This month, my focus has been on practicing. If it’s true that we get good at the things we practice, then I want to be intentional about the things I’m practicing. If you missed the other posts in this short series, you can find them below.
Practice #1: Think About What You’re Thinking About
Practice #2: Practice the Presence of God
Practice #3: Practice Your Faith
HOW’S IT GOING?
Before we move on to the last practice, I wanted to share a little story about how God reminded me the importance of practicing my faith.
I was reading in Luke 8 when Jesus calmed the storm.
22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.
These seasoned fisherman, well acquainted with the water and waves, panicked in this sudden storm. Gripped with fear, they cried out to their sleeping Savior.
At the sound of Jesus’ voice, the waves settled back into a quiet rhythm. Jesus turned to his disciples.
“Where is your faith?”
As I read those red-lettered words, the question suddenly felt personal.
Lately I have fallen into old patterns of thinking – the kind that impulsively begin with fear. But instead of allowing fear to serve as an indicator of misplaced faith, I’ve felt paralyzed, shaking in my boat.
“Carrie, where is your faith?”
Literally, in whom or what have you erroneously placed your faith? Have you forgotten who is in control? Have you forgotten that I am in and over and through it all? Have you forgotten my sovereignty?
Which brings us to practice #4:
You and I train ourselves in the goodness and sovereignty of God when we rehearse His bigness – when we remind ourselves that He made all, rules all and overrules all that stands in His way.
Because here’s the reality: “If God works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called to His purposes, we can relax. If He doesn’t, we’d better start worrying. If God can take any mess, any mishap, any wastage, any wreckage, any anything, and choreograph beauty and meaning from it, then we can take a day off. If not, we’d better get busy. Either God’s always at work, watching the city, building the house, or we need to try harder.
Either God is good and in control, or it all depends on us.”
Part of practicing our faith is telling ourselves what we know to be true. Practicing the sovereignty of God reminds us that God is God, and we are not. This is a good thing.
“Are you in the middle of a situation where, as you pray, you find yourself putting the problem first? If so, you’re starting where you should end. You’re rehearsing the problem, making it seem larger than it is, when what you need to do is rehearse God’s greatness and bigness.”
This week when you pray, start with God. Recite what He has done. Proclaim who He is.
Practice the sovereignty of God.
-Quotes from The Rest of God, by Mark Buchanan
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