Love to hear from and know who is listening No where in the bible will you read that the Christian life is an easy one. The Christian life is no walk in the park. Matter of fact what you will find is the opposite. In John chapter 16 verse 33 it says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” If you want to have a strong faith, a muscular faith then you must exercise it. If you have ever broken a leg and been unable to use it for a time, you know that you will have to work hard to rebuild the muscle that has been weakened by prolonged inactivity. The physical therapist will work with you to rebuild what has been lost through lack of use. So, faith is like a muscle and needs to be exercised. Here is an example of someone that devoted his life to being intentional and diligent to achieve his goal. Rowdy Gaines is a member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame and the International Swimming Hall of Fame, Gaines set 10 world records between 1978 and the 1984 Olympic Games. The three-time Olympic gold medalist also tallied 16 total medals (12 gold) representing the United States at the World Championships and Pan American Games. For 8 years leading up to the 1984 Olympic games Rowdy Gaines swam in increments of 50 yard laps a nearly 20,000 miles. After he won the gold medal for the 100 meter freestyle swim he said, “I swam around the world for a race that lasted 49 seconds.” To everyone that claims to be a follower of Jesus Christ, is your faith so strong, so muscular and dedicated that you, like Rowdy Gaines you would swim around the world for a race that lasts 49 seconds? As Christians what kind of diligent devotions should we be striving for with eternity as our goal!!! Colossians 3: 23-24 NIV Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Faith is the gift of God. It is not of ourselves; we receive it from Him. It is the special work of the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to who Jesus is and to show us our need of Him and to create within us the capacity to trust Him. He gives you a new heart, the gift of faith. But Jesus in Luke 8:25 makes it clear that you can have this gift of faith and never use it. “Where is your faith?” He asks the disciples, after a storm blew up as they were rowing across the lake. Jesus had been asleep in the back of the boat, and the disciples panicked! But Jesus awakens, calms the storm, and then asks, “Where is your faith?” In other words, “Why aren’t you exercising the faith I have gifted to you?” Having faith in God often requires choosing to have confidence in Him, who He is, what He has done for you, and His promises. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God and believing what you have heard and read. When you believe God’s Word as truth, you are exercising your faith. To exercise means to use or apply something. As Christians, we use or apply our faith when we believe God’s Word as truth and live our lives according to the principles and lessons found in it. In times of difficulty, it is helpful to read first John.1 John 4:4 NIV You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. In times of doubt or confusion, you can rely on Proverbs 3:51 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding.” Reading and knowing God’s Word is not the same as the act of obeying His Word. When you live by faith, obedience is extremely important. Every time your obedient, you exercise your faith, your faith becomes sSupport the show

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