Christian Living

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FAITH-ING GROUND



I realized something afresh about faith today. Something that adds a perspective to my life I haven’t thought of, really, until now. But it’s emerging out of a fog-covered landscape as I listen in on God, on Abram, and see a dimension of faith reveal itself that begins to shed light upon my own way.

Ah, the awesomeness, the integrity, the reality of El Roi, the God Who Sees Me, and in the seeing speaks … directly to my faith -need.

It’s been thirteen years! A silent thirteen years, at least upon the pages meant for our knowing, when Genesis 17 opens, falling once again upon Abram’s heart. Every passing night of those years, I imagine, Abram’s eyes lifted heavenward … waiting. Each dawn, the stars fading one by one from faith’s view, Abram knew his body grown a little more dead than the dawn before. And God’s promise, still only promise.

Thirteen years, where faith-walking grew easier and easier, yet faith-ing’s territory more difficult. And God, saw … then came, and stood … upon that very soil.

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him: 'I am God Almighty; walk before Me, and be thou wholehearted*. (Genesis 17:1 JSB)

I wonder if Abram understood what God saw.

God’s goodness shone a light smack dab into faith-ing’s territory … a territory in danger of a divided heart … a territory threatened by sight.

As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. (Genesis 17:4 KJV)

Where did those words fall in Abram? Upon a heart in danger of dividing?

Abram laughed … a mocking, derisive laugh when God’s promise met dead flesh … head-on.

Yet God’s words did not rain down in judgment upon the struggle of Abram’s faith-ing territory. God’s words fell in mercy mists of encouragement.

“Keep walking … walking into your new name. Don’t let your heart divide, my son. Keep looking up; keep counting those stars. It’s is all about Me, about My covenant with you, child. It’s not about you … about dead flesh. It’s always about Me!”

Sometimes I forget … and God reminds. He is Almighty God … Almighty … GOD!

Here, in this territory, God meets me. For faith to grow, I must keep walking … walking new territories, harder territories, where faith can’t be complacent … where I must choose an undivided heart, must choose the cutting off of flesh’s sight, must choose to rest … by trusting One bigger than myself, bigger than my understanding.

Abram’s progression into growing faith allowed no short cuts. As faith-ing grew easier, more comfortable and familiar, Faith’s territory became more trying.

Why?

That it might become clearer and clearer and clearer that God is faith’s only true resting ground.

As it was for Abram, so it is for me.

When I look back, at the 52 years of my own life, I discover the awesome faithfulness of God. The faith-ing grounds would fill volumes. Though trusting Him and His ways has become a blessed way of life, my faithing has been practiced in territories increasingly more intense … places of finally resting discovered in circumstances more and more beyond my control.

Yes, faith grows. We see it, growing in Abram … as he grows into Abraham.

Because the situations needing faith-walking become simpler, easier, more painless?

No, growth’s process, by its very nature, can’t be painless.

But faith keeps growing because of El Roi, the God Who Sees Me, sees the pulling at my heart, and in the seeing speaks … directly to my faith -need. Reminding me, He is Almighty, despite the apparent deadness of my circumstance. Encouraging me to keep walking into the faithful promise of His presence … the only place I will ever find the grace to walk in the perfect steps of an undivided heart.






* ... I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be thou perfect (KJV)
(complete; upright; whole; entire; integrity; without blemish)


© 26 January 2006
DeAnna L. Brooks

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