Footsteps Of Faith

Before the battle, follow the footsteps of faith by giving God your heart and believing in the promises of God.

“Abijah went into battle with an army of four hundred thousand able fighting men, and Jeroboam drew up a battle line against him with eight hundred thousand able troops…you plan to resist the kingdom of the LORD…You are indeed a vast army…As for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him. Every morning and evening they present burnt offerings…We are observing the requirements of the LORD our God. But you have forsaken him.God is with us; he is our leader. His priests with their trumpets will sound the battle cry against you. People of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed…the men of Judah raised the battle cry. At the sound of their battle cry, God routed Jeroboam…the people of Judah were victorious because they relied on the LORD” 2 Chronicles 13:3-8

Have you ever faced an uphill battle where the odds were stacked against you? Imagine being Abijah with half the army standing in an open field, flanked by a larger army. What would you do in that moment? Biologically, your fight-or-flight instincts would kick in. Abijah chose to fight, but with a caveat. He fought by faith, believing in the promises of God.

What exactly was the difference maker? Daily devotion that trusted in God. You see, the battle was won long before Abijah faced the enemy. The text said that day and night, the people of Judah presented offerings and followed God’s commands. It was not a huge leap of faith to believe that God was with them because they experienced His presence every day. They were not hoping for a miracle. They were relying on the Maker who they met with each day.

How does this relate to us? Ask yourself, are you winning the war before you step on the battlefield? Do you believe in God’s promises? If God says He is with you, do you have the faith to expect victory regardless of what you face? Have you given God your best? Is He in charge of every aspect of your life?

“Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock…Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved…our enemies mock us. Restore us, God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. Why have you broken down its walls so that all who pass by pick its grapes? Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand, the son of man you have raised up for yourself. Then we will not turn away from you; revive us, and we will call on your name. Restore us, LORD God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.” Psalms 80:1-19

What words are you repeating the most throughout your day? Three times Asaph sang for the Lord to restore, shine His face, and save. Would one time not have sufficed? Why does repetition matter? Repetition reinforces. For many of us, it takes more than one time for us to seal something in our hearts.

Some of us are repeating pain. Some repeat complaints. Some repeat worries and fears. Some repeat offense and bitterness. What you repeat takes root and will impact your faith. It is by the fruit of our own lips that we are fed. What are you feeding yourself? What is flowing from your heart?

When Asaph was praying for restoration, it was not just so he could get his stuff back or succeed materially. His prayer was to draw closer to God and restore right relationship. Think of Adam and Eve walking in the Garden of Eden with God. Think of the prodigal son coming home to the Father and being clothed with his father’s robe. Abijah won the battle because his relationship was cemented in trusting the Lord repeatedly, daily, with a devoted heart. How is your relationship with Jesus?

“Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words. Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge. Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die. Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path: Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, Buy the truth and do not sell it— wisdom, instruction and insight as well. My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways,” Proverbs 23:4-26

What are you zealous for? What are you most passionate about? What excites or energizes your heart? Solomon said always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. Why is that so important? Another way to look at that truth would be to say, always passionately pursue God’s perspective.

Think about Abijah. If he stuck to his own perspective, he would’ve surrendered to the opposing forces. He was outnumbered. The odds were against him, but the fear of the Lord told him to be brave. The fear of the Lord told him that victory rests with God. The fear of the Lord told him that God’s promises will never fail and that with God on his side, nothing could stand against him. How do you need to change your perspective today to see God’s promises being fulfilled and His power at work?

Solomon warns us not to envy sinners, not to sit idly by when others around us sin, not to sip too much alcohol or constantly satiate our fleshly desires, and not to let anyone sell us lies. Why? Because flesh gives birth to flesh. Think of how each of these daily practices can impact your heart.

God is Spirit and truth. When Solomon said my son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways, he gave us a window into what our relationship with our Heavenly Father can be each day. Think of the connection to Psalm 80. They ask for God to shine the light, and Solomon said let your eyes delight in my ways. Your eyes will reflect what you are looking at. What will others see in your eyes? Will they see a life committed to God with a heart that has been given to Jesus?

“Your altars will be demolished and your incense altars will be smashed…in the nations where they have been carried captive, those who escape will remember me—how I have been grieved by their adulterous hearts, which have turned away from me, and by their eyes, which have lusted after their idols. They will loathe themselves for the evil they have done and for all their detestable practices. And they will know that I am the LORD, when their people lie slain among their idols around their altars, on every high hill and on all the mountaintops, under every spreading tree and every leafy oak—places where they offered fragrant incense to all their idols. And I will stretch out my hand against them…wherever they live. Then they will know that I am the LORD.” Ezekiel 6:4-14

We are not the only ones who can repeat ourselves. God repeated His warning of the wrath that can come from an adulterous heart. Truth tells us that we are the bride of Christ. The bride is to love only her bridegroom. Yet we live in a world that constantly tempts our hearts to love other things more than Jesus.

Much like Rome in Jesus’ day or Ezekiel’s, ours is a culture of idols and high places. What idols or high places are in your life? What do you desire? God repeated, they will know that I am the Lord. Solomon said always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. God is not interested in being in second place in your heart or getting the leftovers like Cain presented as an offering.

How often do we give God our leftovers? We squeeze in a last-minute prayer or skip serving or church services because they are not convenient or filling our cup. What is that all about? Your heart. The one who gives their heart fully gives their best first. Unfortunately, it often takes a disaster for us to realize that there are things we cannot control and to know that we are not God. He is. So, like Solomon said, God often disciplines His children to save them from death.

There is a better way to live that lessens the need to be severely disciplined. Devotion and delighting in the Lord daily is the call of Jesus. He said follow Me. Come to Me. Let Me lead you. Let go of the ways of the world so I can lead you on the narrow road that leads to life.

“What then shall we say that Abraham…What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before!…follow in the footsteps of the faith…the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring…He is the father of us all. Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations…he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised…believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” Romans 4:1-25

There is a battle every day for your heart. The world wants it. Your flesh wants it, fear wants it, idols and the enemy want it. But there is a voice that calls out, Come to me. My child, give Me your heart. Can you hear the voice of Jesus calling you today?

God says give Me your heart and let your eyes delight in My ways. He calls us to everyday devotion in relationship. Morning and evening, like Abijah. Offer what you have, giving Him the best you can. Speak His promises until they take root and you can use them in the battle. Learn to draw close and believe before the battle comes. When you live this way, you begin to recognize His presence and see His face shining on you day and night.

Abraham believed before. Timing matters. After requires no faith. Before shows belief. Abraham trusted before there was evidence or an answer. That is faith. The Bible says without faith, we cannot please God. One day we will know that He is the Lord, but there is a better way than waiting until life falls apart to know Him.

Paul said follow in the footsteps of faith. The good news is there are people who have traveled before you. You can see their footsteps, and all you have to do is step in them. You are not walking a road that no one has traveled. Thank God for the Abrahams in your life. Look at the people who are producing fruit that aligns with faith and walk like they do. Who could you reach out to today to get advice on how to walk wisely with the Lord?

Faith for us begins and ends with Jesus. He is the One who sits at the right hand of the Most High God. He is the One who redeems and revives even if we have grieved God’s heart or gone our own way. Fully give Jesus your heart today and then again tomorrow and the next day until all your desires rest in Him and your zeal is for the fear of the Lord. The battles in life will continue to come. At times, the odds will still look like they are against you. But we can follow Abraham and know how it will all work out because we do not fight alone. God is with us and for us. He has the power to do what He promises and will make a way for all who trust in Him.