A Special Phone Tree Series on Confronting Your Faith
It is with sincere regret that I tender my resignation.
These were the words that replayed through my mind repeatedly over the course of weeks as I dealt with injustices and silent inactivity on the job. After months of trials and patient waiting, it all came to an abrupt end when thoughts met action and I elected to submit my separation notice to my place of employment.The significance of my action was paramount in that it had a direct connection to my faith. And while I learned much about myself, other people, and the ways of the world through the course of my work site challenges and the process that led to the submission of my resignation, I learned much more about my faith, my relationship with God and about the things that really matter to me as it relates to the work of the kingdom and the glory of God.
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If hindsight is 20-20, then confronting one’s faith is 20-20 plus.
The day after the next day, better known as the day when my new faith walk began, was a key moment in the confronting my faith-obedience journey that God was now calling me (and had been calling me) to walk. It was the day when the dust settled. It was the day when I realized it was just God and me. Life to life. It was the day when my eyes were opened and my sight was restored. It was also the day when I understood that confronting my faith was about utter dependency and about trust, transparency, and God’s timing.
In looking back at the sequence of events and the timing of the grace lessons that God had sent my way, I realize that my resignation was inevitable. It had to happen. Time and time again, I was confronted with Truth versus untruth and Righteousness versus unrighteousness. I was faced with the question, “Is your faith genuine?”
In my Bible studies, I recall how the LORD continuously repeated the themes of faith, trust, hope and deliverance. In my prayer life, my focus had been on being holy, walking uprightly, and trusting God to lead me into His divine work. My quiet meditations were centered on God’s timing, my obedience, and on fruitful missions meant for His glory. The fasts that I engaged in were done so that I could better align myself with the Spirit of God, allowing Him to rid me of the “poisons” of life, which included detoxification from my own personal poisons and toxic habits.
The day after the next day, I stood face-to-face with myself and at the feet of God.
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Over the course of the next three weeks, I will be talking about the three profound and deeply revealing truths that God shared with me on the day after the next day journey He established for my faith walk. If you are ready to confront your faith, I would ask that you consider joining me.
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Q4U: When God gives you a directive, do you follow it the first time?
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Reach(ing) 2012…Upward, Inward, and Outward
Archie
January 19, 2012 at 7:43 PM
Kim,
Thanks for your beautiful testimony you shared about your faith in God. As I look back over my life, I have not always followed God’s directive mainly because I did not have the faith and trust in God. However, I have thus grown and matured as a Christian and now I am able to follow his directives. I had to develop a personal relationship with him with prayer, study, and mediation to get me to this place. This was not easy it required me to be totally dependable on God and to have faith and patience,as you have probably learned. I have learned that once you follow his directives, you will find out that he has something better in store for you. Just be patience and wait for his instructions. Remember, what God has for you he has for you!!!
Kim Teamer
January 20, 2012 at 12:28 AM
Archie,
How I love what you said. “I have not always followed God’s directive mainly because I did not have the faith and trust in God.” This is what it all comes down to – faith and trust. “I had to develop a personal relationship with him…” This is essential. It is in having an intimate and personal relationship with God that we learn what faith is all about. As we begin to trust Him, He opens the door for deeper trust, which in essence builds our faith. I love it!
Love you much in Christ,
Kim
Lisha
January 19, 2012 at 3:07 PM
Sometimes I’m good at following his directives, which always yields fruit. Other times, I become reluctant because what he asks is hard, takes trust, and an unwavering faith. Eventually I do obey his directives because if I don’t he brings me back around to face the same lesson again.
Kim Teamer
January 20, 2012 at 12:39 AM
Lisha,
“Sometimes I’m good at following his directives, which always yields fruit. Other times, I become reluctant because what he asks is hard, takes trust, and an unwavering faith.” Amen. Amen. Amen! As I reflect on your words, it brings to mind Abraham and Paul. Look at their lives and their circumstances. What they were called to do was not the easiest thing. It required a vast amount of trust and faith. But in going forward with God, the fruit that their obedience-trust-faith responses produced…well, we are still benefiting. What a lesson! Thanks for this message.
Love you, sis.