The Process of Disciplined Faith

2 Peter 1:5-11

New International Version (NIV)

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

¹⁰ Therefore, my brothers and sisters,^[a] make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, ¹¹ and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Faith is a process. When we first come into our faith it is often easy to go strong and implement change, but as time goes on faith becomes an exercise regimen. We have to completely depend on the Holy Spirit in order for the changes not to be futile. This layered process starts with faith as the foundation, and the bricks of goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love are added over time through God working within our lives and us building our personal relationship with him.

Allowing God to lay these bricks is like a master chef creating several dishes at once. You may be in one particular stage and I may be in another, but the idea in the end is an overall magnificent creation for all. Verse 11 says "...and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." I love that God not only lays out benchmarks for us to measure how we are coming along in our faith-walk, but he also paints a picture of the prize for doing his will.

I'm realizing over time that as the Holy Spirit works in me, getting to the next step isn't as hard as it once was. I was thinking as I prayed just last night that I realize I don't find myself apologizing to God as extensively as I once had to do. And my sense of wrongdoing kicks in a bit more quickly. When I first turned my life back over, I could spit off a laundry list of sins in my daily prayers, but now I've either caught myself and immediately asked for forgiveness or God has quickened my spirit before my flesh could step into action. I love being able to see how I've grown and I know that God is moving in my life. And I take satisfaction in being able to tell people that if God can do that kind of work in me, he can do it in anyone.

Faith is not a one stop shop deal. We all will probably spend the rest of our natural lives trying to develop our "faith skills" but I encourage you to spend time reflecting on where you are now verus where you once were. The process of disciplined faith isn't easy, but it's very satisfying.