Ramblings-n-Writings

Archive for February 19th, 2009

I’m so excited today to introduce to you a guest post by Alyssa Avant. Alyssa is embarking on a new journey and started a speaking, writing, and ministry training program called Faith Leaps. I asked her to stop by and share a little about her burden for the program.

Make sure you visit the Faith Leaps website to read more too. And if you are interested in taking a leap of faith, sign up for the program’s Early Bird List to see what it’s all about. Membership isn’t open yet, but you’ll receive Lesson 1 free as well as emails regarding specials and an entry into a contest for a free membership! Make sure you sign up by March 1 to be entered in the contest!

It is unlike anything else you will do with your life. Having faith is something that takes a long time to understand and even longer to truly feel that you have. As the Bible says, “Faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you cannot see.” Hebrews 11:1(NIV)

Faith begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ, the man who gave everything, even His own life for our sins. So, why do we feel that we can hold back, keeping things from Him, especially our lives and what we COULD be doing for Him? Yet, we aren’t, we’re keeping them for our own use and selfishly trying to please our own selves more than we are trying to please Him.

Maybe it is due to a “lack of faith”, after all Hebrews 11:6 says that “without faith it is impossible to please God.” (NIV) That is what often keeps us from truly doing for Him, truly living for Him, our own lack of faith.

For some, people don’t understand why they need faith in the first place. Faith is needed for several reasons.

1. It takes faith to begin your relationship with God. Because God is someone we can’t see, touch, or hear audibly, it takes faith even to come to know and trust Him. Once you do, the other parts of faith become a little more manageable.After all faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. We may not hear God audibly but we do hear his word. Faith is also an act of “belief” we all have the ability to believe. Just like you believe that a chair in your home will hold you up, you believe that God is real. You must believe that God is real and that He had His one and only son Jesus die to save us from our sins.
2. You also need faith to truly enjoy the benefits of being a part of the family of God. As Christians, we walk in our own assurance and faith that God is who He says that He is and will do what He says He will do. Every day life takes faith. And with that faith we enjoy the blessings that God has promised to us.
3. We need faith to point others to Christ. Without the evidence of our faith, many times it is hard to show others the way. God commands us to “go into all the world.” Without our own faith assured, we will not be able to do that effectively.
4. Faith also allows us to grow. We can experience growth as a person and as a Christian through faith. Reading God’s word, spending time in prayer and with other believers in fellowship helps us to do this.

We may think that it takes a great deal of faith to truly accomplish something, however, be reminded that the Bible says if you have faith as small as a mustard seed that you can tell the mountain to move from here to there and it will.

It may not take a large amount of faith to act, but sometimes we feel that it does. Sometimes we feel nudged to take action but we hesitate. Taking our own leap of faith is often scary. Do you need help taking a leap of faith? Check out “Faith Leaps” and see if we can help you with your “leap of faith.”

Alyssa Dees Avant is a Christian writer, speaker and blogger. She is passionate about ministry. Founding Beauty by Design Ministries to reach out to girls who are pressured and confused by the messages of style, fashion, and beauty. She is launching Faith Leaps to help others begin their journeys and fulfill their calls and dreams. She is married with three precious children all under the age of 5.