A sure faith....

Something banged loudly against the door, and I instantly woke up! There was a wild storm raging outside, and I ran outside in my pajamas to try to clean up the mess the storm was making. I had just moved in and hadn't even considered what might happen if I didn't secure my garden lounge chair. I was happy just to have one at all!

friend, isn’t that like our lives sometimes? Maybe you’re completely happy about being able to believe in God in the first place. But then, as soon as the storm hits, you're surprised that fear messes everything up again! Perhaps you feel like I did that morning…like you're running around in your pajamas, seeking the hope you once heard about. You're running and running, and as soon as you reach for the hope, trust, or closeness of God, it seems as if another gust of wind comes and blows it all out of your grasp again.

Could it be that you had faith but hadn't secured it…like me with my garden lounge chair? When your faith is secure, you can be certain that your life is secure.

But you may be asking, friend, how do we get a secure and stronger faith? 

A stronger and more secure faith is a GIFT. It's a gift from the Holy Spirit that you may (and should!) ask for. Paul knew how important this was, so he wrote this request that I'd like to say as a prayer over your life today:

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, friend, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen." (adapted from Romans 15:13, NKJV) 

You're a miracle!