Ever Increasing Faith Ideas

[QuestionTime]

Greetings,

I created this thread for the purpose of discussing various ideas, on how we might take practical steps to increase our faith. What things can we practice daily, weekly, monthly and yearly, to stretch our faith and cause us to trust God more?

To begin with, let us consider the example of Hudson Taylor (I found this on-line):

Hudson Taylor knew that living in China was going to require a strong faith. So he resolved to move men by God through prayer to the best of his ability. One example of this was at work. His employer was a forgetful man and often times forgot to pay him on time, so Hudson would have to remind him. There was nothing sinful about reminding him, but Hudson decided that he would no longer remind him; he would instead pray and ask God to remind him (and thus move men by God through prayer). This was not some form of manipulation on Hudson’s part – trying to use God to accomplish what he wanted – no, it was a form of trust. He was saying to God that he was totally dependent on him for all his needs. This form of trust stretched him greatly. The next time his pay was due, his boss did indeed forget to pay him. Hudson Then he gave that coin away to a man with a sick wife and hungry children (but just so you know, it wasn't easy for him to do that - he begrudgingly did it at first, but soon realized the joy in doing so). Low and behold, he got a letter the next day from a stranger containing enough money for the week. But still he didn’t get his pay and the next week was in the same situation as before. I won’t go into the exact details of how his prayer was finally answered, because it would take too long. But I will tell you that his patience and prayer paid off. In the strangest of circumstances, his boss finally paid him!

Another example would be a message I received here at CC today. The author of the message encouraged me to believe that I was healed of my toothache, and consequently to begin reducing my intake of medication. This I decided to do by a small amount.

Thanks for reading and sharing!

Quest

 

[pickles]

I know this may not seem like a anything special, but we all know how frustrating driving can be. Often the driving of others is the biggest headache.
I used to say many different things about other drivers, but soon saw that I always stayed frustrated if not more while driving.
I finally commited to blessing every driver no matter how they drove. I quickly saw how this gave all to God, first the other driver, I cannot know how this affected them but it put them in Gods hands. As for myself and passengers, it blessed our journey and I found myself far more calm and peaceful.
Also every journey became a pleasure. The best part was of course giving all to God Our Father.
Scripture says, Commit all to the Lord and your plans will succeed.
God bless, pickles

 

[QuestionTime]

Thanks for the assume contribution Pickles!

Due to a strange formatting issue, a line disappeared out of the Hudson Taylor story that I included above. Now the line is really small, but at least it's there:

Hudson Taylor knew that living in China was going to require a strong faith. So he resolved to move men by God through prayer to the best of his ability. One example of this was at work. His employer was a forgetful man and often times forgot to pay him on time, so Hudson would have to remind him. There was nothing sinful about reminding him, but Hudson decided that he would no longer remind him; he would instead pray and ask God to remind him (and thus move men by God through prayer). This was not some form of manipulation on Hudson’s part – trying to use God to accomplish what he wanted – no, it was a form of trust. He was saying to God that he was totally dependent on him for all his needs. This form of trust stretched him greatly. The next time his pay was due, his boss did indeed forget to pay him. Hudson continued praying and waiting…until he had only one coin to his name. Then he gave that coin away to a man with a sick wife and hungry children (but just so you know, it wasn't easy for him to do that - he begrudgingly did it at first, but soon realized the joy in doing so). Low and behold, he got a letter the next day from a stranger containing enough money for the week. But still he didn’t get his pay and the next week was in the same situation as before. I won’t go into the exact details of how his prayer was finally answered, because it would take too long. But I will tell you that his patience and prayer paid off. In the strangest of circumstances, his boss finally paid him!

http://michael.jofis.com/2008/09/hudson-taylor-part-4.html

 

[QuestionTime]

One thing I tend to notice about myself is how that I dwell on missed opportunities. I think about the great job offers I had in 2006 in Calgary, when the city was booming. I should have taken advantage of those opportunities and yet I failed to do so, and now I have this kind of mindset that it's too late for me.

This is totally wrong however, because:

2 Cor 9:8
...God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Jer 32:27
Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

Therefore, we ought to get our minds off of our failings and lacks, and focus on God's greatness.

Quest

 

[Consumed]

If a mother gives up her child to adoption because she believes that she can't provide proper care, is she then guilty of unbelief?

If she was a christian, God fearing, and abided in Jesus then the question would never need arise, if she was and still gave the baby up for adoption it would indicate that she built her faith on sand and when the storms blew her house fell.

For myself, i rejoice when things are going bad all around me for its in the valley of life that God does His greatest work in us if we keep His Word as a lamp upon our feet and trust in him, for when He pulls up to a higher place of understanding, the things that hindered us previously and would not have allowed us to climb the next peak would be far removed, thus equipping us with the armour to carry thru His plan for our life. Pity that some choose to wallow in the darkness of their valley and never really move into Gods perfect plan for ones life. Jesus is Lord and Saviour, not just saviour.

All about the foundations we lay, how deep we set them, for each time we go thru and come out of a valley victorious that foundation is even deeper. In times of peril and uncertainty one should not fear but praise Him for being a loving caring Father that cares for even the birds of the air that neither sow nor reap or store in barns...........how much more precious are we to God than the birds.

If we stuff up, admit to Him we did, repent if need be,for whatever reason,Jesus just puts us straight back onto the Fathers plan for our life, He is a good Dad.....

 

[loveschild]

Saying out loud and in your heart all the time that you trust God. Control your mind.

