My Faith Muscle

I can so easily be swayed by the emotions of my kids and my husband. I can too easily worry about their circumstances or mine. I want to trust in God. When I'm close to my Father, I can more readily lean on His understanding. My faith is strengthened.  When I don't read His word to me, His love letter to me, my faith is weakened.

It's been 3 months since I last exercised or even went for a walk. I often feel drained and weak. I have resolved to start drinking more water, eating healthier (more fruits and vegetables), and exercising at least 3 times a week.  That means even doing a 15-minute work-out at home or going for a walk. I can feel the difference when I'm not taking care of myself.  In just the same way, if I don't feed my soul and my mind with God's word, it's easy to be swayed by fear and doubt.

God has brought my children to a saving knowledge of Him. Why should I worry and why should I fear. Anything that happens to them or any choices they make are not without His knowledge. He loves them and can use everything that enters their life for His glory. That is my ultimate desire, isn't it? That God would be glorified in and through them. So why do I worry that they're hurting, or that they may make a bad choice?  If these are things that God will use for His glory, then Lord, may your will be done.  An easy life does not make for a strong faith, just like easy weight-lifting does not make for strong muscles. The heartaches and the choices we make in life, good or bad, are ones that can we can use to minister to someone else who may or may not know God and His great love, mercy, grace and power.

God brought my husband and me together. So why worry about our future?  We have been through so much together.  God has carried us through tough times together.  Circumstances that have strengthened us and our bond and tie to each other. I am his beloved and he is my beloved. Every little thing in our marriage is used by God to grow us more into the image of Christ. Nothing is wasted in God's hand. He is molding us.  All in His time.  I am thankful that my Heavenly Father is gentle and full of mercy and grace. I am thankful that He does not reveal all our sins to us all at once. There is so much that my Father has forgiven me.  No one knows my every secret and my every thought and deed like my Father does.  And no one loves me and protects me like He does.  I want to love like this. I want to pass over and overlook any offense against me.  When I rejected him, He pursued me.  He has shown Himself faithful to me time and time again. And still my faith waivers.  He doesn't quit. He doesn't quit on me.  He will never leave me nor forsake me. Lord, I am yours. Do with my life as you please.....just never leave me and never take your Spirit from me.