.

Practicing Faith requires putting trust into action.

Trust requires believing God is willing to work on your behalf, and I believe at the deepest place of my heart the hard seasons of life often yield deep growth and gifts if we take the first step toward relinquishing control.  Even when life serves you a plate of uncertainty, you can live fearlessly as you choose to focus on the one who calms the storm instead of the crashing waves around you.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Deuteronomy 31:6

Grounding yourself in faith and trust amid the wind of uncertainty sounds simple but it’s not. It is hard. But, My friend, God knows what you and I need today and tomorrow. He delights in not just being there, but in being intimate with us. He whispers into the rocky places. ” I am Immanuel- I am with you.

Blessings as you walk out and live your faith daily. I believe we bring delight to the Father’s heart when we reach to him in faith. He is crazy about you and I and so wants to spend time with us. He doesn’t see our mess.

For this I am grateful.

I appreciate you spending a few moments of your day with me. Please take a moment or two to share this article with at least one other human… I would be so honored!

Now it’s your turn, my friend. I have shared a few of my faith practices. What are yours?

• How do you connect with your faith in times of joy and uncertainty?
• Where do you most need God to meet you today?