Infuse: Relying On God’s Faithfulness

We sat in the dimly lit room, filled with only a few glimmering shirts and necklaces. Blackout paper covered the doors with signs on the outside serving as a reminder that all entries were to remain shut during the glow-in-the-dark performance. Only halfway through the recital, what started as a narrow ray of light from a cracked door soon dispelled all darkness as outside light flooded the auditorium.

Much like the room of that performance, the perspective in our lives can leave the doors of our eyes covered in blackout paper. Even so, the darkest moments are not dark to the One who created the night. For Him, night shines like day and darkness is but light (Psalm 139:11). The Father of heavenly lights knows what lies in darkness, bringing it into the light at His appointed time (Job 12:22). When His light of hope enters the scene, darkness has no choice but to flee (John 1:5).

From the beginning of time, our Creator authored light to separate the darkness (Genesis 1:3). Darkness – set within boundaries – must obey His command, including the dark, gloomy clouds hovering over your life. It is His faithfulness yesterday that opens the doorway of hope for tomorrow.

As we set our F.O.C.U.S. on His faithfulness, glowing light descends from His throne dispelling the dreadful doom.

F- Fortify Your Thoughts

The battle for peace and hope begins in the mind. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” As you keep watch over the doors of your mind, you are warding off destructive thinking. Anchoring your thoughts on things above removes the ability to be torn when fearful and defeating thoughts threaten to blow you over. For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7). Renewing the mind restores revamps the relationship with hope.

• Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. Psalm 86:11
• Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
• We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5
• Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. Philippians 4:8

O – Open His Word

Scripture is filled with treasures just waiting to fill your dry bones with life and hope, but they must be opened. His word is a healing agent, a sweet reminder of the promises made for you. Words spoken by our Redeemer lifts our burdens, breaks chains, imparts wisdom, and sanctifies thoughts. The more we infuse our lives with the life-giving words of the Bible, the more we know and trust the Author. They were written to teach and encourage, and provide hope (Romans 15:4).

• For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans 15:4
• Open my eyes that I may see the wonderful things in your Word. Psalm 119:18
• And He opened their understanding so they might comprehend the Scriptures. Luke 24:45
• Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17

C – Call to Mind His Faithfulness

His faithfulness is the pillar that supports, strengthens, and steadies our hope. The more we focus on and recall His faithfulness in the past, the more confident we are that He’ll do it again. So grab a journal and a pen, and spend some quiet time writing down His faithfulness in your life. Writing it down helps us recall the details, clears the mind, helps process emotions, and keeps a record to look back on in the future. His faithfulness is your shield.

• Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:21–23
• Even if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself. 2 Timothy 2:13)
• He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings, you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:4
• The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. Psalm 145:13–14

U – Utilize “God”rails

Are there certain circumstances that leave you more drained than fueled? During the darkest time in my life, there were a few relationships I had to limit, not because I didn’t cherish them but because my heart couldn’t handle the weight of emotional negatives. Setting firm protective boundaries keeps us on track, avoiding any further derailment.

• Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15–16
• The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception. Proverbs 14:8
• The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. Proverbs 22:3.

S – Sow a Shield of Gratitude

Friends, praising and gratitude in the midst of your storm doesn’t mean your problems don’t exist or that the situation you find yourself facing is not real, because they are. It means you are choosing to believe more in your God and His ability than in your problems and your inability. When we sow a shield of gratitude, we are declaring for all who see that our God is bigger, that He is faithful, and He is more than able to deliver us. As we choose to turn our problems into praise, we see God turn our battles into blessings.

• I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel. Psalm 71:22
• After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.” 2 Chronicles 20:21
• O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me, steadfast love. Psalm 59:17
• My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed. Psalm 71:23

He who called you into fellowship with Chris is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9). He is faithful to carry you through the trials, able to move mountains of despair and profoundly desires to lift your weary head. I pray the light of His faithfulness overwhelms any darkness you’re facing today.