How Is Faith Related to Expressing Thanksgiving?

In our culture we give fun-filled birthday parties for anyone who has reached the magical age of 40. In good humor we joke about being “too old to cut the mustard,” about being “over the hill,” and youth being gone forever. Yet for some folks, the anxiety of aging is no joking matter.

A marriage may disintegrate overnight, and careers may become threatened by fears of being replaced by artificial intelligence. These issues cause anxiety if allowed to crowd out your capacity to be thankful for God’s faithfulness in providing for you.

Comfort is found by voicing your trust and faith in Christ Jesus.

The strength to endure and stand firm is made possible by God’s gift of faith. Articulating thanksgiving is an affirmation of the faith God has given you. Being thankful doesn’t always come easy, so it’s necessary to practice this virtue until it’s a natural representation of your identity.                          

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Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might understand the gifts [given to] us by God. 

~1 Corinthians 2:12 Revised Standard Version

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Never Give Up!

Human beings’ most significant quest beyond trusting in Christ Jesus is searching for a soul mate who will be a best friend for life. Just what is a soul mate? A soul mate is someone you can trust completely with your vulnerabilities, joys, and sorrows and who feels the same toward you.

So many couples submit to the temptation to settle for less than God intended out of fear there might never be another opportunity. Temptation tests your endurance, strength, and faith as well as your willingness to settle for less than God’s best. This is a major cause of regret and grief.

To give in is an easy option when temptation appears overwhelming. Yet you do not have to face temptation’s power in your own strength. God’s gift of faith is your ally in the battle against temptation’s power and allurement. His wisdom also exposes every deception hurled toward you. Never give up in your search for what God has prepared for you. Then you will rejoice and be glad.  

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If we are living now by the Holy Spirit’s power, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

~Galatians 5:25 The Living Bible

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Resisting Stress: God Empowers - Part 3

What's the greatest challenge you've had to face? For some people a challenge is welcomed. Challenge suggests that  a possibility for change exists. For others, challenge staves off boredom and stress, which is similar to pressure you feel when overloaded with too much to do and not enough time to get it done.

To feel challenged is an invitation to test your competence. Challenge demands engagement outside of what's commonplace. I'm not referring to extreme risk-taking, but being pushed to use your mental, physical, and spiritual capacity to do what's within your integrity and skills to do. Integrity implies strength of character to handle stress effectively.

Hardiness of character does not imply the absence of weakness, but rather the willingness to face challenges made possible by faith that comes as a gift from the Lord God. True disciples of Christ have weaknesses, but they know their purpose is to engage the world as a witness for Christ Jesus. This confidence provides strength to contend with the stress they're sure to encounter. 

Holding on Through Failure and Success - Part 3

Resilience keeps a person holding on when everyone says, "Let go."  Resilient people maintain a grip on what is right, good, and worthy, even when faced with great temptation.   The power and limitations of resilience or personal toughness is affected by what is believed to be true about a person or situation. "Whatever a man thinks in his heart, so he is."

There are limitations to resilience, that inner strength to adapt to the hardships of life. Psychologists study tolerance levels in people and remind us we  should acknowledge what we can tolerate as well as whom we can tolerate. Tolerance is about perception, which is indicative of what you think and believe.

Success and failure hinge on strengths and weaknesses, but not on these alone. Faith in Christ Jesus prevents letting go of your grip when you feel weak and it seems impossible to hang on. God gives strength to the weak, help to the needy, and hope for the future. He told the Apostle Paul, "My strength is made perfect in your weakness."  

Salt, Light, and Second-Milers - Part 1

Sometimes life is so hectic, a trouble-free day appears impossible. The  smallest task that should take only a moment turns into such complexity that a whole day seems to evaporate. Life on the front burner takes energy and determination to resist defeat rather than to dissolve into frustration and anger. Discouragement has the power to control any situation.

God has given us the capacity to change, regardless of how diminished that capacity feels to us. Where there is motivation to find solutions, no problem is insurmountable. Resilient people learn to activate faith and hope to serve as a channel for transcending anger and frustration. Faith and hope create order and dignity, even in chaos and pain.

Jesus, in Matthew 5:41, instructs his listeners to be second-mile people, giving more than what's required to any challenge. Second-milers know they'll be rewarded, if only by enhancing their integrity. Life is complicated and hectic, so keep your attitude fixed on faith in Christ Jesus. Faith is God's gift to you. 

Resilience: Character Strength for Survival - Part 3

Freudian psychology promotes the pain and pleasure principle. Freud developed this theory from his observation of people who tend to avoid suffering and pain by seeking pleasure and comfort. The world's economy is geared toward promising happiness and pleasure rather than pain and sorrow.

Pleasure is irresistible when it fits within acceptable boundaries. Within this context the challenge for acquiring pleasure is invigorating. The desire for pleasure kindles a fire that challenges us to take hold of a promising dream by activating our best mental and physical assets. The desire for pleasure drives us to conquer suffering and pain by using every source available.

It takes resilience to conquer all obstructions that prevent us from securing  peace and joy. Resilience, that inner, God-given strength, resists defeat and any pain associated with it. Like Jesus, the Apostle Paul, and countless others, each of us is commissioned to press on toward the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. This alone brings peace and internal satisfaction.  

Choosing at the Crossroads - Part 3

A word picture from the New Testament portrays Jesus pressing on toward the task that lay before him. He refused to be distracted. In the days before his crucifixion, he was determined to press on toward Jerusalem to meet his critics, his enemies, and those who loved and cared for him. He knew God's purpose for his life.

He was tempted by Satan to take the easy road. His disciples and friends begged him to bypass the cross, but he stayed on course. Where did this unrelenting resilience come from that enabled him to accomplish God's purpose? Resilience is a character quality that balances determination and pain in the pursuit of given objective.

Resilience does not indicate the absence of weakness that makes a person subject to fatigue, grief, or even physical handicaps. Under-girding resilience is faith that overrides anxiety and fear or even discouragement. Faith is a gift from God that's available to all who believe in Christ Jesus who ask for it,  gladly accept it, and use it for God's purpose.

Finding God's Purpose in Difficult Times - Part 2

A nation's moral and spiritual values seem to ebb and flow with the character of its leaders. Great Britain evolved into a great nation during the nineteenth century because of innate inventiveness, which was the moving force behind its manufacturing industry. Naval supremacy gave Britain a political edge in the affairs of the world during that century.

However these points of power did not define Britain's total character. Personal values derived from a strong Christian faith defined their integrity, as hard work was a benchmark for success. These character strengths gave rise to a concern for the welfare of mankind. During World War II, their faith and trust in God got them through the dark days of war.

Personal crisis eventually will visit everyone. Surviving a crisis demands change in the arrangement of priorities. Coming back to God by giving Christ Jesus first place in your life is required for making healthy choices. Surviving the consequences of a crisis takes endurance and a resilience that faith in God provides. Faith is God's gift to you.