I think I have coined a new term this week...faith storm. What's that? A faith storm is something that blows into your life and threatens to blow you off your foundation of faith. It brings with it the gale-force winds of questioning...the driving rain of doubt.
Now that we know what a faith storm is, are you prepared to survive the next one that blows in? How do you do that? Paul gives us some great advice in Colossians 2:6-7. Here's a summary of his advice:
Receive Christ Jesus as Lord. I know that sounds like an obvious step, but it's one that a lot of people miss. Often, people depend on religion or good works to prepare themselves. Unfortunately, those things don't prepare us for faith storms. Only a relationship with Christ does that. But receiving Christ Jesus as Lord isn't enough.
We need to live in Christ. Genuine faith always demonstrates itself in transformed lives. We begin to think differently. Our attitudes change. Our behaviors are altered. More and more, we find ourselves walking as Jesus walked. And as we do, we become more prepared for faith storms. But to really be prepared, we have to do one more thing.
We must send down deep roots that grow strong faith. As we learn from those more mature in faith than we are and teach those who are looking toward us, we become rooted in faith. And it's those roots that enable us to endure faith storms as they arise. And as we do that, we find something else happening.
We develop a sense of thankfulness. Thankfulness that Jesus has received us as His child. Thankfulness that by God's grace we are becoming like Him. Thankfulness for the opportunity to be in community with the Church. Thankfulness for the strength to survive faith storms.
Are you ready for the next faith storm?
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