Author And Perfecter

I was jogging one day last week (yes I am trying to get into a regular exercise routine again...yaay me!!) and as usual the Lord chooses to speak His words of truth, encouragement and affirmation...all while teaching me it's Him who's at the center of it all.

I'm jogging along (at my comfortable, slow pace) and listening to a Joyce Meyer podcast....the standard operating procedure for my run time....and something prompted a question to arise in my head. Now it's commonplace for the Lord to put great, albeit sometimes unnerving, questions into my heart and mind, but this time was different.  This was a question that immediately brought condemnation and doubt.  I heard in my head, "Do you just love God because that is what you were taught to do?"  Ugh. Growing up in Catholic schools, being brought to church by my parents, was any of this faith and belief mine alone?  Was it because I wanted to love God, or just did so out of habit because it's what I was taught and what was comfortable?  Did I worship and serve the Lord because I loved Him as a person, or just because it's what I was told was the right thing to do?  Oh my!!  Such questions...and doubts arising....Very disturbing indeed!!

BUT GOD....lol, that's a great little phrase, isn't it?  BUT GOD, had another answer for me.  And it was one that I had come across in the day preceding the "Big Doubt Causing Question."  (Just love how He does that....gives the answer before you need it!)

Hebrews 12:2  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Hmmmm...see what it says there...Jesus is the author of our faith.  It doesn't matter how we came to Him, He is the one who plants the seeds of faith, He is the one who started belief in our hearts.  It wasn't my parents, my teachers, the priests or nuns...it was God Himself who placed this faith in me and in you.  Yes, they may have been the instruments He used, and I am so grateful for the background that I have, but it's God who works in us to will and for His good pleasure.  It is God who will also perfect and finish this faith He has sown in our hearts.  What a wonderful answer to all those questions and doubts that arose in my heart.

 A legacy of faith is a beautiful thing to have in a family....whether you are on the receiving end, like me or you are the first in your family to serve the Lord and will be the one leaving it to your children, or relatives. But it all comes from the Lord Himself...We love because He first loved us, the Bible tells us in 1 John 4:19.  With that heritage comes responsibility though.  2 Timothy 1:5-6   I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice.  And I know that same faith continues strong in you.  That is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.  I need to continue strong, by spending time with the Lord in study and prayer, and thru being obedient and using the gifts He gives for His kingdom and glory.

What a wonderful inheritance!  The faith we have is a gift from God. However we got there...it's Him who started it all, and also will finish it!

Thank You Lord, for starting this garden in my heart...a garden of salvation, peace and joy....one that through the work of the Holy Spirit will grow to give You glory and be a blessing for others.  Lord, I know that process is sometimes very slow...and it's easy to get discouraged when we see no progress, but help us to remember that if we keep working with You, the flowers will bloom, in Your perfect time.  Help me, help us to keep our eyes on the faith giver.  In Jesus name, Amen.