As a child I loved our family trips to visit my mother’s family in Bethlehem Pennsylvania; I still love to visit today. Many of my favorite childhood memories stem from playing Uno with my cousins and Aunt Sandy, games of pool in my Uncle Jack’s basement, Family BBQ’s in my Uncle Fito’s backyard and fishing on the lake. One of my favorite things about visiting was being exposed to a different language. My mother and her family are Puerto Rican, and Spanish is their first language. I always dreamed of being fluent in the language as my mother and her siblings are; being able to express myself readily and effortlessly, words flowing smoothly and graceful from my mouth in another language that not everyone understood. I thought of how greatly it would benefit me to be bi-lingual in my future; even with being exposed to the language by family and taking years of Spanish class throughout my life I realize the fluency never came because I didn’t consistently exercise speaking in the language, nor did I consistently hear it. The saying ‘if you don’t use it, you lose it’ is a very true statement.
I still believe that it would greatly benefit me to be bi-lingual in Spanish, and at times I get upset that I am not, but God has spoken to me and told me there is an even greater language to be fluent in; a language that will benefit not only myself but bless others as well: He told me to be “fluent in Faith”. You must understand that when you are fluent in a language, you not only can speak it smoothly and effortlessly, but you can understand it just as well. Now faith isn’t a language that everyone speaks, and sometimes it is not a language that everyone can understand. We know that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). It is by faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible (Hebrews 11:3). Faith, as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. put it is like “taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.” It is by faith that we know to lean not to our own understanding, but in all our ways acknowledge HIM, and He will direct our paths (Proverbs 3:5). It’s by faith that we believe that with God nothing will be impossible (Luke 1:37). How fluent are you in Faith?
How can you become fluent in faith you ask? Think about a child who first coos and babbles; the child doesn’t continue to coo and babble their entire life, but there comes a time when the child learns to talk. As the child listens to those around them, they begin to speak the language they have heard. In the same manner faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). You my Father’s children must be conscious of what you are hearing and what you are listening to because before you know it you will be speaking that language being poured into your spirit.
The world speaks a language of doubt. It speaks a language of negativity. The world will say that after the first step in the staircase that you can’t fully see you will stumble and fall. The world will tell you that the situation you are going through right now is insurmountable. The world will make you believe that you will never get out of the storm that has been brewing in your life. The world wants you to believe that no one understands…that no one will extend to you a helping hand.
But faith speaks boldly and says though we may stumble, we will not fall, for the LORD upholds us with His right hand (Psalm 37:24); it is by faith that we can confidently say that God will go before us and be with us, even in whatever situation you are going through, no matter how high the mountain is in your path or how low the valley may be when you descend, God promised that He never leave you nor forsake you, that you need not be afraid or discouraged (Dueteronomy 31:8). Faith understands that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). Faith understands that God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? (Numbers 23:19)
Take a moment to think…Are you the child that continues to coo and babble today, helpless and dependent on the wrong people, continuing to sit in life’s diaper of a mess because you are too concerned and focused about all that’s going on around you and what you are going to miss in the world and not listening to the right voice? Are you speaking the language of doubt? Or are you ready to become fluent in faith? Both speaking and understanding the language, recognizing it when it is spoken and exercising the language in your life on a daily basis?
You don’t have to stay whatever situation you are in, you don’t need to continue to believe those negative things you were fed about yourself. God created your inmost being, He knit you together in your mother’s womb; you are fearfully and wonderfully made! God’s works are wonderful. (Psalm 139:13-14), And God knows the plans he has for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Who are you listening to? Christ said my sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27). The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life (John 6:63). Will you listen to God’s voice? Will you decide to truly know Him and follow Him? Will you be fluent in faith?
Lord God we thank you for your word, and we thank you that you are a God that does not lie or change His mind, and that you are a God that seeks to prosper us and give us a hope and a future. Lord we confess that it is so easy to speak and listen to the negativity and doubt in this dark world and so we pray now in the name of Jesus that you will continue to help us walk in your beautiful light, that you would strengthen us and give us to courage to be fluent in your language of faith O God, to speak it daily in our lives and in the lives of others in need of encouragement. Lord tune our ears to not just hear Your voice but to hear it loud and clear that we may hear Your words and be fluent in faith. In Jesus name. Amen.
I still believe that it would greatly benefit me to be bi-lingual in Spanish, and at times I get upset that I am not, but God has spoken to me and told me there is an even greater language to be fluent in; a language that will benefit not only myself but bless others as well: He told me to be “fluent in Faith”. You must understand that when you are fluent in a language, you not only can speak it smoothly and effortlessly, but you can understand it just as well. Now faith isn’t a language that everyone speaks, and sometimes it is not a language that everyone can understand. We know that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). It is by faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible (Hebrews 11:3). Faith, as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. put it is like “taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.” It is by faith that we know to lean not to our own understanding, but in all our ways acknowledge HIM, and He will direct our paths (Proverbs 3:5). It’s by faith that we believe that with God nothing will be impossible (Luke 1:37). How fluent are you in Faith?
How can you become fluent in faith you ask? Think about a child who first coos and babbles; the child doesn’t continue to coo and babble their entire life, but there comes a time when the child learns to talk. As the child listens to those around them, they begin to speak the language they have heard. In the same manner faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). You my Father’s children must be conscious of what you are hearing and what you are listening to because before you know it you will be speaking that language being poured into your spirit.
The world speaks a language of doubt. It speaks a language of negativity. The world will say that after the first step in the staircase that you can’t fully see you will stumble and fall. The world will tell you that the situation you are going through right now is insurmountable. The world will make you believe that you will never get out of the storm that has been brewing in your life. The world wants you to believe that no one understands…that no one will extend to you a helping hand.
But faith speaks boldly and says though we may stumble, we will not fall, for the LORD upholds us with His right hand (Psalm 37:24); it is by faith that we can confidently say that God will go before us and be with us, even in whatever situation you are going through, no matter how high the mountain is in your path or how low the valley may be when you descend, God promised that He never leave you nor forsake you, that you need not be afraid or discouraged (Dueteronomy 31:8). Faith understands that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). Faith understands that God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? (Numbers 23:19)
Take a moment to think…Are you the child that continues to coo and babble today, helpless and dependent on the wrong people, continuing to sit in life’s diaper of a mess because you are too concerned and focused about all that’s going on around you and what you are going to miss in the world and not listening to the right voice? Are you speaking the language of doubt? Or are you ready to become fluent in faith? Both speaking and understanding the language, recognizing it when it is spoken and exercising the language in your life on a daily basis?
You don’t have to stay whatever situation you are in, you don’t need to continue to believe those negative things you were fed about yourself. God created your inmost being, He knit you together in your mother’s womb; you are fearfully and wonderfully made! God’s works are wonderful. (Psalm 139:13-14), And God knows the plans he has for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Who are you listening to? Christ said my sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27). The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life (John 6:63). Will you listen to God’s voice? Will you decide to truly know Him and follow Him? Will you be fluent in faith?
Lord God we thank you for your word, and we thank you that you are a God that does not lie or change His mind, and that you are a God that seeks to prosper us and give us a hope and a future. Lord we confess that it is so easy to speak and listen to the negativity and doubt in this dark world and so we pray now in the name of Jesus that you will continue to help us walk in your beautiful light, that you would strengthen us and give us to courage to be fluent in your language of faith O God, to speak it daily in our lives and in the lives of others in need of encouragement. Lord tune our ears to not just hear Your voice but to hear it loud and clear that we may hear Your words and be fluent in faith. In Jesus name. Amen.
