Toss It or Keep It?

 

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering…” Hebrews 10:23

A couple of times a year, I feel like I play a game called toss it or keep it. This is because a couple of times during the year I am forced, due to clutter, to reevaluate what I have and decide whether it is worth keeping or not.

There are many things we work hard at keeping. They either have sentimental value to them, or my personal favorite, a just-in-case motive that keeps them hanging on.

It could be broken – but it comes from…

It could be out of style – but just in case…

It may be something I don’t use right now – but just in case…

It could have lost its value – but just in case…

“Just in case” has gotten me more times than I care to admit. Now, I am eyeing some things that definitely need to be tossed.

Like, why do I still have this here?!

But one thing that should never be tossed aside or treated haphazardly is our faith. It will never lose its power or value; it will never go out of style, and it is something that we will always need.

Our faith fuels our Christian journey. Without it, there is no Christian journey!

You cannot drive a vehicle without the proper fuel, can you? And yet, many treat faith as if it is optional in propelling us forward.

When Scripture tells us to “hold fast the profession of our faith,” it is encouraging us to anchor ourselves in the very core of Who and what we believe. This is not an optional, maybe we’ll use it here and there application, to question our need for. This kind of anchoring becomes the steady ground we stand upon even if everything around us is shifting.

Friend, don’t give up on what you have. Your faith is the most precious thing you could ever possess (1 Peter 1:7).

Faith opens the world of possibilities for you. Faith allows you to see beyond circumstances that appear to be less favorable. Faith speaks encouragement to your heart when the noise of the world gets ugly.

The best way to lean stronger into your faith and increase its effectiveness in your life is to open God’s Word and see what it says to you (Romans 10:17). This is where our faith is fed, strengthened, and grows. This is where our hearts can see what our eyes cannot now (Hebrews 11:1). This is where possibility pushes past impossibility, leading us in ways we never could have imagined.

The Lord has opened the door of faith for us (John 10:9; 14:6). All we have to do is walk through it. And once we have it, we need to keep holding on to it and never let it go.

Many toss the word faith around as if it’s inconsequential, but it is the very thing we are to live by (Hebrews 10:38). Hold on to your faith and keep holding on, no matter what. Because as the Apostle Paul proclaimed, so we can too: “… I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Image by Pexels.com

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, X, Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc., to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details. 

 

 

Encouragement While Enduring

Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com

“… when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.” Micah 7:8

Encouragement comes in many ways, although sometimes it may be harder to see than at other times. Some days it may seem you are easily floating, while others, you are barely treading, fighting to keep your head above the waters. So, what do you do when life doesn’t seem to want to play fair, when you’re having a rough go at it, gasping for breath, and the days just seem off and hard to deal with?

Unfortunately, we were never promised an easy road to victory. Oh, my friends, how I wish it were so. Instead, much of the walking we do in this life is on the pavers of difficult days and decisions.

The truth of the matter is that this life we are living can and will be rough and difficult to navigate, even dark at times, but getting through it, we must, and we will. But how we get through it (trudging grudgingly or with a joy that refuses to be extinguished) will depend on where we focus and what we choose to fill our minds and hearts with (Philippians 4:8).

And that is where we start. It’s never about where we are now. It’s never about the circumstances that surround us; it is about who or what has our attention in the middle of those circumstances, for that will help us to keep the proper focus. Micah kept his focus on God, knowing and proclaiming, “… when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.” Micah 7:8

Yes, their situation was not ideal. Yes, it was difficult, and enemies were a real thing. The thing he knew, and what we must constantly remind ourselves of, is that the God of our faith is greater than all. And no matter how dark the days may seem, He is the Light that will never stop shining: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?“ (Psalm 27:1).

To help you stay encouraged in your times of enduring, I have compiled a list of several articles that will encourage your faith and prayerfully fuel you with strength as you are holding on through whatever season you may currently be in. Because, even in the face of trials and the things we just don’t understand, when God is our focus, we can always remain hopeful. He is our everlasting, sure Light.

Where do you need an extra dose of encouragement today? Spend time meditating and clinging to Micah and David’s faith-instilled truth about the Lord being our light in the dark days. May their declarations of faith help to anchor your hope and be your declaration of faith today.

Father God, we may not always understand everything we are facing. We are asking You to help us keep our walk, our faith, and our hearts steadfastly upon You and Your plan for our lives, no matter what our days are like. Thank You for so lovingly being our Light. Amen.

Encouragement While Enduring Articles:

“Before there was Egypt, there was a promise!”

While troubling times can be discouraging, don’t give up. Before there were ever hard times to deal with, God already had a plan of blessing in place. Before there was even an Egypt experience, God had a promise in the works.

“Focus Shift!”

Perspective changes one’s outlook on a lot of things in life. It’s all in how you look at it.

“Hold on to your hope…”

Believe that God loves you more than you could ever know and what He has in store for you . . . one can only imagine. Don’t focus on what you see today because it is only temporary but there is a glorious, eternal future as we move onward and upward toward our heavenly home (2 Corinthians 4:18).

“God is Forever Faithful!”

Don’t measure God’s faithfulness by your present circumstances. God never promised the absence of hardship or adversity in our Christian walk. But what He did promise, in His faithfulness, to be in it all the way with you (Matthew 28:20). Therefore, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised),” Hebrews 10:23.

“Never Too Strong for God!”

There is no weight too heavy that God can’t lift it! There is no enemy too strong that God can’t overcome them! There is no miracle too miraculous that God can’t cause it to come to pass! There is nothing too hard for God in any situation, problem, or adversity we may face!

“Navigating Thorny Places”

We all deal with thorny or hurtful places in our lives. Learn how Paul and Jesus dealt with their thorny places so that God can continue to work His strength through you.

“Only One Option”

Life gives us two options: stop where we are now and walk away, or keep moving forward until our destination is reached. Giving up is not an option. The steadfastness and commitment of our Christian journey are more than obtaining worldly goals. It is a continual pressing onward and upward toward the kingdom of God, and in that, we want to take others along for this wonderful spiritual pilgrimage.

“Take it to the Cross”

Every worry and every fear, take it and leave it at the foot of that blood-stained banner that was raised for our freedom, and find all that you need at the cross.