I spoke with a close friend recently and discovered that we both have been going through a similar transformation. God has redirected our attention and slimmed our focus down to one thing: Walking by Faith. It’s been such a delightful shift in my life that I knew I must share it in all the ways that I can.
Start
Let me begin with the Word of God:
“Into thine hand I commit my spirit: Thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of Truth.”
Psalm 31:5 KJV
As I read these words the image of Christ upon the cross came to mind. Why? Well probably because the same words left His mouth directly before He died: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit”. These words, at surface level, just looked like Jesus was showing that He was passing away and His spirit was leaving His body. But under the surface there is so much more.
Trusting God
You see, this one phrase: “Into thine hand I commit my spirit”, I believe, carries the entirety of the Christian life in it. What else is it saying besides full surrender of oneself into the hands of God? Jesus was doing exactly that. Not only on the cross but during the entirety of His life here on earth. Every day, every moment, every hour, it was the same thing: “Into thine hand I commit my spirit”.
The pattern ought to be the same in our lives. A fully surrendered commitment of our lives into the hands of God. Trusting Him with every detail of our life. That is called walking by faith and not by sight. Trusting God to take care of the daily needs, trusting God to give victory over temptation, trusting God to give strength to obey His commands, trusting God to lead you to what your next step ought to be. It is all in the action of committing your spirit to Him.
Don’t Complicate It
The problem arises when we complicate it. The saying goes: “The just shall live by faith”. But how quick are we to add the sign “+” to the end of that. “The just shall live by faith + reading their Bible.” or “The just shall live by faith + going to church.” or “The just shall live by faith + loving their neighbor”. Though all of those additions are great and should be done it is NOT what gives the just person their life. It is faith and faith alone.
I think our problem is that it’s almost too easy. We think: “Can it really be that simple?” Why yes it can be. Think of all the towns Jesus came into during His ministry. All the healings, teachings, and miracles He performed. What was He looking for? Religious people? People who knew their Bible? People who went to Church? People who were praying 3 times a day? No. Simply put: He was looking for faith. That is why He would say “Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” “Found” indicates a search. A search for what? Faith. Nothing else. Don’t complicate it.
Faith Alone
So here is the point. Are you trusting God at every moment to fill you with the life of His Son? The How is very easy. Humble yourself before God, confess any outstanding sin that is clearly in your life and ask God to reveal to you all of it, repent from the confessed sin, plead the blood of Christ for your forgiveness, then boldly enter into the throne room of grace (Heb 4:16) and ask for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. And guess what? It will be given to you: Luke 11:13.
After that, what else is needed but to continually abide in the Vine? The Holy Spirit gives you the life of Christ and hands you everything you need for life and godliness. I’m pretty sure “life & godliness” is all you need! So don’t go on complicating it like you need something else. Yes, read your Bible, yes Pray, yes Go to church, yes love your neighbor, but do all that in the Power of the Holy Spirit that has been given to you by faith. “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him” Col 2:6. How did you begin in Christ? Faith? Then that is how you will proceed.
Action
- Praise God for the beautiful simplicity of Faith
- Ask God to reveal to you where you have overcomplicated faith in your life
- Confess to God these areas of complication and return to your first Love in faith
- Listen to Abandoned