 

[Glowing]

Prayer to the FATHER in and through CHRIST was OUR Instuction;but at this time ,we don't even know what to pray for; so the best thing we can do is start with the Lord's Prayer and add onto it with knowledge. Probabley the worst word you could use is I; as HE only listens to pure thought. We in this Generatoin get OUR strength Day by Day; Unlike all those Generations of Faithkeepers that got their Concouisnesses strengthend through beleiving what they could understand of the Bible; We in this Generation really have no excuse for not knowing if we want to ALL things as CHRIST stated;as there is so much science,archelogical evidence,history and educatoin that with STUDY & PRAYER & SHARING it will be revealed to YOU!
Love & Peace Forever in CHRIST!!!

 

[Consumed]

Its all about going to that secret place with God the Father. We do what we call "to soak in His presence" whereby one lifts their voice in praise and worship to Him( playing praise and worship music helps this), thus we gain His attention more so because He inhabits our praises for Him, and be still and know that He is God. We wait on Him to move in the power of His Spirit to permeate every part of us.

Cant put a stop watch on it, His timing when He will move in His power of the Holy Spirit. You might feel led to read scripture, fine,do so, then wait, He will bring that to life within, He might give you a word of knowledge, or a plan He whats seen thru, but its all about waiting on Him, to be still and know that He is God.

Praying before hand is good as to ask the holy Spirit assisting one in keeping their focus on Jesus, and gaurd the mind of the cares of life that tries to distract us from spending quality time with Him, the cares we give to Him, He will give the answers........

blessings

 

[pickles]

Humble yourself before God and he will lift you up.
These are great words and wise ones. When one is willing before God Our Father to forsake all, pride ,be embarassed, give up all you wanted, edure any suffering, ect.. When asked by Our Lord God. One will begin to see that this is never a loss, but , in Jesus,God Our father's gift to us.
There is a great gift in faith when one is willing to humble oneself before God.
God bless, pickles

 

[Glowing]

In my above stament I would like to clarify that I would never knock anyone's Faith; Faith in Christ got me through till I was 42, I was not trying to insinuate that you have to know All things, Its just from studying I learned ,we went through a 40 year Blindness that i was born in.
I expeirenced a spiritual death that lasted less than 12hrs. When I cried out and Gave up on Christ, he gently tapped me on the shoulder and asked me that before you give up on me like that, would you please hear OUR FATHER out,like I asked everyone to do when I was here. I like a lot of other people I am sure have alway's wanted to know, and now at this time if you want to you can ,thats all.
Love to ALL in CHRIST!!!

 

[pickles]

In my above stament I would like to clarify that I would never knock anyone's Faith; Faith in Christ got me through till I was 42, I was not trying to insinuate that you have to know All things, Its just from studying I learned ,we went through a 40 year Blindness that i was born in.
I expeirenced a spiritual death that lasted less than 12hrs. When I cried out and Gave up on Christ, he gently tapped me on the shoulder and asked me that before you give up on me like that, would you please hear OUR FATHER out,like I asked everyone to do when I was here. I like a lot of other people I am sure have alway's wanted to know, and now at this time if you want to you can ,thats all.
Love to ALL in CHRIST!!!

No worries Glowing, I cannot speak for others but I saw only a wonderful witness to all that can be ours in Jesus.
Smiles and God bless, pickles

 

[QuestionTime]

If a mother gives up her child to adoption because she believes that she can't provide proper care, is she then guilty of unbelief?

If she was a christian, God fearing, and abided in Jesus then the question would never need arise, if she was and still gave the baby up for adoption it would indicate that she built her faith on sand and when the storms blew her house fell.

Amen. I heard a great sermon which drove this fact into my head. Anything that's not from faith is sin. Trying to obey God by our discipline is sin as well.

For myself, i rejoice when things are going bad all around me for its in the valley of life that God does His greatest work in us if we keep His Word as a lamp upon our feet and trust in him, for when He pulls up to a higher place of understanding, the things that hindered us previously and would not have allowed us to climb the next peak would be far removed, thus equipping us with the armour to carry thru His plan for our life. Pity that some choose to wallow in the darkness of their valley and never really move into Gods perfect plan for ones life. Jesus is Lord and Saviour, not just saviour.

You've always been a great example to me of child-like faith. That's what I admire about you. You told me some great stories before and I could see God moving for you in those stories.

All about the foundations we lay, how deep we set them, for each time we go thru and come out of a valley victorious that foundation is even deeper. In times of peril and uncertainty one should not fear but praise Him for being a loving caring Father that cares for even the birds of the air that neither sow nor reap or store in barns...........how much more precious are we to God than the birds.

Jesus said to take no thought for the morrow as well. I've begun thinking that if we have a roof over our head, food, water, a warm bed, etc., that we should praise God. Yes, we should work towards future goals - but only as much as possible each particular day. Otherwise, just be thankful that our needs are met today, and don't think about what we need to do to achieve our goals tomorrow.

If we stuff up, admit to Him we did, repent if need be,for whatever reason,Jesus just puts us straight back onto the Fathers plan for our life, He is a good Dad.....

Calling Him Dad is beautiful. Keith Green called God "Daddy."

Quest

 

[QuestionTime]

Thanks for the assume contribution Pickles!

ROFL!!! Let me say that again: "Thanks for the awesome contribution Pickles!"

Quest

 

[VW]

We see as in a mirror darkly, but we see. And as we look, we behold His glory, and we are changed from glory to glory.

When we take our eyes off of ourselves, and look at Him, we see what we are becoming. If we truly desire to see Him, He will reveal Himself to us.

Of all those who have seen God, Moses always strikes me most. His life changed completely, when He saw the burning bush. And as time went by, and as he spent time in the tent of meeting, he because more and more like the One he was meeting. When God defended Moses, (strange, but God did defend him,) He said that Moses was humble above all men, such that God spoke with him mouth to mouth.

Seeing God as who He is cannot help but cause us to be humble, because we have seen a true vision of Him.