Hey Beautiful!

I’m so grateful you are here!

Have you ever heard something that made you stop whatever you were doing and listen again?

That happened to me the other day.  Except I didn’t listen twice.  I think I’ve listened to the same few minutes 10 times or more.  And I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since!  I have had moments like this before.  I have come to believe that podcasts are another way that God speaks to me.

I was listening to Live Free with Josh Howerton.  The episode was actually about whether Christians can lose their salvation—but somewhere along the way, the conversation took a turn I wasn’t expecting.  And that was the part God apparently wanted me to hear.  

I started paying closer attention when Josh began listing the names of the 12 spies Moses sent to scout the Promised Land and report back.  After 40 days, the twelve returned to report their discoveries to Moses and the Israelites.  Ten were discouraged and reported the giants and fortified cities, basically saying there was no hope of conquering the land.  Joshua and Caleb were the only two who encouraged the Israelites to have faith that God would fulfill His promise and help them possess the land.  All twelve names are recorded in Scripture, but thousands of years later, which two do we remember?  Joshua and Caleb.  Their names became synonymous with faith and courage. 

Ten of the spies saw the giants.  Joshua and Caleb saw the promise.  What would you have seen?

If you haven’t read that account, or would like a refresher, you can find it in Numbers 13:1-33.  I strongly encourage you to.  For me, it’s a reminder that what you focus on is what you will see.   The podcast also made the point that fear can keep us from our calling and from building the legacy of faith God is inviting us into. 

Powerful, huh?  And that’s not even the part that made me stop and rewind 10-plus times!  The conversation continued with discussions about faith.  Josh Howerton made a great statement.  “It actually does matter that we become people who walk by faith.  It matters.”

Here’s what really hit home for me.  The discussion continued with walking by faith in our lives.  How every Christian is called to live by faith, and it even referenced the following verse.

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”    Hebrews 11:6 NASB

And here is the thought-provoking question that was asked:  

If it is impossible to please God without faith, what are you doing in your life right now that requires faith?

OUCH!

What am I doing that requires faith?  I can tell you that absolutely nothing that is within the walls of my comfort zone will be an answer to that question!  And here’s another thing.  I often talk with friends and team members about how we will not grow inside of our comfort zone.  We need to step out of it to learn new skills that will eventually become part of our new comfort zone. 

Over the years, I’ve spent so much time thinking about my comfort zone. I’ve thought a lot about the importance of getting out of it, even though it can be scary, and knowing that every time I do, it gets a little easier.  I’ve thought about it as a growth principle, but never as a faith principle.  Until now, that is.

What other gems are hidden in the Bible for thousands of years that we have missed because we bring the wrong mindset to reading it?  So many of us rush through the pages to get the reading done and get on with our busy days.  What would happen if we slowed down, read the Bible, and meditated on His word, seeing how it is still relevant to our lives today, in all aspects of our lives?

And maybe that will become a future Legacy Letter.  For now I want to refocus on:

What am I doing in my life right now that requires faith?

We know all about having faith the size of a mustard seed; I think it’s probably taught in every Sunday school class.  I have never paired the action step with the belief before.  Oh, I have done things that required faith, but the emphasis that I had out of the question was ‘right now’.  What am I doing right now?  It made me realize I want to live in a way that requires faith every day ~ not to earn anything from God, but because real faith should change the way I live.  As James puts it:

For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.  James 2:26 NASB

It made me wonder: What would happen if I woke up every morning willing to do something that requires faith?  Not manufacturing some giant leap just for the sake of being uncomfortable—but asking, “God, what are You asking of me today?” and being willing to obey, even when the answer stretches me. 

Here’s a link to the podcast, in case you would like to listen to the whole thing.  Let me know how many times you have to listen again!

What Most Christians Get WRONG About Their Salvation… | Live Free with Josh Howerton

Legacy Reflection

You guessed it.  Grab a coffee and your journal, and go sit in a favorite space.  Ask yourself the following questions.

1. What am I doing in my life right now that requires faith?
2. Lord, what would you like me to do that I am avoiding because of fear?
3. What yes can I give God today?

I’m going to do the same thing!  Writing this letter has me thinking even more about the little daily things that I should be doing to step out in faith!  Because what if our faith isn’t always about the big things that we do?  What if our legacy isn’t built only with the giant leaps of faith we take?  What if it comes from the daily decisions to trust God when fear tells us to stay comfortable?  What if it comes from looking past the giants and focusing on the promise on the other side?

What if your legacy is built one little yes at a time?

I pray you are inspired to take the big steps of faith and the little ones!

Love ya!
Laura