Waking up in faith...

I always look forward to the short Sunday prayers that my friend, Dee, puts on FaceBook and on her blog at One Foot Out of the Box. This week she mentioned she was thankful to "wake up in faith".  That phrase drew me in and got me to thinking about what it means.

Contrary to what some might initially think, faith itself is a gift...a gift from God.  It is not something that we can muster up on our own with enough will power to get us through life. Faith is instrumental in securing our eternal salvation...God's faithfulness in loving us, Christ's faithfulness in dying for us, the Spirit's faithfulness in wooing us.  When we experience the new birth, that same faith is imparted to us and enables us to believe and become children of God.  (Did you know that everyone is not a child of God? It's true...but that can be a topic for another time!)

I think what my friend was referring to was her thankfulness that in waking up to a new day, she has the assurance that she is safe, happy, and secure in facing the day because she can have peace in knowing that God has her in the palm of His hand.  

I woke up just a bit too early this morning, but I'm happy to say that I have woken up in faith. I don't know what today will bring, but I know God is in control and He has a plan.  And at the end of the best or the worst days, I know He loves me still.  He has given me the gift of faith which enables me to believe that no matter what, He has my best interests at heart. He is for me, and He is working all things together for good. I can face any day believing that!

There will be another day to wake up in faith.   I love my life and all the wonderful relationships I have and the beautiful world we live in, but I know someday the curtain will be drawn.  Unless Jesus Christ returns first, this life as I know it will come to an end and I will close my eyes in death.  And so will you.  But because of the gift of faith, we can know for certain that we will wake up to a new and glorious life safe forever with God.  

Did you wake up in faith this morning?  

 "...for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have commited unto Him against that day." 2 Timothy 1:12