The Faith Adventure

What does it really mean to “live in faith?” It’s an appealing turn of phrase, but not something easily understood, much less adhered to.  Most of us interpret our lives based on past experiences (from which we may have drawn wrong conclusions) and a presumed future.  Living in faith is different — it offers another way to interpret and respond to our daily, human experience.

The capacity to live in faith comes from a deep, inner place. It’s rooted in trust in a loving Creator and trust that the universe is indeed safe and friendly.  It is predicated on eternal truths:

• We are deeply loved. We have a divine right to life.

• We live in an abundant universe teeming with resources accessible to us for our success and personality expression.

• The universe functions through dynamic co-creation.  When we make a sincere decision based on the divine ways of Creation and act from commitment, providence moves too.  A chain of events is set in motion to help us manifest our desires.

Much of what we experience in the present is colored by how we were treated, what we know, or what we experienced in the past. We use the intellect to solve our problems. When we have difficulties and find our needs are not being met, we become frustrated, anxious, and fearful. We doubt our ability to achieve our hearts’ desires. We doubt ourselves. Our confidence is diminished. In times of turmoil, we live life primarily through the analytical mind. 
 
Analytical mind tries to control the environment to keep us safe. Analytical mind constantly looks to our past for a frame of reference to understand what is happening in order to make sense of the circumstances we encounter.

Directly opposite to the strategies of intellect and analytical mind, living in faith plunges you into the realm of mystery. Not knowing what is happening feels unsafe to most of us, and the number one reason why is because we do not know and trust God. We do not understand the workings of Creation.  Since we live on a world where our evolutionary path was hijacked and deviated from the divine plan, it is all quite understandable that we don’t know and trust God.

The problem is not insurmountable. So, how do we shift from using analytical mind to making faith our frame of reference?  Here are some key tactics to consider and spiritual practices to implement:

1) When your life is not working and you fall short of realizing all you desire, ask, “What is the higher way to achieve my creative, potential fulfillment?” This question opens the door for your Indwelling Spirit to relay innovative ideas and guidance into your thoughts to help you appreciate that there is assistance at your inner disposal.  This is the start of the faith path.

2) Tap into your desire for a better life and humbly acknowledge that you do not know the way to achieve it. Go within, spend time in quietness, and simply ask Spirit (God, Divine Source, your Inner Spirit, or whatever concept you have or word you use for your higher wisdom) to speak to you. Feel your desire for a better life and ask to be guided.  This will shift you out of the analytical, controlling mind. Repeating this process over and over will create new patterns in your thinking processes and your faith will begin to grow.

3) Develop an ongoing, personal relationship with God, who comes to you in the form of your Inner Divine Spirit and Divine Mother and Father. They know you intimately and want to help you develop your human potential.  Coming to know these Spirit personalities and influences will be the joy of your life. You will receive more love, peace, and happiness when you sincerely want to share your life with them. The Stillness Practice is the fundamental place to begin this dynamic relationship. Spending time each day with Spirit within will develop a sound habit to keep you grounded and moving forward in faith that you are indeed growing and thriving.

4) Spend time each day writing down what you would like your life to become. Ask for guidance on what steps you must take each day to allow this to occur.  The simple practice of articulating the kind of life you want stimulates the flow of creative ideas into your consciousness. Your Spirit has more room in your mind to speak to you about who you are and what you have inside to offer the world. Spend some time each day sitting in quiet – in stillness – and ask for these potentials to manifest through you. Ask to be guided in achieving them.

Always begin with: “I ask that my will for my life now align with the divine will and the divine plan for my life.” Your Spirit will take this desire and coordinate the streaming of certain thoughts into your consciousness — thoughts that choreograph the best moves to achieve your heart’s desire to manifest your true soul self.

These practices will take you out of the mind of control and into the mind of God where you are gently guided and supported in finding your way in the world. You are not alone! The universe is brimming with ample support for you. You have the power within yourself to attain your success. Make a habit of these practices. You will accumulate life experiences that show you how Spirit collaboratively brings all good things when you trust where you are being led. The resulting positive feedback will, in time, build your faith. Living in faith is the gentler, simpler, and worry-free way to enjoy life. It may even restore a child-like sense of wonder.

If being in control and doing things your own way has cost you extreme effort, misery and isolation, then what do you have to lose by trying the faith walk? The human mind balks at doing things God’s way because of a deep, subconscious mistrust. A conscious decision to try something new would, perhaps, begin to uproot embedded patterns that have caused you so much pain. Why not try the way of Spirit and see just how different, light-hearted, and joy-filled living can become? You only have every good thing to gain. Turning over control of your own life to loving, Divine Source will bring you your new and better life.

Living in faith will take you on a wondrous discovery of yourself – deeper places inside of who you are, of your world, of other people, of experiences you can only imagine. It expands you into the recognition of yourself as a member of a loving universe family. It is the adventure of your life!