Audible Reminders

Audible Reminders

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17, NKJV

WE’D LIKE TO THINK THAT long periods of waiting would have no effect on our faith. God has given us his promises, we have believed them and based our prayers on them, and nothing has changed since. But the passing of time is change, at least in the way it alters our expectations, and sometimes our faith seems to be weakening. We ask God for encouragement in these moments, and he graciously provides. Still, we need frequent boosts to our faith. Sometimes we see movement toward an answer in our circumstances, and sometimes we don’t. We have to remind ourselves of what we really believe.

One of the best ways to remember and stir up faith is to read God’s promises out loud. Knowing the chapter-and-verse references for a few of them is fine for a quick lookup, but we don’t always get the resounding effect from isolated verses. Sometimes God’s voice thunders in our spirits, and sometimes it whispers far more softly than we’d like. We can amplify it greatly—or to be more accurate, tune our spirits to receive more clearly—by compiling a list of relevant promises and rehearsing them often. Reading them and listening to them back to back, again and again, is empowering. Faith that felt like a spark turns into a flame and then into a bonfire. Our passion is rekindled, our strength renewed, and we are soaring on the heights of certainty once again.

Try that next time you need to reignite your trust and revive your spirit. Faith comes by hearing God’s Word. That’s true not only in the salvation experience but, as we’ve seen, for the faith life as a whole. The faith that embraced the gospel is the same faith that enables us to see Kingdom realities. The more we immerse ourselves in God’s repeated commitments and character throughout Scripture, the more our faith seems to grow. It strengthens, purifies, and sheds its encumbrances. Our minds are renewed to think in Kingdom ways. Our vision intensifies. And our efforts to honor God’s promises make them seem to shine brighter than ever before.

What is more elevating and transporting than the generosity of heart which risks everything on God’s word?