Hindrances to Full Faith (6)

He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief… And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Romans 4.20, 22

Incremental growth
Abraham’s growth in full faith, into becoming the father of all who believe, was accomplished in stages, by a series of obedient steps. Faith always demands action, as we’ve seen – the “evidence” of the things we hope for from the unseen realm (Heb. 11.1).

So faith is always moving us toward something which we do not at present possess, or which we are not at present experiencing. And we move toward that promise by incremental steps – “next steps.” I recall reading a “Miss Manners” column once in which a young girl who was preparing for her first prom asked meekly how to walk in high heels. Miss Manners’ answer was succinct: “Right foot, left foot.”

That’s the way with faith as well. We get to the place of realizing the promises of God incrementally, in daily steps of obedient faith, not in huge quantum leaps of blazing glory.

Abraham had to go to the land, then walk throughout the land, then stay in the land, and daily praise and worship God, building up a repertoire of “faith steps” even as these were occasionally added to from time to time.

When it came to the birth of Isaac the faith step that was required of him was to have sexual relations with his wife, which, Sarah seems to indicate, they had ceased to know (cf. Gen. 18.12).

Beyond that, the Lord required that Abraham take the all but unbelievable step of offering his son as a sacrifice to the Lord (Gen. 22). Faith steps aren’t always as easy as we might like, but they’re what we have to take if we are going to exercise rather than inhibit transforming faith.

Personal Mission Field
As we invest time each day in reading God’s Word and praising Him, focusing on His promises as the far horizon of our lives, He will begin to show us how to live by faith with the people around us each day. Like Abraham, our father in the faith, we have each been sent to a particular place, where we are called to bear witness to and make disciples of particular individuals. This is our Personal Mission Field, and Jesus promised that it was ripe for the harvest, if only we will work it by faith (Jn. 4.35-38).

In particular, four faith steps will be required of us every day if we are to realize the power and promises of God in the everyday situations of our lives.

Four daily steps
First, we need to prepare well. This means time in the Word of God, prayer, and looking ahead to the day.

Seek the Lord’s wisdom and guidance. Study the Scriptures with a view to discovering next steps for the day ahead, then commit those next steps to the Lord in prayer. Think ahead to the opportunities that you will face each day, and plan to make the most of the time God gives you (Ps. 90.12; Eph. 5.15-17). Think about the people you’ll be with and how you will show them the love of Christ. Pray for them, and for the boldness to reach out to them as the Lord opens doors of opportunity.

Plan your day carefully, and bathe your plans in prayer. Gird up your mind for action, as Peter put it (1 Pet. 1.13), before you get busy with your day, and you’ll be much more likely to know the appropriate faith steps to take at every point.

Second, work hard to grow in the art of Christian conversation. Determine to use your speech to build others up and to encourage and affirm them. Take an interest in people. Ask them questions, and share freely from your experience of the Lord. Don’t let others draw you into vulgar or merely trivial conversations. Words are gifts from God and we must not squander or sully them. Become a good listener and let your words to others come as arrows of truth and grace from the very presence of the Lord. Make that your determined mode of conversation, and you’ll know just what to say at every moment.

Third, work hard to show the love of Jesus in all your works toward others. Be a servant, a helper, a shepherd, and a friend, and God will guide you step by step into His promised blessings.

Finally, understand the ways that God wants to bring transformation into your life – all your relationships, roles, and responsibilities. Nurture a vision of your own Personal Mission Field filled with the fragrance of Christ and illuminated by His truth and love. Then pursue that vision, step by step, every day.

Full faith is a matter of next steps, one after another, day after day, year by year. God will bring His promises to fruition in your life if you will take the daily steps of faith as He makes them clear to you.

For reflection
1.  What does it mean to read the Word and pray each day, seeking the Lord’s next steps for your life?

2.  What can you do to better prepare for taking the next steps of full faith each day?

3.  Who are the people in your Personal Mission Field?

Next steps: Make a list of the people in your Personal Mission Field, and develop a plan for praying for them regularly.

T. M. Moore

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This week’s ReVision study is Part 6 of a 10-part series, “Full Faith.” You can download “Hindrances to Full Faith” as a free PDF, prepared for personal or group study. Simply click here.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.