I encourage you to step out in faith and keep in step with the Holy Spirit
To step out in faith requires movement with dependant trust in God. Faith is not a spectator of life, nor is it a passive side-line critic of others. Rather, faith permeates life’s desires and activities looking to God to accomplish the things we are not capable of achieving for Christ without divine intervention.
More often than not, when a Christian hears about stepping out in faith they think of heading off to some remote Tim-buck-too place to serve God as a missionary. Nothing could be further from the truth. While Tim-buck-too may occasionally be where God leads; for the most part He already has you precisely where He wants you. Rather, faith speaks of a stepping up, being willing to surrender your all in your present situation rather than changing the environment, even though occasionally an environment change may be needed.
There are times when faith pauses movement for the purpose of listening and evaluation, but never due to disinterest, selfishness or apathy. It’s a healthy soul that is willing to “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalms 46:10).
Lessons From Faith
On the occasion that Paul corrected Peter, he explained; “When I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas (Peter) …‘If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?’” (Galatians 2:14). Faith calls for alignment of gospel truth and behaviour. Faithless behaviour gets out of step with truth, meaning we need to change in order to reestablish a faithful and truthful walk with the Lord. Faith always promotes spiritual and biblical integrity!
Jesus explained to Peter how He was praying for him in light of his upcoming denials. “I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32). Stepping out in faith often requires recovery from failure first. Faith turns from defeat to persevering belief that announces the reality of living for Christ through service. Like Peter, when realising personal failure, you trust God to turn your desires and circumstances to truly serving God’s people. Obviously this takes a supernatural working of the Holy Spirit within. Being indwelt by the Holy Spirit inspires believers to live in sync with Him; “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25 NIV).
Faith and Storms
When Jesus calmed the storm which He had slept through; He awakened to a group of terrified disciples in the boat. Jesus’ response was; “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:40-41). Faith in Christ puts fear in its place. It’s faith in the sovereign Lordship of Christ which dispels fear; replacing it with peace, confidence, security and trusting desire.
There may be a hundred and one reasons why you feel stifled, unmotivated, or discouraged in your Christian walk. Quite likely, there may be people crushing you, discouraging you or holding you back. Be encouraged, faith is the inner resource empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is His energised faith which motivates the courage needed to step out against the odds and any opposition, moving you in a direction where God’s will can be fulfilled in your life