By Faith, You...

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. – Hebrews 12:1-2

In the past three years, cancer has stolen four incredible women from my Bible Study circle. One of the women, Jane had the gift of encouragement. She handwrote cards to spur me on and often stopped me after Bible Study to tell me how God used my stories or insight to move her heart closer to Jesus. Another one of the women, Alice had the gift of teaching. She edited my paragraphs with precision and taught me lessons about journalism as if she were a professor.

Why God numbered their days as He did, I will never fully understand. But what I do know is that I now have four women in heaven cheering me on. I call them my “great cloud of witnesses.” Just like the saints of old: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and David, I picture Arlene, Gloria, Alice and Jane as my cheerleaders in heavenly bleachers. Their legacy of faith and love lives on because they built their life’s story on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.

While reading about The Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11, I was shocked to discover that there are fourteen men’s names listed but only two women, Sarah and Rahab. 

Sarah was familiar with disappointment, having to wait until she was in her 90s to finally become a mother. And Rahab was familiar with guilt and shame, having been labeled “the prostitute” in Jericho. Looking closely into these women’s lives, we see blemished track records and broken hearts, but God still used them divinely for His good purposes.  

Isn’t that wonderful news? God chose to lift up two not-even-close-to-perfect women in the Bible and listed them as Women of Faith. God weaved their broken and messed up stories into His one and only Son’s lineage. Both Sarah and Rahab are distant grandmothers of Jesus, the Savior of the world. 

Doesn’t that give you hope for your life as well? No matter our past sins or our present situation, we can choose to hand Jesus the pen and ask Him to be the author of our faith story, restoring our hearts, and changing our lives. 

In the Greek, when Jesus is mentioned as the “author” of your faith it translates to mean that Jesus is the captain, chief leader, or prince. Will you let Him be the chief leader over your plans and purpose? When you do, others will tell of your great faith. You too will be a “great witness” for future generations.

The Bible tells us that every single person in the Hall of Faith was still living BY FAITH when they died. So were my sweet friends when they left this earth. That is what God is calling us to do today. 

What is your BY FAITH statement during this season of your life?

Here are a few examples to spur you on:

• By faith Alice give thanks no matter what, even during pain and suffering, because she knew this was God’s will for her life.
• By faith Jane trusted God’s Word and obeyed Jesus’ command to love others, even those who were hard to love.
• By faith Laura trusted God with her teenagers because she believed He loved them even more than her heart was capable of loving. 

Now it’s your turn. During this specific time in your life, what could be your personal BY FAITH statement? Ask God for guidance then fill in the blanks below. 

By faith (your name) ___________________, when ____________________________

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Thank You for Being a Part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement