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6 Ways To Keep Your Faith On Track

How's Your Faith?

"Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see." -Hebrews 11:1 NLT

In an earlier blog (please read - A Matter of Faith), I discussed the definition of faith and why faith matters. I also discussed why faith is important and reviewed some obstacles to your faith.

“All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.”

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

I will take the faith conversation further in this blog by looking at how to keep your faith on track for the road ahead.

How would you describe your faith to me? Do you rely on your faith daily or do you call upon it only in times of duress? If you had a faith gauge, like the fuel gauge in your vehicle, what would it indicate?

Is your faith tank - 

• On empty. In need of urgent attention (renewing)
• Half full. Should fuel up before a long drive (increasing)
• Almost topped off. Ready for any road trip (maintaining)

Your tank is never missing. Likewise, you always have faith in something. You may ignore your gauge from time to time, but the tank is ready to be filled to the level you choose whether you presently need to renew, increase, or maintain your faith.

It's good practice to know where your fuel gauge is before you start down the road, and it's equally important to check your faith gauge before the highway of life (a tip of the hat to Tom Cochrane) leaves you stranded between rest stops. 

Did you ever try to "see" if you had enough gas to get somewhere because you didn't plan ahead? I've been there and done that. Barb and I took a road trip from Colorado to Indiana to see our moms and family last May. We left the hotel after an overnight stay and because the traffic was congested, chose to hit the highway, and get gas further down the road. As we passed exit after exit without any services and the casual drive to fuel up became an urgent lookout for a station, the tension grew. We made it, but only sometime after the fuel light came on adding to the heart palpitations.

We often don't pay attention to our faith tanks until a critical need in the form of a crisis or tragedy occurs. 

Here are some things we can do now to make sure we maintain a full faith tank, ready for any trip, planned or unexpected.

6 Ways To Keep Your Faith On Track

1. Use what you've got.

Use the faith you currently have and believe it is enough to get you started in the right direction. Choose to be faithful even when you don't know how far away the next exit is and when you'll be able to refuel. 

Fear will try to keep you in the garage. You must make a conscious decision to resist fear and choose faith.

Read more here: 7 Reasons To Choose Faith Over Fear

Faith requires action. You can fuel up once you're on your way. Faith grows as you exercise it. Sometimes just moving in the right direction adds to your faith tank. 

It's never been about how much faith you have anyway. It's always been about who you place your faith in...

Moses didn't need to have enough faith to part the Red Sea, he just needed enough faith to raise his staff.

2. Ask for help.

Pray and ask for directions. I know we guys have a reputation for not wanting to ask for directions, but God beats that good Ol' boy standing outside the country store that may or may not know the best route to take. God knows every exit and road hazard and can reroute you when necessary.

Just remember that when you pray and ask for those directions, you take time to listen to them before you drive off.

Take a moment to read: 6 Ways To A Better Prayer Life

"If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking."  

-James 1:5 NLT

Faith in God requires us to look up at Him instead of down at the road where the obstacles are.

3. Use a map

Read the Bible often. It outperforms Google Maps every time. There is not one inch of life's highway that isn't covered. The more you read it, the more you become familiar with what to expect. And the stories told about other's road trips will give you confidence in properly navigating any detours, expected or unexpected up ahead.

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." 

-Romans 10:17 KJV

There are all kinds of dust, debris, and worldly sediments trying to get into your fuel line. The Bible will filter those out and keep your faith tank clean.

4. Share the ride.

Ride along with other people of faith going your way. Having Barb ride shotgun on our road trip gave us two sets of eyes to view the road ahead and plan our stops. When you go to church or surround yourself with family or friends, they can lend you a can of faith to put in your tank if you need it.

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." 

-Matthew 18:20 KJV

"So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing."

-1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT

Make sure that you play the right music on your road trip. The right tunes always make a difference. Songs of faith make the journey go smoother and help keep your spirit awake and alert.

Your faith tank requires the right additives of trust, reliance, and conviction. Traveling with other people of faith makes sure there's plenty to add as needed.

5. Use the rest areas

Stop to meditate, listen, and be mindful. Sometimes your faith tank is full but you're too tired to drive safely. Pull off the highway and take a minute to recharge and make sure you are clear on the directions you found in the Bible and from praying.

Driving with even a full faith tank can go awry if you run off the road or drive in the wrong direction. Pull over and listen for God to speak. It's easier without all that highway noise.

6. Enjoy the trip

Be grateful and aware. As you go from point A to point B, don't forget to relish the journey. 

Use your faith fuel to take along some good baggage, like worship, praise, and pictures to share with others, and a journal (writing down the details of your faith journey will allow you to recall important points to use on your next trip, or to encourage others to engage in their own adventure).

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." 

 

-James 1:2-4

I enjoyed seeing my mom on our trip, but I enjoyed every mile I spent together with Barb going and coming. Make sure to roll down the windows and smell the fresh air now and then.

Life is a highway. 

Full of twists and turns and unexpected detours. Faith says that God has a plan for each of us. He did not say we would all take the same path, but He did promise each of us that we would never travel alone.

He's not a backseat driver. He already knows the best route to take and has the destination all prepared. But he allows you to travel as you wish, His way or your way.

Your faith allows you to believe in things that you cannot see. The resulting reward of your faith is to see what you believe becoming reality.

The choice is always yours. Keeping your faith tank full allows you to follow His plan which always gets more stars than any Tripadvisor review.

Happy trails,

Dan