Faith and the Faith-Rest Life

(∆AX Formal Chapter Devotion: October 26, 2008)

Faith is the essence of who we are. It is the foundation of our life. What we have faith in determines whom we serve, what we believe, and how we handle life. We hear the word thrown around in so many ways – Just have faith. Keep the faith. All you need is a little faith. – But what do we really mean when we say it or hear it? We talk about faith, but do we really understand the power that rests in the actual act of living it out? Jesus healed and worked miracles so many times because of people’s faith in Him. When they didn’t have it, He didn’t work the miracle. Our faith can be mountain-moving, if we only let it!

Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as “being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see.” I am sure of my salvation and certain that I am headed to heaven, but do I feel that way about everything else in my life? In all honesty, no, I don’t. But if I can trust the Father with my life because of the salvation He provided us, I should be more than willing to trust Him with my everyday decisions. Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” So, whether it is who I am going to marry or what I am going to have for lunch, I need to have faith knowing that God will provided and His promises hold true.

Throughout our bible study, we have been learning about abiding. In essence, the act of abiding is no more than a fancy word to have faith in God through Jesus Christ. Abiding is putting your faith into action. It is resting in Christ to the glory of the Father. By abiding, moment-by-moment, you move into the rest, or peace, that the Lord provides and promises His children.

So how do we get through life with this faith of ours? How does it help us? The concept of faith is carried out through the practice of faith-rest. Faith-rest is claiming a promise from God and moving into a moment-by-moment rest. The moment-by-moment rest is the faith-rest life. This idea of faith-rest is meant to be continuous. It means to have perseverance or patience. But this patience does not mean it sit and twiddle your thumbs hoping that God will come through. To be patient is to be strong and steadfast in believing God’s word, even if you think you have reached the end of your rope.

Faith-rest is also the absence of works. This means that you need to stop trying to do everything yourself and let God do it. Each battle or adversity we face is to be handled by the Lord, not us. When little David went before Goliath, the Philistine, to save his people, he told Goliath that “all those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.” David knew who was fighting his fight and that no one could defeat God. The Lord will take care of His children. Living the faith-rest life means you have a peace in the middle of everything crazy that is going on. It is knowing that God will take you out of the problem or take you through the problem. We don’t have to have the answers and we don’t have to defend ourselves. Our God is our Defender and Deliverer; don’t forget, He’s mighty to save.

Another act of faith-rest is prayer. If we think back, faith-rest is claiming a promise from God and moving into a moment-by-moment rest. In order to claim those promises you must pray. You “draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, where you may receive mercy and may find grace to help you in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16.

Now we know what the faith-rest life is. How do we being to act it out? How do we begin to achieve that moment-by-moment rest in the Lord that our souls ache for? There are three steps. These three steps are there to follow when everything is going crazy, or at least not as you planned, and your emotions and feelings are overwhelming you.

The first thing you do is to claim a promise of God that will sustain you. These promises are found in God’s Word! Too many times we complain that God doesn’t reveal things to us. We forget so easily that when we open our Bible, there is God revealed to us, in our own two hands. It is up to us to seek Him out. By claiming the promises we find in God’s Word, we realize that the situation is not hopeless. God is in control of it all, big or little.
Second, you use that promise in a justification or explanation of the circumstance. Remember that the promise you used in step one is backed by many other related truths. In this step, cling to a larger rock, related truths, to make your faith-rest more effective.
Lastly, reach a conclusion. The explanation from step two should lead you to a conclusion about the situation. You may always accept the conclusion as truth, but faith-rest will bring that conclusion alive so that you find strength, courage and comfort in it.

So let’s take an example of faith-rest. Say that you wanted to be a specific major at school. It was what you had set your heart on – you thought this was what God was calling you to do, you know the whole works. But you didn’t get in. Now you have to completely change your whole plan for college, and in essence, your life. What do you do now? Start the faith-rest drill. Your future looks like it is up in the air and going crazy. But we know that in Jeremiah 29:11 God says “for I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” So, then you pray that to God. You claim that promise in your prayer to Him. Now, from that you move on to an explanation of the situation, a broader truth. In our example, we know the truth that we have a place in the eternal purpose of God. And we know that He has given us everything we need to fulfill our life on earth as He has planned. We know that He will equip us as He sees fit. Lastly, we reach a conclusion from the explanation. In our example, we can conclude that “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28.

That is how you act out faith-rest. Now, it is important to understand a few things about faith-rest. It is not an instant gratification kind of thing. If you do it once, it’s probably not going to help. This is something that is continual. It is human nature to do things ourselves, to worry, and to be upset about things. To fight this you have to transform your mind. Romans 12:2 “But be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you will be able to test and approve of what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Transformation doesn’t happen overnight. It is a continuous process that has to be carried out daily, hourly, even minute-by-minute. This faith-rest must be repeated until it becomes your way of life. It brings God’s Word to life in your own life. It makes the words your read on a page a reality. It will open your eyes to see how little each problem is when you are able to rest and relax in God’s faithfulness and provision.

Another thing about faith-rest: it is for the little and big things. It’s a way of life, not a 9-1-1 call. It is for everything we face that may stress us out. From majors to traffic lights, faith-rest is a way of life that deals with life in the perspective of God’s incredible promises. Use it for everything and completely transform your mind.

So “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6. As a believer, you must mix these promises with your faith. You have to learn them. So read the Word. Hear the Word taught. You must know them. Mediate on the Word. Memorize the Word. Hide the Word in your heart. And then you must believe them. Act in faith-rest.
Once you do, you will reach that state of abiding in the Vine. It is the place of rest that is full of blessing and power. And then, and only then, can you begin to produce to full and sweet fruit that the Father desires from us as His children. Don’t forget, He gives us everything we need to accomplish what He wants; He has given His promises.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness
through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.
Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises,
so that through them you may participate in the divine nature.”
2 Peter 1:3-4b

Live the faith-rest life, as the Lord said in Habakkuk 1:5, and be utterly amazed, for the Lord is going to do something in your life that you would not believe, even if you were told.