Faith and the word of God

In my last blog I spoke about the key of faith – one of the tools to help us follow God’s ways, not ours. Faith is the foundation for the building of our spiritual life.

Despite our false visions of God, our life experiences —trials, traumas, disappointments, failures etc. — we need to make a decision over and over again to have faith, to believe in God and his word; to trust in his ways, even when things make no sense, when circumstances become overwhelmingly painful.

Because my dysfunctional actions and thoughts brought much pain, failure and grief into my life, I turned to the word of God for guidance. I made a decision to believe. The Lord gave me the grace to have faith in his words and ways.

I especially love the psalms. In them I find a road map for living in the Kingdom. In the psalms I find healing words, strength, guidance, correct ways to act and think: Everything I need to walk in the ways of God.
In contemplating Psalm 23 during a time of rejection, abandonment, betrayal, shame, loss, etc., the Lord gave me these revelations:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want”: It is his job to supply all my needs — food, shelter, emotional support, etc.

“He makes me lie down in green pastures… He restores my soul: He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake”: He will take all my burdens, hurts, brokenness and bring healing. He will guide me, let me know which way to go in accordance with his will. He will do this in me so that people will witness God in me, therefore bring glory to his name.

“Even though I walk through the valley of death, I fear no evil: for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me”: When I am in the pit and I don’t see any way out, I must know that you are with me and that you will comfort me.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: you have anointed my head with oil, my cup overflows”: You set the time, space, circumstances in front of my enemies. You anoint me with your Holy Spirit and pour down graces overflowing so that I am able to love like you.

“Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life”: When I obey and do what God wants, goodness and kindness will be with me all the days of my life.

“And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever”: When I walk with the Lord in his kingdom, it is eternal.

Thank the Lord for giving you faith and for speaking to your heart. Go to the Bible and spend time reading and contemplating his words to you.