Taking Courageous Steps in Your Faith
Taking Courageous Steps in Your Faith: Practical Tips for Christian Believers
Have you ever been in a season of life where you knew God was calling you into something new? You may not have known exactly where or how, but you knew transition and change were coming. I have navigated several seasons of transitions motivated by a move of the Holy Spirit. While they were exciting, they were also unsettling. We all want to live a life characterized by boldness and faith. Let’s be Christians who embrace the wild adventure of following God no matter what the Lord might ask us to do. As believers, it is important to take courageous steps rooted in our faith. But how can we practically do this? Here are some practical tips for Christian believers looking to take courageous steps of faith.
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1 - Pray for Courage
Prayer is a powerful tool that can help you to be courageous in your faith. Prayer is both petitioning and listening to God. When you pray, ask God for the courage to take steps of faith and wait to hear what those steps are. The journey of boldly following God is usually a series of smaller (more manageable) steps. *Disclaimer: God sometimes asks us to take a giant leap of faith…for me, those came after seasons of consistent obedience. Ask for His guidance and strength to take the proper steps. Be strategic in the questions you ask and consistent in the time you set aside to reflect and seek God’s direction. If you want more in-depth resources on cultivating a habit of prayer, I highly recommend the following books.
2 - Memorize Key Scriptures
Memorizing key scriptures is a great way to build courage in your faith. The Bible has many passages that remind us of God’s faithfulness and the power of His Word. Depending on what you feel led to do as Jesus' follower will help narrow down which scriptures will be most helpful. Here are a few examples of situations that require courage and the scriptures that help boost bravery.
Job Hunting
Isaiah 40:28-31
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”
Facing Uncertainty in Health
Psalm 22:19
“But you, Lord, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me.”
Scriptures When You Don't Have a Clue
Psalm 27:14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
Memorizing these verses becomes part of your life and can be a source of strength when you need them most. Whatever season of life you are facing, a quick Google search can help you locate powerful scriptures to speak over yourself and commit to memory. Spending extra time memorizing the verse helps solidify my understanding of it, AND it is readily recalled in a moment of need. Memorizing scripture is like filling your spiritual arsenal with the ammunition to break through walls that threaten to hold you back.
3 - Find an Accountability Partner
Having an accountability partner is a great way to stay on track with your faith journey. Whether that is a friend, family member, or Christian mentor, find someone who can hold you accountable and encourage you to take courageous steps in your faith.
4 - Spend Time in God's Word
Spend time in God’s Word daily. As you read, pay attention to the parts that speak to you and challenge you to take courageous steps in your faith. I like the SOAP method. It is an easy way to make reading the bible more powerful.
5 - Be Flexible
Be flexible and open to change. When taking courageous steps in your faith, it’s necessary to be open to God’s plans and how He might change things. God is not stagnant. I had had times when one faithful step of obedience led to something that made me completely pivot in another direction. I will admit those moments were confusing, but ultimately they led to places and positions that I would NEVER have considered or attempted if I hadn’t already started down the path.
For example, several years ago, I received a prompting that I was meant to be involved in ministry. I didn’t understand what that meant, but I thought I would be involved at church. Instead of a church, the Lord called me to the marketplace. Due to circumstances beyond my control, our family needed me to have a stable paycheck. I began the process of searching and applying for jobs. Long story short, I landed a sales job that required me to build relationships with a group of people known to be highly agnostic or atheist. (Collegiate professors of math and science) When I asked the Lord, “Why?” He responded that he was sending me to people who might never set foot in a church. #holyspiritsmack
That was a hard job. I fought temptations and fears almost daily in that job. It taught me to love very difficult people. It taught me patience in overcoming their judgments and criticisms of me. It taught me that most people want similar things regardless of their religious affiliations…love and acceptance. Staying flexible wasn’t easy, but it allowed God to build something in my spirit that can only come by experience. Remain flexible in how God weaves his plans throughout your life.
6 - Persevere
This might be the game-changer of taking courageous steps in your faith. Don’t give up! It’s easy to get discouraged and want to give up but don’t. Trust that God will give you the courage and strength to complete the journey, endure the storm, and accomplish His plans. He won’t leave you alone or without his presence to comfort you when you get discouraged. I love this passage from Galatians.
Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
God doesn’t call us to comfort but courage. Taking courageous steps in your faith is an integral part of a life of faith. Committing to regular prayer, memorizing scripture, accountability, flexibility, and persevering no matter what will build resilience in your spirit. With these practical tips, you can start taking steps toward a life full of adventure and trust in God’s faithfulness.
Mucho Love,
