Nate's Faith Blog

  “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” HEBREWS 10:24, 25, ESV Be Rich in What Matters – Be More Analog Analog Spirituality Biblical spirituality is analog, not digital. It is based on personal and tangible practices between real people and the living God. Tangible things are by their very nature analog, not virtual. While the God of the Bible is invisible to the human eye, He has called us to practice very specific analog things that express our relationship with Him. Take our work, for example. The practical things we do for God or for other human beings are always analog in character. Or think about our Sabbath observance. To keep the Sabbath holy involves several specific analog practices like rest or worship. Resting from our mundane activities and making choices that reflect the holiness of the Sabbath day ...

  “If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” ISAIAH 58:13, 14, ESV The Blessing of the Sabbath Sign of Our Identity One blessing that truly matters for human life is Sabbath rest. The Sabbath day reminds us of our origin and that God is our Creator (Exod. 20:8-11). It also testifies to God’s graciousness as the loving Savior who delivered His people from the bondage of slavery (Deut. 5:12-15). As such, the Sabbath celebration is a powerful sign of our identity as human beings. This identity is not derived from economic success or our level of productivity. Nor is our identity determined by wheth...

  “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.” HEBREWS 12:28, NASB95 Practicing an Attitude of Gratitude An Affirmative Mindset There is a mindset that matters significantly to God. In the Bible, we are repeatedly encouraged to practice this particular behavior because it is pleasing to God and a blessing to us. This attitude is gratitude. The book of Hebrews says, “Therefore since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe” (Heb. 12:28, NASB). Gratitude pleases God and positively impacts our own lives because it helps us focus on what is positive. Like a muscle, it strengthens when you exercise it purposefully by acknowledging your blessings. God invites His children to be people of gratitude. In 1 Thess. 5:18 (NASB), the apostle Paul writes, “In everything give thanks...

  “By this, all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have a love for one another.” JOHN 13:35, ESV The Value of Being Kind The Defining Quality At the end of your life, if you could be remembered for just one character quality, what would that be? If just one trait depicted what you stood for and what you valued most, what would you choose? Many answers are possible, but one key aspect of God’s character should be reflected in all of our lives. In Titus 3:4, the Bible tells us that the kindness of God, our Savior, appeared to us when His love saved us. Kindness! The kindness of God. Kindness is a universal language that can be understood by old and young, rich and poor, male and female, deaf or blind. Kindness knows no language barrier. It has a universal appeal, like music. A friendly smile, a helping hand in times of need, support when we feel discouraged, and a word of encouragement—all go a long way to make the hardships of our lives easier and more bearable. Kind...

  “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up.” GALATIANS 6:9, ESV Grit, Passion, and Perseverance Spiritual Grit Grit is something we don’t often associate with spiritual matters. But it is just as important in our daily pursuit of holiness as it is in other areas of life, from sports to learning to successful business transactions. Without grit, success is unlikely. Grit is the passion and perseverance of pursuing a goal we deeply care about. In order to reach our goal, we organize our lives in such a way that nothing distracts us. We need such grit in our spiritual walk with God, and we need it in a special way in our prayer life. Too often, we do not see the results of our prayer requests because we are not persistent in our prayers. Perhaps we get distracted or discouraged, or we give up in our hearts and do not believe that God can hear and act in ways far beyond our comprehension. In Luke 18, Jesus tells His disciples the sto...

  “Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” MATTHEW 6:9, 10, ESV Focusing on Things That Matter in Our Prayers A New Focus on Prayer Focusing on God and things that matter is important in our prayer life as well. Often our prayers are weak and ineffective because they center only around ourselves. We pray to God about what  we  wish to have. We focus on  our  needs and the challenges  we  face rather than on God. Prayer that is pleasing to God has a refreshingly different focus. The focal point is no longer our “want-to-have list” but God Himself. This perspective is the key to a new prayer experience. Prayer that is pleasing to God first recognizes God as my faithful friend whose companionship I seek because  He  is important to me, not because I want something from Him.  Who He is,  is much more important than the things He gives me. Know...