Listen:
“We live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)
Reflect:
This past weekend was the 30th anniversary of my high school graduation ceremony. I can look back on that day and remember with fondness the call that God had put on my life and how I looked forward with anticipation to the life I had ahead. It will surprise no one that 30 years on, my life looks nothing like I had envisioned for it. Like most people, I have experienced the spectrum of joys and sorrows, achievements and failures, assurance and confusion with the circumstances in my life.
One of the single greatest gifts God has given me in life is the gift of faith. I have gone through seasons of darkness… entire years of questioning if I will ever get to use the gifts and talents God has given me without any real assurance of fulfillment.
What I have learned is that some of my plans were simply that—my plans, which I had to lay down so they did not distract me from what God was doing. Our Lifesprings prayers of Confession, Wisdom, Indifference, and Quiet Trust continue to guide me when I cannot see but walk by faith.
With faith in God’s immovable presence, I have lived in the hope that God will fulfill his promises.
One of those promises was fulfilled on Sunday, as I was ordained into the Anglican Church of Canada. I felt a call to ministry in high school, and although ministry has changed and evolved over the years (many of you have walked those changes with me), I live in the hope of what is to come.
Questions to Ponder:
- Have you, or are you currently experiencing a season of walking by faith, without any idea of what God will do with that burden he has placed on your life?
- What faith practices have you clung to in those times of walking by faith?
- Is there someone you can encourage today, reminding them of God’s presence and reason to have faith until it is sight?
- For those of you who have finished an LSM, what is your next Kingdom Assignment? And if you haven’t done a Lifesprings School of Ministry, ask us what a Kingdom Assignment is!
Prayer of Response:
Creator and Redeemer, give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to receive your correction, guidance and everlasting love. Strengthen those who are discouraged and are in need of increased faith today. You alone are worthy of our trust and praise. Amen.
—Submitted by Christa Eisbrenner
Christa is married to her high school sweetheart, who was a faith promise 20 years after they met. Like a mother hen, Christa has gathered six daughters into her flock. Three have flown the coup, but the three little chicks continue to keep her running. Christa attended the first Lifesprings retreat some 17 years ago and now participates on the LET, PACT and LFT teams and also leads Lifesprings Canada.