Tag Archives: Faith

Three principles of moving from reactionary faith to strategic faith

Faith

Last night I was at the prayer service at my home church. Part of this service is a short devotional thought from one of the pastors. Worship director Mark Alan Schoolmeesters was sharing from the Lord’s Prayer on the phrase, “Lead us not into temptation.” I have written elsewhere on this important prayer, but Mark had a great line that really caught my attention. He said, “Are you strategic or reactionary in your faith?”

This question got me thinking and my mind spinning with the stories of faith from the Bible. Not sure all of Mark’s intention, but where it took my thinking could be revolutionary to your faith. When I think of strategic faith it is a faith based on the truth of God’s word that moves us into bold decisions to follow Jesus. Reaction “faith” reaches out to God based on the crisis at hand and sometimes may not be faith at all. Here are some principles of God’s word that can move you into more strategic faith.

Strategic faith is forward looking while reactionary faith is focused on the current crisis.

Often our faith is based on the difficulty of the moment. It may be the current temptation we are facing or the problem that seems to be overwhelming us. Abraham however had strategic faith, “For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (Hebrews 11: 10) In what areas is your relationship with God drawing you to take steps beyond your current circumstances? Caleb and Joshua called the Israelites to strategic faith even the circumstances said otherwise. 

I want to move beyond today’s crisis to take steps of faith that could impact generations.
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Strategic faith is based on the promise of God and reactionary faith is based on the appearance of circumstances.

Abraham again is a great example of both sides of this story. When he had Ishmael with Hagar he was acting based on the appearance of things. Isaac however was born based on the promise of God. What are the promises of God that He has spoken to your life that should be guiding your life? Maybe you need to go back and take hold of them again.

Reactionary faith may help me out of my current difficulty, but strategic faith puts me in a situation to change the course of my life and those around me.

I am not saying that there are not times when reactionary faith is important. When we are in temptation that is the time to call out to God for help not simply wish we had prayed earlier, “Lead me not into temptation.” When we are sinking in the sea, like Peter, that is the moment to simply reach out in faith and say, “Lord save me.” The difference is we also need strategic faith that gets us out of the boat in the first place.

An easy illustration of this is to compare reactionary faith to caffeine-coffee, tea and energy drinks. When you are tired these can help you get through the day. Strategic faith is like a health lifestyle that gives you energy every day. It is not that you might not have a day where you have a bad nights sleep and drink a cup of coffee, but the healthy lifestyle gives you the energy for normal days. Crisis will come and we should react to reach out to God in faith, but may we grow in taking strategic steps of faith that change the direction of our lives.  How are you going to grow in taking strategic steps of faith?

Advice from a 98 year old pastor who happens to be my grandfather

I am grateful for the fact that my grandfather is still living and serving the Lord. He has been an amazing example to me. Even today he has a ministry of writing a prayer letter to the pastors of Sri Lanka, where he lives. I received a copy of his latest letter and wanted to pass it along to you. Even at the age of 98 he is challenging people to be a people of the Book and then live it out with faith and adventure. I hope that you are encouraged as I was.

My dear Brother/Sister in Christ,

Greetings in the blessed name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who exhorts us to read and obey His Word.

Sometime back I wrote in one of my letters to you about God commanding us to meditate on Gods’ word day and night. (Joshua 1:8,9) He did not only command but with He also gave us promises. Joshua had only 5 books at that time, but now we have 66 books(in the Bible) to read and obey, and we have many more promises in them. God loves us so much, and I am sure you too would have experienced His love in many ways, just as much as I have, perhaps more.

We should read God’s word often, if possible daily- at least a small portion each day. It will make us grow in our Christian life. I used to know a Mr Leisser, the proprietor of an English firm in Sri Lanka. He told me that he had read through the Bible 40 times. He knew it thoroughly from beginning to end. We need not do so much, but if we read it as often as we could and use it for His glory and for the salvation of souls we will be much blessed. It will be helpful if we could learn verses of scripture by heart.

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12.

The Word of God has been used powerfully by many persons mentioned in the Bible. Let us have a look at some of them.

A centurion wanted his servant healed. He knew that if only Jesus would speak a word from just where He was, his servant would be healed, just as for when he speaks a word to his soldiers they obey. Please read about it in Matthew 8:5-13.

Jesus cast out demons with His Word. We read about it in many places in the Bible. Whatever Jesus said was with authority. Luke 4:32; Matthew 7:28,29; John 6:63.

After Jesus ascended, His disciples spoke with authority as He had done. One such occasion was when Peter and John healed a man who was lame from his birth. When this man was healed he went into the temple “walking and leaping and praising God”. (Acts 3:1-9)

In Acts 9:32-35, Peter only spoke a few words and Aeneas (who had been bedridden for 8 years) arose immediately.

In Acts 9:36-41 we read of Dorcas, who was dead, being raised up by Peter speaking only two words after praying.

When Elymas the sorcerer tried to prevent the deputy from accepting what Paul said, being filled with the Spirit Paul said, “You shall be blind not seeing the sun for a season”. Immediately he became blind. Acts 13:6-12.

In Acts 14:8-10 when Paul said “Stand up straight on your feet”, the man who had never walked, leaped and walked.

Please read the story of Ananias and Saphira in Acts 5:1-10. Both had lied and when Peter spoke to each one they fell down and died.

When we see what happened when apostles of Jesus did after seeing Him do all these, do we not get a desire to act similarly? But we might excuse ourselves, saying that they saw Jesus Himself do it all. What about us? Let us ask Jesus to give us too a vision and power to do likewise and be firebrands for Him.

May the Lord bless you.

Your servant in the service of the Most High God,

Tiddy Senapatiratne

(Note: Highlights are mine)