Walking by Faith
It’s June. After the chaos, turmoil and heartbreak of 2020 we’re halfway through this new year. It’s a year with COVID 19 vaccines for everyone which is a positive thing. But it’s also a year filled with mass shootings and a divided country. At some point we stopped seeing each other as human beings and see only sides. People have allowed social media and cable “news” to lead them down very dark and oft times ridiculous tunnels of so-called “truth".
Words are twisted to benefit company profit. Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, Newsmax are first and foremost businesses. Businesses look to turn a profit. It’s a simple fact. Headlines are manufactured with key words that draw readers/viewers to the site or program. It’s not a new phenomena but the internet has enabled it to become out of control.
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This scripture has become my mantra since the early days of lockdown in 2020. It remains the one verse that gets me through all the garbage in news headlines as we try to stay informed. It’s hard most days considering the current state of the world. But again I remind myself that this is all Biblical and though it grieves me to see what’s happening, I know there is an end to it. Will I be alive to witness it?
Don’t know. I learned a long time ago to stop asking God about the timeline. It’s not something I’m supposed to worry about, As for worry, well the Bible covers that too…
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
Psalm 121:1-2 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 112:7 They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Matthew 18:3 (ESV) is another scripture that I lean on quite a bit when I find myself trying to navigate my life:
“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
After spouting this one for so long I wanted to make sure I was understanding it fully. What I found on BibleRef supported my understanding but also expanded it. This commentary explains the status of children at the time of Christ’s life. Children had no status in the “very status-conscious” Jewish, Greek and Roman worlds.
I believe that I’m truly dependent upon the Lord for everything. Everything good and lovely in my life has been a gift from God even if it’s taken decades for me to understand those gifts. That’s a long story to be written for another post on another day.
Every day I choose to walk by faith. There are moments on some of those days when I have to stop and remind myself to choose faith. No one said a redeemed life would be an easy one but I have God on my side and that makes it much easier to find the good in every moment of every day.
Peace
