2006: "Keep the Faith"

This is my personal goal for the year. I need to do a much better job of strengthening the faith aspect of my walk with Jesus Christ. Far too often, I've fallen back into selfishness and arrogance. I've let myself believe my way is superior to God's way by not turning to Him with my problems, or exercising my prayer life in making decisions. I need to stop thinking reason is sufficient. Faith precedes reason. It is the stepping stone to not only believing in the God of the universe, but also trusting in His unfailing love and ability to forgive sin, and to separate it from us.

Faith is also empowering. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." One can simply flip through the Bible and see how often Jesus rewards and chastises people by the measure of their faith. Paralyzed, mute, blind, and dead people were restored because of faith. We have the promise of everlasting life because of faith and acceptence of Jesus' gift of salvation. A sea of never-ending darkness can be penetrated by a beacon of faith in the light of Christ. It's that hope in a power that is greater than our own that helps us navigate.