The LifeNote

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Faith is a something. Many of us have succumbed to cultural peer pressure. We endure a constant barrage informing us faith in God is a nothing. It’s akin to believing in Santa Claus. It’s a nice thing for children, but intelligent and educated adults should know better. Faith is for the superstitious and unenlightened.

             Since faith cannot be proven scientifically, we are taught it isn’t real, and therefore, has no value. The same goes for intuition, which does not count for much either among those who have never experienced it.

             That is the key. Faith is an experience. A life of faith is a series of experiences bearing out the value of faith. Prayerful, practicing Christians know what I’m talking about here. They have experienced the value and the truth of faith. They have lived it, and tested it, and lived it again. Can they prove it? No! But they can convincingly share their faith story at the right time with the right person.

             That’s the bait for the fish we are called to catch. The longer you have been a prayerful, practicing Christian, the more bait you have. Some of us have collected a variety of types of bait because we have seen God at work in many ways in our lives. All of it can be put to good use.

             How? First, you have to take your faith life seriously.

We don’t share effectively if we are embarrassed about it. Not too long ago I was chatting with a twenty-something male whose eyes got wide when I said God had talked to me. He’s known me long enough to know I am a caring, thoughtful person, and probably not too crazy. He asked, “You mean like you heard a voice?”

             At first, I thought his response was mocking. Yes, I had heard a “voice.” No one else heard it, just me. Then, as he asked me more specific questions, it occurred to me that maybe he had had some similar experience. The first time God spoke to me I was not certain it was God. I had a strong suspicion. Time and more experiences of God’s nearness convinced me.

             As we journey through life our faith grows as a result of these confirmations. Over and over again, in small and big ways, God grows our faith and trust in Him.