How do you practice your faith? It involves living out what you believe in. As a follower of Jesus, you desire to love as He loves. Practicing your faith is an outward expression of loving others from the love He has placed within you. It is revealing to others what He has done and is doing in your life. It is seeking His Kingdom above all else, living boldly and out loud for Him.
PRACTICING YOUR FAITH IS FILLED WITH PURPOSE
Over and over again in Paul’s letters to the first churches, he addresses living out and practicing their faith in Jesus. Paul’s intent was not only to help people remember and live in the freedom they received through Christ but also to be a light to the nations, to answer Jesus’ prayer request to “pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out Laborers into His Harvest” (Matthew 9:38).
- To the Thessalonians, Paul writes, “For the word of the Lord rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith in God has gone out. Therefore, we don’t need to say anything…” (1 Thessalonians 1:8).
- To the Philippians, Paul writes, “Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:9).
James echoes the principle of practicing your faith in his letter to Christ-followers…
- “But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”—James 1:22
- “But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works.”—James 2:18
In other words, practicing your faith is filled with purpose—to grow and bless you and others, to give you fuel for the harvest, all to glorify God and reveal His love to those who don’t yet know Him.
God’s Plan A Purpose for You
God’s plan for you is to make a great impact. He invites you to practice your faith. You get to be strengthened by His Spirit so that you reach more people for Him, reaping what you sow. Essentially, practicing your faith leads you to reflect on His glory, goodness, faithfulness, compassion, and so on!
Jesus said the harvest is plentiful, which can seem overwhelming if you, as a Kingdom Laborer, take that to mean all depends on you or you “have to” do everything. But that’s not His heart or plan for you. You are His Plan A for those He has placed in your life. He’s given you a unique purpose for His Kingdom to make a great impact on others. This is your purpose for practicing your faith.
5 WAYS TO PRACTICE YOUR FAITH AND LIVE YOUR PLAN A LIFE
As you live out your unique purpose, consider these 5 ways to practice your faith in your everyday life. Remember, you are God’s Plan A! Engage His Word and grow in your intimacy with Jesus!
1. Stay up close to God.
Seek God daily through prayer, engage Him in the Scriptures, and actively obey and serve Him. Your greatest gift to others is your ongoing intimacy with God. By knowing how much you are loved, you can love others well.
- Engaging with God’s Word: “…and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”—Ephesians 3:17-19
2. Write and practice telling your God-story.
Your God-story reveals Jesus’ transforming power in your life. It answers 3 questions: 1. What was your life like before encountering Jesus? 2. How and when did you encounter Jesus? 3. How has your life changed as a result of knowing Jesus? Write it out and practice telling your story with a friend, in the car, or in front of the mirror!
- Engaging with God’s Word: “…but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”—1 Peter 3:15
3. Practice seeing, stopping, and spending time with people.
Ask God to help you see what He sees as you go about your day. As you see people, make time for them. Love them as Jesus loves you!
- Engaging with God’s Word: “Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another.”—Romans 12:10
4. Make prayer a lifestyle, not an add-on.
Learn to be in continuous conversation with God throughout your day. Ask God to prompt you, lead you, embolden you, and empower you as His Kingdom Laborer. Remember, “Prayer isn’t a part of the work. Prayer is the work!”
- Engaging with God’s Word: “Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.”—Romans 12:12
5. Make a list to pray for, and actively pray for them.
Prayerfully make a list of 5-10 people who don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus. Actively pray for them. Ask God for ways to encourage and engage them. Then, daily and genuinely love them.
- Engaging with God’s Word: “…not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.”—1 Peter 3:9
TO SUM IT ALL UP…
Practicing your faith means living out what you believe in and expressing God’s love in you toward others so that He is glorified and others come to know Him. Your daily practice of faith is part of God’s Plan A for you.
Practicing your faith engages your heart and His Word, impacting others by…
- Staying close to God
- Telling others your God-story
- Spending time with people
- Praying throughout your day
- Praying for others to know Jesus
When you practice your faith, it answers Jesus’ prayer request to “pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out Laborers into His Harvest” (Matthew 9:38).
PRACTICING YOUR FAITH WITH A KINGDOM-LABORING PRAYER
We know prayer is essential to practicing our faith. It invites deeper intimacy with Jesus and fuels our hearts to live life on purpose. Pray that God fills your heart with His love, strengthens you, and melts anything standing in the way of being a Kingdom Laborer and living out your Plan A purpose.
“Lord, as I labor in your harvest fields today, fill my heart with such great love that all fears and obstacles melt away—where all that remains is the opportunity to actively love others as You love. Lord, let your love instruct me on what to say and do. Amen.”
Want to take the next step in your Kingdom Laborer journey? Check out this free resource to help you enjoy an intimate relationship with Jesus and live a life of great impact!