Checkpoints: Authentic Faith

by Whitney Jones

Over the next couple months we will be highlighting seven checkpoints that we believe are an essential spiritual foundation for every child.  As we plan and prepare each year – these seven ideas are what we want to communicate repeatedly with kids and students here at PCC.    Every series, study and lesson hinges on one of these key ideas and we believe that they have the ability to impact and shape your child for success and spiritual maturity.

We want to share these ideas with you because you are the key influencer of your child and we believe that when these ideas are encouraged and supported at home a child has a much greater chance to develop a healthy spiritual life.

So let’s dive in and begin with the first Checkpoint – Authentic Faith.

Do you remember how you felt when you were very young and your birthday approached? You were excited and anxious. You knew you would receive gifts but some things would remain a surprise. Birthdays combine assurance and anticipation, and so does faith!  The book of Hebrews tells us that “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see” (11:1)   

We need to know that, God can be trusted and that he will do all he has promised to do.

The beginning point of faith is believing in God’s character: He is who he says he is.  The end point is believing in God’s promises: He will do what he says he will do. When we believe that God will fulfill his promises even though we don’t see those promises unfolding yet, we demonstrate true faith.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Do you trust God with the critical areas of your life?

When we have an important decision to make, we sometimes feel that we can’t trust anyone-not even God. But God knows what is best for us. He is a better judge of what we want than we are! We must trust him completely in every choice we make.  Bring your decisions to God in prayer; use the Bible as your guide; and then follow God’s leading. He will direct your paths by both guiding and protecting you.

If Jesus could create the universe, then no part of life is out of his control. We should not exclude Jesus’ wisdom and the Bible’s guidance in problems that come up in life. Go first to God for advice. Talk to him in prayer and listen to him. Have faith that he will take care of it.

Jesus didn’t come to this earth to teach us the richness and vastness of his love, and the power of his spirit so that we could believe and trust in him in one minute and the next forget he even existed. Jesus came to this earth to die for us. We must put our faith in him and trust that he truly wants what is best for us.

In all things we know that God can be trusted, and He will do all He has promised to do.  If you want to cultivate authentic faith – you must ask the question:  Do I trust God with the critical areas of my life.  And this idea is our first checkpoint.