What is Faith?
Is faith believing in yourself?
As a reformed new ager, faith was about believing in yourself. That you’re in control of your own destiny through empowering statements such as ‘I am worthy. I am strong. I am abundant. I am healthy in mind, body, and spirit. I am open to receive guidance from the divine. I will and I can’.
There are numerous quotes that nurture faith in yourself, believing you can weather the storms in life by how you alone rise above them. Like this one...
Many people have succeeded in rising above challenges in life through sheer will power and determination to never give up. This leads to the belief you can conquer challenges in your life on your own. But for some, it’s not that simple.
The question to ask, what happens when the trials and tribulations in life become overwhelming where you’re left feeling broken and beaten. Your life shaken with news you have cancer, or a loved one has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. You’re laid off from work at an age where job opportunities are slim. You’re drowning in debt and have no means to pay it off.
There are numerous situations in the journey of life where hardships can break you and you want to give up. It’s at this moment you may seek opportunities for relief, such as the new age culture, that was my spiritual path for six years, or you may dig deeper and choose to have faith in someone you can’t see, Christ Jesus.
Even then it can be a difficult decision, as the intention is to place your faith in a person who rose from the dead and claimed to be the Son of God. Many argue his existence was a mere mortal. If he was mortal, the question to ask, why Jesus is the one historical figure we persecute. We use his name in vain, even in movies, and books. Why don’t we slander Napoleon. Einstein. Galileo. Aristotle. Charles Darwin. Isaac Newton. It’s only the name of Jesus Christ, or we say, ‘oh my God’, or ‘Holy Sh##’. If Jesus wasn’t a significant figure, then why do we use His name, His fathers, and the Holy Spirit in this way.
As I learn to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, it’s alarming how many times people close to me use his name in vain. It’s become second nature to us, and it’s heartbreaking. Prior, I was like everyone else. I used his name in vain. I probably said, ‘oh my God,’ countless times a day.
When you give your life to Christ Jesus, your ears are open to hear, more so than ever, and you feel your chest tighten each time His name is used in vain.
It’s the faith Christ Jesus bestows upon His followers. His word brings life, as Jesus is the bringer of life.
Can Faith grow?
In scripture, Luke 17:5:
It’s Faith that grows a relationship with Jesus. An action to worship and believe wholeheartedly your prayers will be answered. However, I believed the same as a new ager, that the universe would deliver and at times, I witnessed miraculous events, but it’d never lasted. Read my personal testimony.
When you consider how faith can move with the size of a mustard seed, it opens your eyes in seeing who Jesus is and how He can heal your life.
Take the story of Hansie Rudolph. She adopted her granddaughter, Leehanee, at the age of 51, as sadly, her parents couldn’t take care of her.
At the age of 61, Hansie was diagnosed with stage four cancer, and told she’d six months to a year to live. Hansie refused to believe this outcome. She wanted to be there to witness Leehanee graduate, wed, and have children. She placed her faith in Christ Jesus to heal her illness, and she was healed. She celebrated these precious events in Leehanee’s life and passed away at 89, a few months shy of her 90th birthday.
At one point in my life, I believed I could move mountains with a single thought. I’d received an overwhelming wave of peace in a letter I wrote to God and read aloud. Small, insignificant events seemed meaningless and petty. My mind had clarity and all I did was smile. Joy had overcome me. But I didn’t believe I was worthy of this miracle and chose to disown it.
You have the choice to have faith in whatever you believe will give you peace. Today, I regret walking away from being saved in that moment. Yet, I celebrate my return, albeit twenty years later.
Jesus has given me peace. He has cleared away the closet of doubt, anger, betrayal, judgement towards others and myself. Yet, that feeling of complete inner peace hasn’t swept into my life. However, I believe with faith and trust, it will happen.
How about you?
Where does your faith lay?
What gives you peace?
Hi, I’m Cathy.
A blogger, photographer, author, passionately driven to pointing people away from new age indoctrination to find redemption in Jesus Christ.
I’m a mixed blend, excited to share all I offer...
Blog-Twisted Roots
Do you find yourself asking questions about new age, whether the practices and beliefs are leading your soul to redemption?
As a reformed new ager, I was saturated in the belief I could co-create with the universe and manifest a life of abundance. But I was deceived. This blog is to point you to the truth of God’s words and how He perceives the new age indoctrination.
Fine Art Photography
I always dreamed of being a professional photographer when I grew up. It was a journey to reach this goal, but I did it!
I owned a home-based studio for over a decade but have been shooting images for two decades. Now, semi-retired, I have a collection of my most cherished images of landscape or nature available for wall décor.
