"...look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18)

There's much we don't understand now, but one day it will all come clear!

Many of us try to fulfill our duty as Christians but never even attempt the delight! "Rejoice in the Lord!" the Bible says. "Delight yourself in the Lord!"

Thankfulness is one of those key building blocks for a firm faith foundation. It keeps us remembering what God has done for us in the past, so we will be confident He's going to continue being faithful in the future. Being intentionally thankful is a part of taking your thoughts captive that will keep you grounded in the Lord.

I know there have been times when sought the Lord but still felt empty and unsatisfied. This leads to becoming disillusioned and confused. Why isn't it working? For me, I've realized it's often because I may have come to the Lord, but I've continued to seek satisfaction in the things of this world as well.

If I sit at the Lord's table, but continue trying to live on the food of this world, no wonder I continue to languish! It's like bringing fast food to a five-star restaurant! What am I even thinking? 

Finding satisfaction in the Lord requires seeking our satisfaction in the Lord and the Lord alone. 

Fasting isn't something I was raised doing, but in the last few years I've come to see it as a valuable practice in my own spiritual life. It is a way to intentionally turn away from the flesh and toward the spirit - a physical way to say, "I want God more than I want anything - even my necessities." I also think it helps train us for spiritual battles to come. Turning to the Lord when you experience a hunger pang is practice for turning to Him when we face all kinds of earthly difficulties!

There are about a million reasons we don't pray, but the Bible says, we "do not have because we do not ask." (James 4:2)

So, what are we waiting for?!

I talk about some of the things that hindered my own prayer life: 

1) It doesn't feel like God is hearing me/it's working.

2) God is sovereign, so He's going to do whatever He's going to do anyway.

3) I feel myself doubting, and the Bible says to pray without doubt, so I might as well give up.

4) I don't think I'm doing it right.

"We hope for what we do not yet see...." (Romans 8:25)

If this weren't the case, then hope wouldn't even be necessary! God always tells us to hope and wait for the eternal things - the ones that can't be taken away - His Word, His promises, His love, and our eternal inheritance with Him.

Too often, we end up putting our hope in the things we can see. Those things will always fade away. Everything in this life is temporary. 

Everything God wants to give us is eternal! So let's keep our focus on the things He has promised!

Belief is not just an intellectual assent. Real belief - real faith - will change how you live your life. Your every-day decisions will be affected, because you seek to follow God's biblical plan and the Holy Spirit even when you don't understand it, when it seems scary, and when others think you're doing the wrong thing.

And acting out this belief requires knowing the Word of God! Because how can we believe Him if we don't know what He says?

We're starting a new section here! I realized I needed to look at the proactive things we can do to build a firm faith on the front end so all of those obstacles don't overtake us!

The world is constantly telling us all the things we need, and it's easy to listen. The voices are loud. But the still, small voice of the Lord says we only need Him. When we continue to try to fill ourselves with the things of this world, we'll continue to be disillusioned and empty.

There's always one more thing to get, one more achievement, one more experience.