How Do You Walk by Faith?

[brianfalexander]

I know its a dumb question, but I figured we could start off some great spiritual discussion here.

[Convicted]

I know its a dumb question, but I figured we could start off some great spiritual discussion here.

It's not a dumb question.
My simple answer would be, the only way I (and we) can walk by faith, is to completely rely on God. Not live life based on what we see, what we hear, how we feel. Not letting circumstances or people dictate our choices. Walking by faith, is trusting and obeying God when you can't see the way. Taking steps, that seem impossible, and realizing how faithful He really is. The only way we find strength to take another step of faith, is to look to Him and not the things around.

[LauraA]

I think trusting is the key factor. If we don't trust Jesus, we can't have faith, nor can we walk in it.

Psalm 18:
1 I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

How do we apply that to our lives?

As shown in these verses, we love Him, acknowledge Him as our strength (not ourselves). Know and believe that He is the solid rock and He delivers us, saves us, watches out for us. We praise Him. He protects us.

Reading the Word and communicating to Him, (prayer), we draw closer to Him. We walk by faith in His Word, not by what we see happening around us.

Walking with Him is a growth process, just as any relationship is. But through His Spirit, we can access the strength, power and comfort we need to do it. We are weak, but He is strong. Trust Him. Walk by faith.

[brianfalexander]

Great answers so far. Here is what I picture it as. Spending time with God, through spending time with other Christians - Fellowship. I am more a of a shy guy, but I really enjoy spending time with people and talking about God. I walk by faith in that way I guess.

[Psalms23]

Well Said!!

[LauraA]

Part of walking by faith is overcoming temptation. How do you handle temptation? How do you overcome it? What Scriptures do you use for this area of life? Let's share ways to deal with this everyday struggle.

[brianfalexander]

How do you handle temptation?
I try to avoid it at all costs, but it is always around no matter what I try to do. Normally I try to get out of the situation if I realize its somewhere that I don't need to be.
How do you overcome it?
Mostly by avoiding it at all costs? I'm not sure really. I try to spend time with God and He helps me to avoid it. Prayer.

What Scriptures do you use for this area of life?

I'll have to look up something. Can't think of any off hand.

[LauraA]

That's great, Brian! I think you have a vital key there. Avoiding it at all costs. Why put ourselves into situations where we know we'll be tempted? It's asking for trouble.

If I do find myself being tempted, I will try to simply ask the Lord to give me strength. I find that quoting a Scripture will really help, too. Something like, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." Phillipians 4:13. I have found that Jesus will often use music to give me a boost of spiritual strength, too. When possible, I keep it on all day, which helps me to focus on Him.

[themadclipper]

That's great, Brian! I think you have a vital key there. Avoiding it at all costs. Why put ourselves into situations where we know we'll be tempted? It's asking for trouble.

If I do find myself being tempted, I will try to simply ask the Lord to give me strength. I find that quoting a Scripture will really help, too. Something like, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." Phillipians 4:13. I have found that Jesus will often use music to give me a boost of spiritual strength, too. When possible, I keep it on all day, which helps me to focus on Him.

Good one; the one in James is (IMHO) even better- "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)

As far as walking by gaith, I've always loved Job 1:21-22 "The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the Name of the Lord. And in all of this, Job did not sin."

Oh yeah, another good thing is memorizing Scripture: "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (paraphrase by me of Jesus countering satan's misapplication of Scripture to Jesus during His temptation.) I never was one for memorizing Scripture, but I'm doing it more these days, and I'm pretty sure it's having a positive effect in my life. And memorization is much more than just learning the words and passages- I think they are best learned when there is a practical appliation in your immediate circumstance, or just because while reading you "discover" them and they speak -burn- into your heart, and you keep them in your heart, because they are a great treasure, and whenever a chance comes to apply them, you use them- either in a time of need or decision for yourself, or to lift someone else up, or to just plain give glory to God our Father.

[LauraA]

Simply Awesome, Chris!

[Psalms23]

What Scriptures do you use for this area of life?

This one for me is "my name" - Psalms 23


Psalms 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

[mrcingrace]

[QUOTE=themadclipper;843]Good one; the one in James is (IMHO) even better- "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)


I agree with you...it's a powerful verse, but I believe we must quote apply the entire verse from James 4:7 and that is:

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

The resistance is in the submission...yah????

[krazyyouth]

well with me being a teenager and i have changed alot over the past months it will be a year in month or but with me the last few years i have been having that negitve thoughts going into my head and i was saying negtive things about everything with school and that and my test were a major part that had killed me because i was never possitve about myself.. to me praying didnt work for a whil 6-9 grade because i prayed and prayed and sometimes it got worse for me it never got btter so i had quit praying i had belived and all it was just that to me nothing worked then over the summer something told me that i need to chage my attiude about things and that so i had stated thinking possitve and things were truning out better and all that to me all i need to do is walk by faith is that i need to stay possitve always never back down for an example last year i siad im goinna fail im gonna fail, but now i say i feel great i dont say that im oing to pass because i dont want to get to welmbed um and do fail by my stupityness. but you know all we need to do is belive in ourselfs..