Consistent Faith

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  
Romans 15:13

Forgiveness is the first step to transformation.
Repentance is determined action that follows Jesus.

Practice makes faith consistent and brings hope.

Question: Do you have regular practices that strengthen your faith? 

Hope casts the vision of what can be. Faith walks the Journey. 

Daniel determined that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or with the wine that he drank. So he asked permission from the chief eunuch not to defile himself. Daniel 1:8

God gave these four young men knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. Daniel also understood visions and dreams of every kind. Daniel 1:17

Then these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of hid God. Daniel 6:5

When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went to his house. The windows in its upstairs room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Daniel 6:10

When he reached the den, he cried out in anguish to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God,” the King said, “has you God, whom you continually serve, been able to rescue you from the lions?” Daniel 6:20

My God sent his angel and shut the lion’s mouths; and they haven’t harmed me. For I was found innocent before him. And also before you, Your Majesty, I have not done harm.” Daniel 6:22

Consistent faith requires practice. 
Question: If you have faith in anything, what has tested your faith? Or, has someone tried to attack your character because of your faith? 

Consistent Faith Practice
Practice with integrity
Daniel determined that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or with the wine he drank. Daniel 1:8

Practice with regularity.
…and three times a day he got down on his kness, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Daniel 6:10

Practice with assurance
By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. Hebrews 11:3

Faith, in our Christian context, is believe that God is who He says He is and will do what He says he will do. 

What happens when our faith practice doesn’t fix everything?

…and asked him, “are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus replied to hem, “go and report to John what you head and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead raised, and the poor are told the good news. Matthew 11:2-5

Practice makes faith consistent and brings hope. 

Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared, but the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he, Matthew 11:11

Reflection 
What practices do you need to make more consistent?
Who in your life can help you commit a more consistent faith?