There's No "I" in the Word "Faeth"
Of course, there’s an “I” in the word “faith.” But should the first-person pronoun “I” even be in the conversation when it comes to faith in God and what he does in our lives? Isn’t it similar to saying there is no “I” in the word “team,” a well-known saying stressing how the purpose of a team transcends that of its members?
Faith Is More Than Believing
Faith is much more than believing there is a God and believing he has certain characteristics and can do certain things. At the core of having true faith in God is an acknowledgement that God, and God alone, can and will accomplish what needs to be done in our lives.
It is so counter intuitive, it is mind-straining to think we can totally delete our “I” from any notion of seeing something accomplished.
One of the popular bumper-sticker buzz sayings today is “Let go and let God.” How true! Can anyone deny the truth and biblical foundations of that saying? No way. And yet, it is so hard to put into action. It’s in the easy-for-you-to-say category.
A Daily Commitment to Trust
Each day, we should make a commitment to completely trust in God, turning our lives and all that may occur over to him and trusting in his promises. The Our Father is a model prayer given to us by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. His words leave no doubt that we should let God’s “will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
As the team comes first in sports, God must be first in our lives. We are giving up total control, but in return we receive a refreshing sense of freedom. When a player in a sport knows his teammates “have his back,” that encourages him.
Knowing God has our back and every other part of us, we should be encouraged to live each day to its fullest regardless of what happens.
We Need to Participate
This is hard to do, especially in today’s culture that stresses a do-it-yourself attitude. It’s in our human nature to rely upon what we can do. God’s wants that to some extent. As a team relies upon individual performances, we need to be active participants in living the life God has prepared for us.
In conclusion, works are important, but having faith in what God can and will do in our lives should be at the core of all we do. We can go it alone or team up with the greatest team player who ever lived, the Lord our God.
In fact, you have three unbeatable team players, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Are you a team player on God’s team?
Additional reading:
Listen to God's Words
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal. (Isaiah 26:4)
Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. (Matthew 8:24-26)
Also read: Psalm 55:1, Hebrews 11:1, 2 Timothy 1:14
In the Words of Others
“We must cease striving and trust God to provide what He thinks is best and in whatever time He chooses to make it available. But this kind of trusting doesn't come naturally. It's a spiritual crisis of the will in which we must choose to exercise faith.” Charles R. Swindoll
“Pray, and let God worry.” Martin Luther
“Everything happens for a reason. Wait on God and trust in Him. He wants the best for us. He wants to take us from glory to glory, and from victory to victory.” Germany Kent
Think About It
Describe the kind of faith you have in what God can and will do in your life. Have there been times when your faith wavered? If so, how do you feel about that?
Visit the scriptures and discover the promises God made to each of us. Start with Isaiah 40:29 and 43:2, 2 Chronicles 7:14, John 3:16, 1 John 1:9.
Recall examples of how God has been faithful in keeping these and other promises you’ve discovered in the scriptures in your life?
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