“My faith helps me understand that circumstances don’t dictate my happiness, my inner peace.”
-Denzel Washington
Hey Lovelies! Over the last 30 days, I decided to try a faith challenge that I found on Pinterest created by Sharefaith.
Sharefaith is known for creating cutting-edge Worship Media and Church graphics that equip all ministry platforms to serve and teach with excellence.
The graphic challenge is a combination of 30 different bible verses related to faith, one for each day of the challenge. I took it upon myself to print it out and check each day off as I made progress.
It honestly took me a little longer than thirty days to get my faith back on track. Between monthly workout challenges, school work, interviews for the blog, and book club reviews I needed to clear my mind for a bit.
I first had to define what faith meant to me and set clear intentions for what I wanted to accomplish by doing this challenge. Faith from my understanding is a belief in something that you cannot see but know exists.
After doing some much-needed meditation and self-reflection amid the outbreak of COVID-19, I realized that I hadn’t put enough practice into my faith. I kept looking to politicians, activists, doctors, and nurses for answers to a global crisis when I should have been looking to God.
I had to learn to stop putting my faith in people to bring me out of a situation that was influencing my happiness and find the courage to put my trust in Him.
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."
-Nelson Mandela
I needed to do this challenge to become more spiritually aware, reconnect with my Christianity, and come a little closer to finding inner peace. Committing thirty minutes of my day to pause, reflect, and rejuvenate in God’s presence is a game-changer.
I made sure to write out my thoughts in a daily journal I bought on Amazon. After reading each scripture and writing my thoughts I would pray out loud every morning. This practice really made a difference in my mindset and daily routine.
Here are my favorite bible verses this month:
“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.”
Hebrews 11:1
I was so caught up in my circumstances that I couldn’t see what God was doing in my life. I was afraid of letting go of all of the plans I had made prior to this year, but I realized that I wasn’t in control, only God knows what is to come. I had to trust in him and his word to believe that I would finish college and find a new job. I had to have faith in what I know now and let that be enough. Not to get too biblical but I truly believe after reading about what God did for Abel, Enoch, and Abraham he delivers his promises. He is a waymaker and all I had to do was change my perception and another way emerged.
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”
1 Corinthians 16:13
Another thing I had to realize is that I wasn’t alone, everyone I knew was struggling to keep the faith going strong under the circumstances. Courage isn’t about being the strongest or better than everybody else, true courage is about accepting when you need help and deciding to allow others to help you out. If it wasn’t for my family, friends, and professors who cared about my success and well being, I wouldn’t have had the faith to start this blog. Through this monthly challenge I’ve become more accepting of change and started receiving His word. No matter what might happen tomorrow, I am happy to have my faith now and forever.
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.”
1 Timothy 4:12
So I realize that I am only 21 years old and while my faith has been tested time and time again there is still more room for growth. Regardless, faith does not discriminate and it doesn’t matter how old or young you are. I am a woman of faith. God kept me alive and well at a time of uncertainty and despair for so many others.That has to be worth something! If you woke up this morning, got out of bed, ate a nourishing meal, drank fresh water, read a book, or went for a walk, how can you not keep your head up?
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge; self-control, and to self-control, perseverance, and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.”
2 Peter 1:5-7
Faith is tied to everything we do, every belief we have, and every moment we live. Faith is a continuous practice that takes work, devotion, and patience. To have faith in yourself is to love yourself. You have to actively work for faith to work. It doesn’t happen overnight but once you have it it’s just like love, it never goes away. Faith feeds your soul, eases your mind, and strengthens your spirit.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your path straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
It took some time but I am in a place where I had to stop thinking everyone was against me and trust that God is guiding me in the right direction. When you’re discouraged, depleted, and doubtful that is not the time to fixate on negative thoughts or worry about things outside of your control. Stop and take the time to walk by faith and you’ll see that things do get better and that for now, it’s okay not to have everything together. It doesn’t mean that you are submitting to failure, it simply means you found a different path in faith to succeed.
You can find the challenge here on their website. You can find my favorite gospel song about faith here.
Make sure to leave a comment below with your favorite scripture and something you learned from this monthly challenge! Don't forget to subscribe!