What Faith We Choose

It comes down to what happens in the secret places of our hearts. If we hear and the words reach fertile soil, something magical happens. A vital part of our souls turns from us and reaches upward for God. We recognize that the world around us categorizes, labels, and explains. Meanwhile, we gaze up in wonder. We know we need a Savior. And the only One we will accept is One we can come to know. That we can do. Each gets to choose to what degree. Some who rely on their decipherings or declarations will fall back on those. But those who burn to know the Lord will press on. They will leave those comforts to go out in search of their Redeemer. They will start listening. They will want ears to hear. They will accustom their hearts to whispers from above that others would miss. They must enslave their souls and walk in intimate contact with the Living God.

We can be among those tortured souls. We can burn for more of the Lord. Or, we could sit back and congratulate each other and ourselves. Let us choose to invest in a relationship with a God we can come to know, feel, and hear!

Press on, dear pilgrims; the Lord has infinitely more in store for us!Dear Lord, Help us turn from our ways. We want more than vague notions, cold theories, and clever interpretations. Give us a hunger for knowing You that demands engagement each day. We can no longer settle for floating prayers upward into outer space. Give us prayers that connect us deeper each day in our relationship. Heighten our awareness of Your wonders in increasing amounts. Let our love for you grow as our bond tightens; we pray. Amen

John 15:4-5 ESV / Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Matthew 6:5 ESV / “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

Galatians 5:16 ESV / But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Psalm 119:105 ESV / Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Romans 12:2 ESV / Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV / Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

James 4:8 ESV / Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Colossians 2:6-7 ESV / Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Philippians 4:6-7 ESV / Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.