Walking by Faith

It's ALL about the Journey

Life really is all about the journey—step by step following HIS scripted plans for your life while Walking by Faith on the narrow and winding path HE has chosen and designed specifically for you. But how exactly does one Walk by Faith?

It all starts with a single step. A life journey of following HIS footpath cannot begin until you take the first step; the first (and most important) step is the choice to follow the path which leads to salvation. Only after you have taken the first step can you begin to follow Jesus' example and successfully Walk by Faith.

But what if your life journey is not the perfect journey you envisioned and is instead a difficult path with steep mountains to climb and deep valleys to cross? Then you have a decision to make. Am I going to try and make my own way? Or, am I going to surrender my will to HIS will and follow HIS footpath no matter where it leads? 

Jane made the decision to follow HIS footpath no matter where it led. The loss of her mother, the necessity of giving up her dreams for others, losing her voice and vocation, moving hundreds of miles away from loved ones, living dependent on others, developing Parkinson's, or living alone in a nursing home—Jane was determined to remain a faithful follower of her Savior.  We have made the same decision as well. Even if there are steep mountains to climb and deep valleys to cross—we are determined to follow His footpath no matter where it leads.

Hebrews 12 gives us the blueprint for how to be successful at Walking by Faith.  The following is my June 17, 2013 journal entry for Hebrews 12 from my blog Walking on His Footpath (Following the Master's Lead). 

 

June 17, 2013

So how do you live by faith? You follow Jesus' example, you put one foot in front of the other, and you hold on. Hebrews 12:1 - "So let us run the race that is before us and never give up."

To be successful at living a life of faith you first have to remove anything in your life that would block your relationship to Christ. You must remove any and all sin. You can't be successful if you allow those things to continue in your life. You have to look only to Christ and not to your own abilities or to the abilities of others—only to Christ. He is the One who began our faith and He is the One who helps us to live it out. He is our example.  He suffered death on a cross, but He accepted the humiliation and shame as if it were nothing. "He held on" even while wicked people were doing evil things to Him. Hebrews 12:3 - "So do not get tired and stop trying."

Our struggles and sufferings are against sin. Don't give up. Don't try to avoid the pain. Hebrews 12:7 - "So hold on through your sufferings..." God will change you and grow you, and He will be faithful to His promises. What God puts in our lives or allows in our lives is meant to help us to become more like Him. It isn't easy, and it isn't always fun, but it is meant for our good. Hebrews 12:11 - "It is painful, but later, after we have learned from it, we have peace, because we start living in the right ways."

So be careful how you live. Try to live in peace with all people. You cannot control the actions of others, but you can control yourself. Be careful not to allow sin to creep into your life. Hebrews 12:14 - "Anyone whose life is not holy will never see the Lord." Be careful who you associate with. A "religious unbeliever" can cause many problems for you. Be careful not to get caught by the trap of sexual sin or to believe the lie that wealth is the answer. Eternal rewards are worth far more than any earthly pleasure or short-term pain and discomfort.

Our lives should be different from those around us because we have met Jesus. Hebrews 12:22-24 - "You have come to Mount Zion...you have come to thousands of angels gathered together with joy...you have come to the meeting of God's children...you have come to God...you have come to Jesus...you have come to the sprinkled blood..." So, you really have no excuse.

Be careful! Hebrews 12:25 - "Do not refuse to listen when God speaks." To refuse to listen to Him before you knew Him is bad enough. But to refuse to listen to Him after you have met Him is SO much worse. So hold on...and be thankful. God has prepared a kingdom for us that cannot be shaken. God is in control, and we can trust Him. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  

Deuteronomy 31:6 - "I will never leave you.  I will never forget you."   

We can be confident in Him because He is trustworthy. Psalm 118:6 - "I will not be afraid, because the Lord is my helper. People can't do anything to me." Hebrews 13:15 - "So through Jesus let us always offer to God our sacrifice of praise, coming from lips that speak His name."

PRAISE—what keeps everything else in perspective. It keeps your heart calm even in the midst of a storm. It keeps your focus on what is important. Praise keeps the

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relationship in the correct order. It is what allows you to live a life of faith. So hold on. Do good to others. Share the faithfulness of Christ with those you meet. We can be assured that the God of peace will give us every good thing we need so we can do what HE wants.

Hebrews 13:21 - "I pray that God will do in us what pleases him, through Jesus Christ, and to HIM be glory forever and ever. Amen."

It is all about Him. May our lives bring honor and glory to His name.

Amen and Amen.  Jesus never promised that our life journeys would be easy and without difficulties, but He has promised to be with us every step of the way. When the going gets tough, you can lean upon His promises. HE IS FAITHFUL! Don't give up! Continue putting one foot in front of the other—and hold on! It's ALL about the journey!

Hebrews 12:1 - "So let us run the race that is before us and never give up."

Next Entry: Following HIS Footpath

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Welcome

     A True Story of God's Faithfulness

The Amazing Story
     The Sovereign Hand of God
Her Name Was Jane
     HIS Story Begins

A Blessed Event

     A God-Ordained Divine Appointment
Our Winding Paths
     God's Scripted Plan
For Such A Time As This
     HIS Greater Purpose
The Journey Home
     One Last Promise
A Legacy Lives On
     HIS Story Continues
A Story to Tell
     It's All About HIM
Walking by Faith
     It's All About the Journey
Following HIS Footpath
     HIS Great Faithfulness
Jane's God-Given Words
     God-Ordained and Holy Spirit Inspired
The Proof Came—AFTER
     "You Are Free to Go"
The Path to Salvation
     The Reward is Eternal Life