Affirmation of God: My faith will be shown to be genuine by what I do.

Want to feel alive?  What makes our faith alive and complete? How do we go from an abundant heart to an abundant world? Can we just give IT away?  What is IT?

O brother, James chapter two kind of hits you between the eyes and I am laughing with the Holy Spirit this morning. God you are one funny dude. Hey I can call Him dude can’t I as I just read in James 2:23 that I can be called a friend of God. Do you want to be alive do you want to be a friend of God?  James chapter 2 gives you the formula.

I say that the Holy Spirit is laughing, well maybe not but I had to release a little chuckle along with some spiritual tears on this one. Just yesterday it was so real when I wrote that many times I don’t “feel” things but when I go to God on my knees and praise Him that the Holy Spirit does change my feelings. Today during my “knee time” I felt a little more distant from the Holy Spirit than usual. Hmmm, I thought maybe I was just thinking too much and had to move more from my head to my heart. It was just one of those mornings…have you been there?

Then I opened up Lesson 23 in the Celebrate Recovery leaders guide entitled GIVE.  This is Step 12 where we are called to carry the message to others and practice all of the principles in all of our affairs. John Baker referenced James 2:17 “Faith without works is dead”.  I read chapter two looking for affirmations of God.

“I am guilty.” was an affirmation I put in for Chapter 10. I didn’t think this was a very uplifting affirmation but it is one I need to be humbled by. Basically verse 10 says if you live by the law you will die by the law. It says if you stumble on just ONE point you are guilty of ALL. Count me GUILTY along with you and everyone else.

In verse 17 we have always heard this “…faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (NIV) So the Holy Spirit showed me the positive perspective of that statement and my affirmation was: My faith and my works are alive.  OK, now that is a “positive affirmation” that is how I desire to be like God. I can claim it and write it on my heart until I live it. Right now, I am guilty of not only stumbling but not doing what I can. To be alive I know I need both faith and works. May this affirmation keep my eyes and heart open to works.

You wanna feel it? It seems the Holy Spirit is saying then do something for my people. It’s not about us and our abundant faith and feelings. It’s about us doing our part to bring God’s Kingdom and His will to a hurting world. A world of broken lives where there are hungry and lonely people everywhere. There are works opportunities everywhere; in our neighborhoods and in our cities and maybe even in our own homes.  We are just called to give what others need and not just in faith words and prayer.

I love James 2:22! You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. (NIV). Don’t we just want to be “complete”? There is that chuckle again from the Holy Spirit. You want to be complete; you want to feel me? Just do something next time I place one of my children needing something before you. Give something real and physical and yes, I will make you complete. You will be alive beyond what you can comprehend. What are we going to do?

I pray we are all challenged and encouraged to be the person in James 2:18 who can say  “ I will show you my faith by my works.” (NKJ) Next time I say “I will pray for you.” Can I also see with my heart something I can DO to help this person and just do it. Then you will know my faith is genuine.

Tom Raines

Christian Affirmations 4 Life