Walk by Faith

2Cor 5:7 For we walk by faith ( we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk) not by sight or appearance. (Amplified)

Some new friends here in Savannah are moving in a few weeks due to a job relocation.  I have been praying for them as I am fully familiar with picking up your life and moving it to another place.  One of the things God put on my heart to do for them, is research the various churches in their new community.  One less thing they will have to do!   As I was doing this today, the Scripture above came to mind.  As I read it over and over in the Amplified version and prayed about it, I came to realize what an awesome challenge and courageous venture it is to walk in this world according to our faith; Regulating our lives and our Conduct according to our conviction or belief.  

It occurred to me as I sat with this verse, that while we have solid convictions of belief ie: the inerrant Word of God, the plan of Salvation, the Trinity, the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, etc--the foundations of our faith--there are also the individual convictions that the Holy Spirit brings to us personally in which we must conduct ourselves. The "tweaking" in our character, or the areas in which we struggle with sin.  As we learn to live our lives, open to the Spirit's direction, we fulfill the purposes of God, not only in us but through us, for others. The statement is easier to make than to live!  The struggle I find is in the "not by sight" part of the verse.

I struggle with this area.  I truly want to please God.  I desire to hear His leadings and be obedient, to move when He says move and to stay put when He says stay.  The problem is, I would like the directions to be more clear!  Maybe its the remnants of perfectionism in me, but I would love it if I could know without a doubt that I was hearing the promptings of God, and not my self.  And that is the challenge we all face!  We want to know, without a doubt.  That is not possible!

He assigns us these seemingly impossible tasks, knowing that they are impossible for us; knowing that we will have to seek Him and walk in faith, wondering if we heard Him correctly; clinging to Him, asking Him to illuminate the next step, getting small assurances along the way, calling out to Him, moving further and further.   Its like fumbling around in the dark, and yet it is this walk, this process, that leads us to fulfillment.  The Scripture doesn't say we must run by faith, it says walk for a reason!  God wants us to stay in touch!  Daily, sometimes moment by moment.  He knows when to send the little encouragements; He knows when to be completely silent, so that we rely on what we know of Him.  He knows what it will take to turn our hearts toward Him, and He knows how to assuage the doubts that creep in. ... With trust and holy fervor we walk. 

If I had to be truly honest, I would say that even though I step out in faith, the trust and holy fervor are accumulated along the path.  The truth is, I may be willing, but I don't usually have a clue what the cost is, and that is where God comes in.  He is building faith.  He is cultivating trust. He is trodding over doubts.   These are the "alters" of my life with Him.  These are the places I visit over and over, as I walk by faith.  They are my reminders of His faithfulness.  They are the pillars I lean on when I am too weary to continue.  These are the building blocks of my Strong Tower.

Walking by faith has become a balance of looking to God, (who is in the lead), examining self and looking back at my "alters".