"Always"

I cannot always trust You,

Though I know I can,

It’s just when I am tested,

Don’t always strongly stand.

You are always faithful,

You’ve never let me down,

Help me to surrender,

And to Your grace be bound.

There’s not a single moment,

From Your presence separate,

Or a situation,

That Your power shows up late.

So I pray that You will help me,

Give strength when I’m weak,

I want to find Your favor,

And Your Kingdom seek.

Faith small as a mustard seed,

Will make a mountain leap,

Scattering to plant ‘em,

A lively harvest reap.

Not by what we look at,

But what we cannot see,

Assured of what we hope for,

And trust in what will be.

“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for…” (Heb. 11:1, NLT)

Hoping for something means it hasn’t happened yet but we’re expecting it. Faith is being sure it will before it actually takes place. Living by faith means we believe that what we cannot see is more real than what we can. We make choices, set priorities, and behave a certain way because our faith guides us in a distinctive direction rather than another. And the most powerful faith is not generic but is directed toward a personal God who revealed Himself through Jesus Christ. This revelation is the foundation of all that we believe, enabling us to receive the gift of salvation and the power of the Holy Spirit. As the Spirit possesses us in ever-increasing ways our faith grows and becomes the great energizer for every good work we do. We learn to live by putting all our trust in the One who indeed is trustworthy. No doubt about it!

Lord, strengthen our faith and help us to trust in You, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Mark Maggiori, markmaggiori.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Mark, and God bless you.