Consistency in faith is vital in a believer’s walk. In Restored Grace, Carol is a new Christian, and the consistency of her faith manifested itself in some areas, but not all. As a new Christian, I can guarantee that these areas will develop in her life. I’m the author! And just as God is the author of our lives, He is faithful to complete a good work in us, and that is consistency in faith. Here’s an old song as a reminder.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNjZlHARnEk
In my life, the areas of quiet time, church attendance, relationships, and prayer are essential steps to a long faithful devotion to Christ. There are more, but I’ve tried to keep this little study short. God has blessed this consistency, to different degrees, in all my family members to date. There are no guarantees that we or those we love won’t stray, but we can diminish those odds with consistency in faith.
Consistency in Faith through Quiet Time
A quiet time is a key to consistency in faith. And it’s easy to develop when life is easy. That’s a prime time to build your foundation through quiet time. But if you don’t do it, and difficulties hit, your foundation will become riddled with cracks, and it will be difficult to stand firm. Remember that children’s song, The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock? That’s consistency in faith.
When I was a new believer, my pastor, Rick Warren, emphasized daily quiet time. He wrote a book called “Twelve Dynamic Bible Study Methods.” It was the last chapter on a Daily Quiet Time that has never left me. I think it’s out of print, but there are lots of used copies floating around. Grab one!
When I received Christ, I had two children, newborn and seventeen months. It wasn’t easy to build that foundation. But I was like a sponge and quiet time in the Word drew me. It didn’t get any easier as our family grew, and I can’t remember if I started early in the morning then, but that’s been my habit for almost forty years. First, I read scriptures, then I move on to devotional books. Here are my favorites.
George Mueller, Charles Spurgeon, Elizabeth Elliot, A.W. Tozer, Amy Carmichael, and every giant of the faith whom I’ve admired have had consistent quiet times. Through blessings, trials, and tragedies, these men and women have grown stronger as they sought to give God glory in all things by staying faithful to Christ. I pray I will be able to do that. Not that doubts and weaknesses won’t shake me, but like King David, I want always to be devoted to God.
Consistency in Faith through Church Attendance
When I started attending church, I wasn’t a believer. Consistent church attendance began with me because of my three-month-old baby. Funny, huh? I told my husband that it was important that our baby attend church. We were still partying up our old lifestyle, but on Sunday mornings, we’d get up and take our firstborn child to church.
I’m so thankful that the Lord drew us because almost a year later, my husband and I were baptized, and we’ve been attending church consistently ever since.
It’s so easy to get out of the habit of consistent church attendance, and I think satan was at work in keeping believers apart during the pandemic. Online church was adequate for a season, but I know people who never returned. It’s more accessible for some, and I know it’s necessary for others with illnesses. Still, many others’ faith was weakened. This really breaks my heart. A speaker once said, “Isolation is one of satan’s most effective tools.
Consistent church attendance is another undergirding that helps us to remain faithful to God and one another. It’s so easy to get out of that habit when life gets in the way, but there is no substitute for a place to worship, learn, and serve God than the church. It goes without saying that consistent church attendance is a crucial stepping stone in your walk of faith. Out of it comes another critical step for the believer’s walk.
Consistency in Faith through Right Relationships
Scripture constantly reminds us to keep good company. Consistency in right relationships with solid believers will hold you accountable and strong in your walk. Bible Studies, prayer partners, or accountability buddies are catalysts for right relationships. Build consistent relationships with people who will challenge and encourage you to worship the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
I’m so thankful that my husband and I made a new core group of friends through church when we left our old lifestyle. God blessed us with godly friends we still have forty years later. Wherever you are in your faith, please build these relationships. You need them, and they need you.
In Restored Grace, Carol has done the same. She’s immersed herself in Bay Town Community Church. Her new best friend is Melanie Thompson, the protagonist in Shattered Guilt, and her intimate friendships come from Ladies Bible Study.
She also consistently has the right relationship with her pastor, who helps keep her accountable and offers the wisdom she often needs. A godly, faithful pastor who has studied and dedicated his life to serving the Lord and His people is invaluable for counsel. Especially in those decisions where we cannot see clearly. I’m grateful for the guidance those men have given my family and me.
I’m drawn to friends who always give God the glory. Those who seek Him out for prayer at any given circumstance, or encourage all to trust Him. When you surround yourself with people devoted to God, you can’t help but become like them. This will lead you to seek Jesus through a consistent prayer life.
Consistency Through Prayer
I admire those who are faithful to be consistent in prayer. I haven’t always been so myself, but I can clearly remember when the Lord called me to it. When I attended my first bible study in 1982, there came a time for group prayer. There were only six of us, and I bowed out. I didn’t return the next week, and Kay Warren called to check on me. I confessed that I couldn’t pray out loud. I barely called on the Lord privately! She apologized and begged me to return.
With her gentle guidance, I grew in my faith, walk, and prayer life. Years later, she asked me to be a group leader, and I was told to ask my small group to write down a private prayer. I assured them I would be praying that for them. Five of seven personal prayers were for the women to have the courage to pray out loud. God works in mysterious ways, doesn’t he?
It may start out small, like Carol in Restored Grace calling out to the Lord randomly, and then lead to hours of praying. The more we pray, the more we are called, and the more we are called, the more we call on God Almighty. Hallelujah!
Consistency is the Key
Persistence in consistency is the key. The enemy is at work to keep us from our quiet times with the Lord, our right relationships with believers, consistent church attendance, and prayer. But the Lord faithfully prevails and continues to draw us ever closer to Him.
We may fall, but we haven’t failed.
We may stumble, but we won’t stray.
Remember how consistent the Lord is in His faithfulness. How can we not remain faithful to Him? I’m praying for your walk and know God is pleased with your efforts to worship Him wholeheartedly.
Hopefully, I’ll post tomorrow…but my daughter is in labor right now! Would you mind praying for her? I may miss a day of posting, but in the next post, I’ll discuss the importance of a Compassionate Heart in a Believer’s Walk.
Remember, I’m offering a free, seven-day Bible Study on the Believer’s walk, including these posts as a devotional in one PDF. I hope it will be helpful in strengthening your walk. In the meantime, here’s a link to my inspirational blog posts. I think you’ll be encouraged in your consistency in faith.
https://www.kathleenjrobison.com/category/inspired-living/
I loved Carol in Restored Grace because she reminded me of how important it is to learn to walk in faith. Please enter the giveaway during this blog tour. You just might win a copy of the book, and be encouraged! Here’s the link: