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The Christian Life

Other essays.

The Christian life is the life of repentance, faith, and good works lived through the power of the Spirit and with the help of the means of grace as the Christian is conformed to the image of Christ to the glory of God.

The Christian life is based upon the work of God in the new birth, justification, the gift of the Spirit, the forgiveness of sins, and our union to Christ. The goal of the Christian life is to be conformed into the image of Christ and, as a result, to share in God’s rule on the earth to the glory of God. Using various means of grace, such as Scripture, prayer, the Church, and the sacraments, God conforms the Christian into the image of Christ by the Spirit. The healthy Christian life is shown in faith and obedience, good works, sacrificial living and giving, and participation in the worldwide mission of the Church.

There is no better life to live than the Christian life. We shall consider this tremendous subject under five main headings. We begin with the basis of the Christian life: on what is it founded? Second, before addressing the daily realities of the Christian life, we take a look ahead to the end and ask: what is the goal of the Christian life? To what is it heading? Then, we consider the heart of the Christian life: that it is a matter of the heart. Fourth, we take a look at the means by which the Christian life is led, what are sometimes called “means of grace.” Then, in our final section, we trace out some of the salient features of the Christian life.

The Basis of the Christian Life

We shall only understand the Christian life in the present if we grasp the foundation upon which it is built. The Bible speaks of this in at least the following seven ways.

Repentance and Faith

God commands all people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30–31). Peter gives this command on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38) and it is the consistent teaching of the New Testament. We are to turn from our sin and to trust in Jesus Christ the Savior and Lord. Without this repentance and faith, there is no Christian life. Indeed, repentance and faith are not simply the shape of the beginning of the Christian life; they are the shape of all of the Christian life, day after day after day.

But there is a problem; we are neither willing nor able to repent and believe in Christ unless God works in us, for repentance and faith are ultimately the gift of God (cf. 2 Tim. 2:25). The remaining six ways of speaking about the basis of the Christian life all focus on the sovereign action of God. Although we experience the beginnings of the Christian life in terms of our own repentance and faith, we come to understand that none of that would have happened unless God had first worked in us in his kindness.

By nature, we are spiritually dead in our trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1). We can do nothing to save ourselves. God must give us birth from above, or new birth (John 3:1-8).

The Gift of the Spirit

This birth comes to us by the Holy Spirit who enters our hearts to give us life. By faith we receive the promised Holy Spirit (Gal. 3:14).

Adoption as God’s children

In giving us new birth, the Holy Spirit brings us into the family of God by adoption (Rom. 8:15). We become children of God. Sometimes the Bible uses the phrase “sons of God” for both men and women. This is not sexist; it expresses the wonderful truth that each of us, male or female, enters by grace into the privilege of the sonship of Jesus. It is a wonderful thing to be a child of God (1 John 3:1–2). All who are adopted into God’s family may share the assurance that God has predestined us for this in his love (Eph. 1:5).

The forgiveness of our sins

Right from the first day of the Christian life we may be sure that all our sins have been forgiven; the forgiveness of sins is a core part of the gospel message and a foundational element in the start of the Christian life (e.g. Matt. 26:28; Luke 24:47; Acts 10:43; Eph. 1:7).

Justification

The righteousness of Christ is reckoned, or imputed, to us by grace, because our sin has been reckoned to Christ’s account on the cross. We are therefore “justified” or “declared righteous” in God’s sight because of the atoning death of Jesus as the propitiation for our sins (Rom. 3:21–26; 5:1–2).

Being incorporated “in Christ”

All these privileges—adoption, forgiveness, justification, the gift of the Spirit, new birth—are summed up in the New Testament by the important phrase “in Christ.” This does not mean that we are physically inside of Christ; it means we are in union with Christ. This is a deep union. It means that his death is accounted as our death, his resurrection as our (present spiritual and future bodily) resurrection, and his ascension as our certain future ascension (e.g. Rom. 6; 8:1; Gal. 3:26; Eph. 2:5–6; Col. 3:3).

The Goal of the Christian Life

To what end is the Christian life heading? What is its goal? The Bible gives at least four answers.

To be made like Jesus in the image of God

We begin with an individual answer: we are “predestined to be conformed to the image of (God’s) Son” (Rom. 8:29). The Son of God is the flawless image of God, what humankind was meant to be (e.g. Col. 1:15). God is making each believer like Jesus. This is his great project in you and in me, if we are in Christ.

To be a part of a worldwide completed church

Next, there is a corporate answer: we are destined to be a part of “a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” (Rev. 7:9). The Christian life is lived individually, one by one; but it is not, in its essence, a matter for the individual alone. God is bringing to completion the worldwide church of Christ through all the ages; and we are a part of that.

To share in ruling the new creation

The promise to Abraham is that in his seed (Christ and all who are in Christ) he will inherit the world (Rom. 4:13). The “saints” (believers) “will judge” (that is, govern) “the world” (1 Cor. 6:2). Although our inheritance is “kept in heaven for” us (1 Pet. 1:4), it will be enjoyed, in resurrection bodies, in the new creation, the heavens and earth made new (Rev. 21:5; cf. Rom. 8:18–25; 2 Pet. 3:10–13).

To shine to the glory of God

Most deeply, our destiny is to shine to the glory of God (e.g. Eph. 1:6). The universe will unite in wonder at the astonishing and glorious grace of God in the completed church of Christ. This is the greatest goal of the Christian life.

The Heart of the Christian Life

The Christian life is a matter of the heart before it concerns our words and deeds. From the heart flow the springs of all of life (Prov. 4:23). The corruption of the heart is at the root of all our problems (e.g. Mark 7:6, 7, 14–23). The healing of the desires and affections of the heart is the most significant affair of the Christian life. What passes for the “Christian life” but by-passes the desires of the heart can never be more than rank hypocrisy.

The Means of the Christian Life

The Christian life begins, continues, and ends entirely by the free unmerited grace of God, yet God has chosen to use instruments through which to bring his grace into our lives. The old-fashioned expression for these is “the means of grace.” We shall consider four.

The Scriptures

Psalm 1 declares a blessing on the one whose “delight is in the law of the Lord” and who “meditates” on that law “day and night” (Ps. 1:2). The “law” of the Lord means his instruction, that is, the Scriptures. Jesus supremely is the man whose delight was in these Scriptures, during his life on earth (cf. Luke 2:41-51). These Scriptures, the Old Testament as read in the light of the New, and the New as prepared for by the Old, make us “wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ” (2 Tim. 3:15); that is, they lead us in the way that leads to our final rescue. The Christian life is nurtured by the Bible, both read privately and in the life of the home, and heard publicly, especially in the preaching of the Scriptures to the local church.

In the fellowship of a local church, we stir one another up to love and good works. We encourage one another to wait for Jesus’ return, to repent and believe day by day (cf. Heb. 10:24–25). Every Christian needs to belong to the fellowship of a local church.

It is a very great privilege of the Christian life that “through (Jesus Christ) we both (Jew and Gentile) have access in one Spirit to the Father” (Eph. 2:18). We pray to the Father; we can have this access because by his sin-bearing death the Lord Jesus has opened the way; the Holy Spirit works in our hearts and enables us to use this privilege in prayer (Rom. 8:26). And so, “in everything” – all the trials and joys of the Christian life – “by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving” we may bring our requests to God (Phil. 4:6).

The Sacraments

Jesus gave his church two visible sacraments, or signs of the gospel: baptism (Matt. 28:19) and the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion (e.g. Matt. 26:26–28; 1 Cor. 11:23–26). Baptism is the sign of entry into the Christian life and the Lord’s Supper signifies a continuing participation in the benefits of Christ’s death for us. By these outward signs we are reassured of the trustworthiness of the gospel of Christ.

The Outworking of the Christian Life

The spirit-enabled life.

Paul writes to the Philippian church: “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:12). God works in us, but he does not pull the strings as if we were puppets; he works in us by his Spirit so that we begin to “will” (to desire or want) and then to “work” in ways that please God. We “work out” (in the sense of “outworking” or putting into practice) what God first “works in” us.

In Romans 8:1–14 the apostle Paul sketches out for us, in broad strokes, the difference Christ makes in terms of practical living. Life without God, before salvation, was dominated by sin and “the flesh.” We lived not with godward aims but for ourselves. But in Christ a new controlling factor has taken over; we are no longer “in the flesh” but “in the Spirit”, “led by the Spirit” (v. 14) into righteousness. This is the “gift of the Spirit” mentioned above. With his enablement, we are now free to live unto God as the following paragraphs describe.

We consider five aspects of this each of which characterizes a healthy Christian life.

Faith and Obedience

Faith in Scripture is more than a cognitive assent or agreement that certain things are true. Authentic faith is inseparable from obedience. Paul writes of “the obedience of faith” (Rom. 1:5; 16:26). James agrees with Paul and insists that a so-called “faith” that does not involve obedience to the law of God is not a true faith (James 2:14-26). The outworking of the life of faith will be shaped by the law of God, and especially the grand moral principles summarized in the Ten Commandments (Exod. 20:1-17).

The Christian life takes seriously the commandment to love God and love neighbor (e.g. Matt. 22:37-39). This is at heart one commandment, not two distinct commandments: we love God with heart, mind, soul, and strength; and the outworking of genuine love for God will be a love for the neighbor whom God sets before us. This includes our close family and those who live in our locality, but also many others, in the workplace, in our nations, and in the world.

Godliness and Good Works

Closely allied to “the obedience of faith” is a life of practical godliness, of good works. The letter to Titus emphasizes this aspect of the Christian life. Titus himself is to be “a model of good works” while teaching that Jesus Christ our Savior “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:7, 14). This is not legalism, which is the attempt to gain a righteous standing before God through our good works; it is the out-working of the redemption that is given us entirely by grace.

Self-denial and Sacrifice

Another way of speaking of the outworking of the Christian life is that it involves denial of self. “If anyone would come after me,” says the Lord Jesus immediately after speaking of his sufferings and crucifixion, “let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34).

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24). Jesus speaks first of his own sacrifice; by his death he bears much fruit. But he speaks also to every man and woman who will follow him.

A beautiful outworking of the grace of God in the Christian is the grace of giving. This is entirely a willing and cheerful response to the grace God has given us in Jesus (2 Cor. 8–9).

The service of the gospel in Christian mission

When Jesus speaks of the denial of self, he goes on to promise that “whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:35). It is important to take seriously the Bible’s emphasis on the priority of the gospel of Christ. It is not enough for a Christian to read the Scriptures, to belong to a church, to pray, to live a life of godly piety, and to do good works. The highest form of love for neighbor will involve doing all he or she can to bring them the message of the gospel. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me,” says the risen Jesus. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Matt 28:18–19). Not every Christian will be a particularly gifted evangelist, but each Christian ought to be committed to evangelism and the work of Christian mission, both in their locality and throughout the world.

To live the Christian life, we do well to remember its gracious basis and its glorious goal. We rejoice daily in all that God has done for us in Jesus. In giving us his Son, God has, with the Son, given us all that we need for life and godliness (Rom. 8:32; 2 Pet. 1:3). We remember that, in its core, the Christian life is an affair of the heart. We gratefully make use of all the means God has given us to press home his grace to our hearts. And we gladly live out what God has first worked in us by his Spirit.

How Does Faith Impact Your Life? 10 Examples of How Faith Changes Everything

How does faith impact your life? It changes everything. I have learned from experience, that faith changes you; not a cliche of false hope but the truth.

Incorporating faith into your everyday, ordinary life will impact every part of your life.

Your thoughts, your decisions, and your relationships will change.

As Hurricane Ida swirled around us, I took out my phone and recorded the storm’s feisty wind and rain feeling vulnerable and out of my element. The view was hazy, so I opened the door for a clear shot and suddenly felt a sense of peace. It is hard to describe when God’s presence suddenly rests on you. But I knew one way or another we would be okay because God was with us.

Although our everyday life does not usually include facing hurricanes, we do walk through threatening storms.

We often face interruptions and challenges that cloud our perspective leaving us feeling vulnerable and exposed.

Faith impacts our life because it helps us view storms through a different lens; we put our trust in Jesus instead of ourselves.

Christ’s love for us and His promise to be with us gives us the confidence to embrace whatever comes our way.

How does faith impact your life? Faith is the launching pad from which you base your entire life including decisions, crises, and challenges.

Faith keeps you centered with the realization that you are not alone and can trust God to help you live a confident, joy-filled life.

Why is Faith Important in Everyday Life?

Why is faith important in everyday life? It provides a steady compass . A relationship with Jesus changes how you see things and how you walk in and out of situations.

When the disciples encountered Jesus, they were living ordinary lives. Most abandoned their jobs and began to follow Jesus not knowing how their new faith would impact their life. But one encounter with Jesus changed everything for them.

The transforming power of a life following Christ is available to you too. When you choose to follow Jesus, you are forever changed.

Trusting God doesn’t mean you won’t face trials, most of the disciples were killed for their faith.

Faith in Christ gives you a new identity and new hope . Faith is a supernatural connection to Jesus that brings freedom , comfort, wisdom, understanding, and peace.

Confidence and freedom are two big ways how faith impacts your life.

When you allow faith to impact your life it touches your spirit, your emotions , your relationships, your purpose , and your ability to identify and use your spiritual gifts.

How does faith impact your life? A life following Jesus is transformative, exciting, and resilient.

How to Have Faith in God

How do you have faith in God? How do you lean on Jesus and experience how faith impacts your life?

Faith in God starts with the realization that we need Jesus. When we surrender and humble ourselves before God and ask Jesus to take over our lives a wonderful thing happens—we are set free!

From this new place of freedom, y our identity becomes firmly rooted in being a child of God and realizing you are incredibly cherished and loved by God, the creator of the world.

Your faith defines you and causes an eruption within your soul. When you connect with the Holy Spirit it ignites a new light inside to help walk out your faith in God every day.

When you have faith in God it changes the quality of your life.

How does faith impact your life? It changes your view of yourself which affects your view of everything else.

Examples of Faith in Everyday Life

I grew up believing faith was a ritual. It was a good ritual but not something I carried throughout every part of my life.

But now I realize a full life in Christ is possible when I incorporate Him into my everyday, ordinary life.

As you go about your day, you make a lot of decisions and get to utilize your faith. But you must be intentional and give up control and fear to let your faith impact your everyday life.

Trusting God with decisions can be scary, but with God’s wisdom, we make better choices and develop a stronger connection with Jesus.

With each decision, we weigh the risk and the reward of our choice. Many decisions are repeated and subconscious, but some decisions require analysis and a tap into faith.

Decisions involving a conversation with God and a nudge by the Holy Spirit, allow faith to impact our choices and lives.

butterfly-how does faith impact your life

10 Ways How Faith Impacts Your Life

#1 how does faith impact your life faith turns worry into prayer.

Worry and anxiety are unwelcome parts of life that can consume and rob us of joy.

Worry is fed by negative self-talk that can consume us.

How does faith impact your life? When worries turn into prayers for guidance and comfort, we find peace.

“Every time you start to worry, you should stop and turn the worry into a prayer. If you prayed about everything you worried about, you’d have a lot less to worry about. Worry won’t change anything. But prayer can change everything!” Rick Warren

#2 How does Faith impact Your life? Faith turns Fear into Courage

One example of how faith impacts your everyday life is its ability to help you overcome fear . Fear is a powerful emotion that has the power to consume us.

I used to be fearful whenever I boarded an airplane. I prayed specifically for God to help me be set free from this fear. Eventually, as my faith grew, I let go and now trust God when flying.

It took my faith a while to combat fear and turn it into courage, but now I enjoy flying.

How does faith impact your life? Faith helps you turn an all-consuming fear into a victory of courage.

#3 How does Faith impact your Life? Faith turns Mistakes into Growth

I dislike making mistakes but we all make mistakes.

But when you understand how faith impacts your life, you realize you don’t need to stay stuck in the aftermath of a bad decision and can learn and grow.

Most of my greatest spiritual growth has followed a great loss , struggle, or mistake.

#4 How does Faith impact your life? Faith turns Relationship Trials into Stronger Connections

Relationships bring joy to our lives and are an important link to growing in our faith. But relationship trials and conflict find us and derail our spiritual growth.

Asking God to turn our hurt, betray al, or rejection into understanding and forgiveness , transforms us.

Changing our hearts instead of staying stuck in bitterness , resentment, and disappointment , leads to stronger connections with our family, friends, coworkers, and acquaintances.

We learn to see others through the beautiful lens of God’s great love.

#5 How does Faith impact your life? Faith turns Conversations into Compassion

Relationships require staying connected so we often have conversations with friends and family.

Some are casual and some are more intimate. Some are in-person and some are written.

But when faith is laced through our conversations we learn to listen and respond from a place of love and selflessness and grow in compassion.

A conversation fueled by kindness can change someone’s outlook and give them hope.

“Are you listening to this? Really listening? Listen carefully to what I am saying—and be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in the world on your own. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes.” Mark 4:23-25 MSG

#6 How does Faith impact your life? Faith turns Anger into Release

Anger is another emotion that robs us of a free life. If we think of anger as a balloon full of air, we envision slowly releasing our anger or the air out of a balloon to God.

You may need to repeat this imagery but when anger is released to God you’ll find calm and restored happiness.

“A [shortsighted] fool always loses his temper and displays his anger, But a wise man [uses self-control and] holds it back.” Proverbs 29:11 AMP

#7 How does Faith impact your life? Faith turns Doubt into Preparation

Doubt is a great enemy of faith.

We can turn our doubt to God and ask Him to guide us to the truth.

We can use our doubt to prepare us to learn to trust God with our next steps.

If doubt is not addressed it can spiritually drain us and make us stagnant in our faith.

#8 How does Faith impact your life? Faith turns Complaining into Gratitude

For some reason, it is easy to complain. Doesn’t it seem that we default to complaining?

We complain about the weather, our job, our spouse, or our kids.

Complaining seems to be the conversation of choice even when I casually pass people talking on their phones; it comes too easily to us.

We all need time to process and unravel situations, but we can learn to complain constructively; airing grievances, struggles, or pain to decompress and find solutions not download criticism.

A true test that faith is impacting our lives is when we focus on being grateful for what we have instead of complaining about what we don’t have.

When invested in how faith impacts your life, you will catch yourself complaining and turn it toward gratitude instead.

#9 How does Faith impact your life? Faith turns Judgment into Reflection

We all have opinions and make judgments. Some judgment is needed to help us make good decisions .

But judging can also turn our hearts away from God and cause us to feel superior.

Judging others to discredit them and elevate ourselves reveals a hole inside of ourselves that needs to be filled.

When we catch ourselves judging we can take time to reflect on ourselves and our motives. We can ask God to reveal what is causing us to be trapped in judgment.

Spiritual reflection helps turn our thoughts and doubts about a person or situation over to God and be set free.

Although it is easy to judge, it requires strength and wisdom to encourage and affirm.

“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults —unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Matthew 7:1-2 MSG

“So the next time you start to judge something or someone else, think about all the times you’ve judged yourself. Give the same mercy for others that you would want for yourself. You’re just one perspective and there are as many perspectives in the world as there are people.

So choose your words carefully because we shroud our words with a judgment that is self-defeating, negative, and doesn’t help us get any closer to our goals and values.”

Rubin Khoddam Ph.D.

#10 How does Faith impact your life? Faith Turns Self-focus into Christ Focus

The most important example of growing, living faith is a pivot from self-focus to Christ-focused.

Being Christ-focused does not come naturally and is impossible without a thriving relationship with Jesus.

But it is an exciting, liberating adventure when we take the focus off of ourselves and focus on Jesus.

“So, don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:31-33 NLT

Bible Verses about Faith

Bible stories and verses about faith strengthen our connection with God and give us direction.

The Bible is powerful and takes on a living form when you use it as a reference to understand how faith impacts your life.

We are enough and our faithfulness to God is enough.

How does faith impact your life? You walk in the peace of belonging to God and knowing He is beside you to provide wisdom, comfort, and help.

When we put our faith into action, we are blessed to see God move in our lives , change us, and influence the people around us.

5 Bible Verses About Faith

Galatians 2:19-20 MSG

“What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So, I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ.

My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.”

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

“And without faith, it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

James 2:14-17 TLB

“Dear brothers, what’s the use of saying that you have faith and are Christians if you aren’t proving it by helping others? Will that kind of faith save anyone? If you have a friend who is in need of food and clothing, and you say to him, “Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat heartily,” and then don’t give him clothes or food, what good does that do?

So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. You must also do good to prove that you have it. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good works is no faith at all—it is dead and useless.”

Ephesians 2:8-10 NASB

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil!”

How Does Faith Impact Your Life?

I hope you believe and grasp how faith impacts your life. Prayer, reading books about spiritual growth, and studying the Bible will help you walk in your faith day by day.

And don’t give up! God will meet you wherever you are right now.

To experience a positive, joyful faith journey, it is also important to be active in a church, serve as often as possible, and be part of a small group that holds you accountable.

Have you learned how faith impacts your life? Do you have examples of faith in everyday life? Share your story !

lady in sand-how does faith impact your life

Mary Rooney Armand

Mary is the creator and writer for the faith-based blog ButterflyLiving.org. Her writing has been featured on multiple websites and she is the author of the book, “Identity, Understanding, and Accepting Who I Am in Christ” and “ Life Changing Stories ” a collaboration with 34 authors.

Mary Rooney Armand is an Author, Speaker, and Creator of the faith-based blog ButterflyLiving.org. Her stories help others grow in their intimacy with Christ and thrive in their relationships. Her work is featured on multiple websites including CrossMap, Woman of Noble Character, Pray with Confidence , and The Brave Women Series. Mary is the author of, “ Identity, Understanding, and Accepting Who I Am in Chris t” and, “ Life Changing Stories ” a collaboration with 34 authors sharing stories of God’s faithfulness. Besides writing, Mary leads small groups and speaks at retreats. She directed Kids Hope USA, a mentoring program for children, worked in marketing and sales, and has led mission trips to Honduras. Mary is a life coach with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing and an MBA. She and her wonderful husband Cory live in Louisiana and are the parents of four children, a new daughter-in-law, and two dogs! Connect with Mary on Instagram or Facebook.

21 Comments

I am with you in this, Mary. I want to let my faith wash over every part of life!

Michele, thanks for stopping by and adding your encouragement!

Amen Mary, thank you for this blessed message today. So beautifully spoken. Blessings.

Faith turns Complaining into Gratitude – And I choose gratitude. Thanks for sharing this very insightful article.

Thank you for reading and encouraging me! Many Blessings!!

[…] rely solely on themselves or other people. Instead, their faith can be placed in the Lord. Indeed, religious faith allows people to acquire the confidence to face whatever comes to them. Much like children with […]

[…] Spiritual goals lead to the most meaningful outcomes–An existence fully committed to Jesus where we embrace His message and exhibit His fruit. […]

[…] God redeems your mistakes and helps you fulfill your purpose and call to glorify Jesus through how you live your life. […]

[…] Understanding the condition of being discouraged, and how discouragement manifests in our spirit, helps us learn to alleviate its effects and avoid it becoming a permanent state. We can learn how to nurture and uplift our souls. […]

[…] we focus on pointing others to Christ through our words and actions, we can trust that God will bind up any broken parts of our hearts that need […]

[…] The Bible has changed my life through the stories and hope found in its words. When feeling lost and unable to find comfort, I open the Bible and suddenly read scripture that bring guidance and peace. […]

If you’re looking for a new church, Check out this site https://www.gracelifetriad.com , Know God’s purpose in your life. He surely has a plan for everyone!

[…] all the words that describe God as present and active with us in Psalm […]

[…] most things in life, we can learn how to surrender to God and grow closer to Him; the great benefit of surrender is living free and in a confident bubble of God’s joy and […]

[…] God is always faithful and worthy of our faithfulness to Him. We can place our trust and loyalty in Him and He never […]

Oh wow, I think it’s lovely to hear that your religion both defines you and ignites the fires of your spirit. I can also see how when you get in touch with the Holy Spirit, a new light inside of you is lit, allowing you to better live out your faith in God every day. Reading this made me realize that I should find a church service near me that I can come to every Sunday. I believe this will bring me closer to God.

[…] I realized that while I was completely blindsided and unprepared for that meeting, God was not. […]

[…] demonstrates that the best way to cope with change is to remain faithful and trust […]

Regarding you 10 Examples of how faith impacts your Life

John (66 years Old) from Belfast here. Local preacher in training., I am about to deliver a service based on Living the Faith and found myself saying yes and amen to all your examples. By following the AA programme starting 8 years ago I can give God all the praise as the Holy Spirit really makes me see (like the blue glass Victorian poison bottles ) actual poison in the alluring adverts for beer etc. So yes faith in my case saved my marriage, my relationship with my children, my sanity. I found my identity and purpose through the trials, Rock bottom jn my case led me to the Rock of Ages. I now thank Him for my affliction. I will always be an alcoholic so I will always need Him and that’s a great existential place to be in… My thanks for your observations

Thank you for sharing your story with us. Continued blessings in your ministry!

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Discover How I Became A Christian with this Personal Essay

Welcome to my personal essay on How I Became A Christian . In this article, I’ll be sharing my journey of finding faith and the events that led me to convert to Christianity. Growing up, religion was not a significant part of my life. However, I always felt that something was missing, and I couldn’t shake off the feeling that there was more to life than what I was experiencing.

My quest for answers led me down a path of self-discovery, and I encountered many obstacles along the way. I’ll be sharing with you the defining moments in my life that inspired me to find meaning in spirituality and how it changed my life forever.

If you’re looking for a personal story that will inspire you to find your own path, you’re in the right place. Keep reading to discover how I overcame challenges and found my faith, and maybe it will help you on your journey too.

Table of Contents

My Journey To Finding Faith

As I reflect on my journey to finding faith, I am reminded of the challenges and trials that I faced along the way. Growing up, I never considered myself a religious person, but that all changed when I experienced a profound moment that led me to seek something greater than myself.

My journey began with a simple question: Is there more to life than what we see? This question led me on a journey of self-discovery that would ultimately lead me to discover my faith in Christianity. Along the way, I faced many obstacles and doubts, but I remained steadfast in my search for answers.

For me, finding faith was not an easy or straightforward process. It required a deep level of introspection and reflection that forced me to confront many of my own personal demons. Through it all, I persevered, and my faith grew stronger as a result.

Now, looking back on my journey, I am grateful for every moment, both good and bad. Each experience taught me something new and helped me to grow in my faith. Today, I am proud to say that I am a Christian, and I am eager to share my journey with others who may be on a similar path.

Feeling Lost And Alone

As a young adult, I felt lost and alone in the world. I was searching for something meaningful to fill the void in my life, but nothing seemed to satisfy me. I tried various hobbies, read books, and traveled to different places, but none of it gave me a sense of purpose. I felt like I was living without direction or meaning. Loneliness became a constant companion, and I longed for something to fill the emptiness in my heart.

It wasn’t until I met a group of Christians that I began to consider the idea of faith. They welcomed me with open arms and showed me love and kindness. They invited me to attend church with them and introduced me to the teachings of the Bible. I was skeptical at first, but I was also curious. Curiosity led me to ask questions and seek answers, and I found myself drawn to the Christian community.

Despite my growing interest in Christianity, I still felt uncertain about committing to the faith. I was afraid of the changes it would bring to my life and worried about what my family and friends would think. It took time for me to overcome my fears and doubts, but eventually, I realized that faith was what I had been missing in my life. I needed to take a leap of faith and trust that everything would work out in the end.

After much contemplation and prayer, I decided to become a Christian. It wasn’t an easy decision, and there were times when I doubted my choice, but ultimately, it was the best decision I ever made. Hope filled my heart, and I felt like I had finally found my place in the world.

Curiosity sparked: After feeling lost and alone for so long, I became fascinated by how my friend seemed so at peace with their life. When I asked them about it, they told me it was because of their faith in God. This piqued my interest and made me want to learn more.

Attending church: My friend invited me to attend their church with them one Sunday, and I agreed to go. I was nervous and unsure of what to expect, but I was surprised by how welcoming and friendly everyone was.

Reading the Bible: Through my friend’s guidance, I started reading the Bible and learning more about Christianity. It was difficult at first to understand everything, but as I continued to read, I started to feel a sense of peace and understanding.

Attending Bible study: My friend also invited me to attend a Bible study group with them. It was a small group of people who met weekly to discuss different topics related to Christianity. This was a great way for me to ask questions and learn more about the faith.

Accepting Christ: After months of learning and exploring, I finally made the decision to accept Christ into my life. It was a moment of clarity and peace that I will never forget.

Discovering Christianity through my friend was a life-changing experience for me. Without their guidance and support, I may have never found the peace and happiness I have today.

My Life Before Christianity

Lost, confused, and empty. These are the words that come to mind when I reflect on my life before Christianity. I was living a life without purpose, feeling like something was missing.

I turned to material possessions and sought out temporary pleasures to fill the void. But as time went on, I realized that this lifestyle was not fulfilling and left me feeling even more empty.

I struggled with anxiety and depression and found it hard to find any meaning in life. I felt like I was going through the motions without any direction.

Living Without Purpose

Before I found Christianity, my life felt like it lacked a clear direction. I was going through the motions each day, without any real sense of purpose. I was searching for something to fill the void, but I didn’t know what it was. It was as if I was wandering through life aimlessly, trying to find my way.

Loneliness was a constant companion during this time. I felt disconnected from the people around me, and it seemed like nobody understood what I was going through. Even when I was in a room full of people, I felt isolated and alone.

My mental health was also suffering during this period. I was struggling with anxiety and depression, and it seemed like there was no way out. I was trapped in my own thoughts and feelings, and I didn’t know how to break free.

Overall, I felt like something was missing from my life, and I was desperate to find it. Little did I know that my search for purpose and meaning would eventually lead me to Christianity.

The Negative Influences In My Life

Before I found Christianity, my life was full of negative influences. The first was the constant pressure to fit in with the popular crowd. I often found myself doing things I didn’t want to do, just to be accepted by others. It was exhausting trying to keep up with their expectations.

The second negative influence was the toxic relationships I had with some of my friends. They brought out the worst in me and encouraged me to engage in behaviors that were destructive to my mental and physical health. It was difficult to break free from those friendships, but it was necessary for my well-being.

The final negative influence in my life was my lack of direction and purpose. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and often felt lost and unfulfilled. It was hard to find motivation to achieve my goals when I didn’t even know what they were.

What Inspired Me To Convert

Seeking Truth: I have always been interested in spirituality and religion, but I wanted to find a faith that resonated with me and aligned with my values.

Encountering Christ: One day, I had a profound experience while praying that led me to believe in the power of Jesus Christ. It was a moment of deep connection that changed my life forever.

Discovering Love: As I delved deeper into Christianity, I discovered a faith that was rooted in love, compassion, and forgiveness. I was drawn to the idea of living a life centered around these principles.

Connecting With A Community: The welcoming and supportive community of believers also played a significant role in my decision to convert. The sense of belonging and shared purpose was something I had been missing in my life.

Reading The Bible For The First Time

One of the most significant moments in my journey of becoming a Christian was reading the Bible for the first time. As someone who had no prior knowledge of Christianity, I found the Bible to be both challenging and enlightening.

I was struck by the teachings of Jesus and the emphasis on love, compassion, and forgiveness. It was a stark contrast to the negative influences and values I had been exposed to throughout my life.

As I delved deeper into the Bible, I began to understand the significance of Jesus’ sacrifice and the message of hope that it brings. The more I read, the more I felt a sense of peace and purpose that I had never experienced before.

Reading the Bible was a pivotal moment in my spiritual journey, and it continues to inspire and guide me in my daily life.

Experiencing God’s Love And Grace

One of the most transformative moments in my journey to faith was experiencing God’s love and grace in my life. For so long, I felt like I had to earn love and acceptance from others. But through my relationship with God, I realized that I was already loved and accepted just as I am.

Through prayer and reading the Bible, I began to understand the depths of God’s love and how He extends grace to us even when we don’t deserve it. It was a powerful realization that shifted my perspective on life and gave me a newfound sense of peace and purpose.

Experiencing God’s love and grace also inspired me to extend that same love and grace to others. It has given me a greater capacity for empathy and compassion, and has helped me to see the world through a lens of love instead of judgment.

Seeing The Positive Impact Of Christianity On Others

Community: One of the things that attracted me to Christianity was the sense of community that I saw in the church. People from all walks of life coming together to worship, support each other, and make a difference in the world.

Compassion: I was also inspired by the compassion that Christians showed to others. Whether it was through acts of service or simply offering a listening ear, I saw how Christianity could make a positive impact in people’s lives.

Transformation: As I got to know more Christians, I was struck by the positive transformation that I saw in their lives. They had a sense of purpose, joy, and peace that I had never seen before, and I wanted that for myself as well.

Mission: Finally, I was moved by the mission that Christians had to make the world a better place. From fighting poverty and injustice to sharing the message of God’s love, I saw how Christianity could inspire people to make a positive impact on the world around them.

My First Steps As A Christian

After deciding to become a Christian, I knew I needed to find a church. I had heard of a few different denominations but wasn’t sure where to start. I eventually found a church that felt welcoming and decided to attend one of their services. It was a bit overwhelming at first, but everyone was friendly and welcoming.

Next, I started reading the Bible more regularly. I had read bits and pieces before, but now I wanted to read it in its entirety. I found it challenging at times, but also found comfort and inspiration in the stories and teachings.

I also started to make changes in my daily life. I tried to be more kind, patient, and forgiving, which was sometimes easier said than done. But I knew that as a Christian, these were important qualities to strive for and I wanted to embody them as best I could.

Joining A Local Church

One of the first steps I took as a new Christian was to join a local church . It was important for me to find a community of believers who could help me grow in my faith.

At first, I was nervous about attending church. I didn’t know anyone, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. But I found that the people at my church were welcoming and friendly, and I soon felt right at home.

Being part of a church community has been a blessing in my life. I have made new friends, learned from others’ experiences, and found opportunities to serve others.

Starting To Pray And Read The Bible Regularly

After becoming a Christian, I knew that I needed to make some changes in my daily routine. I started to pray every day, both in the morning and at night. This helped me to focus my thoughts and start and end my day with a positive attitude.

Reading the Bible was something that I had never done before, but I quickly realized how important it was to my spiritual growth. I made a commitment to read the Bible regularly and started with a chapter a day. This helped me to better understand God’s word and how it applies to my life.

As I continued to read the Bible and pray regularly, I noticed a change in my perspective and outlook on life. My worries and fears started to fade away, and I felt more connected to God and His plan for my life. I was inspired to become more involved in my church and started attending Bible studies and small groups.

The Challenges I Faced As A New Christian

Being a new Christian was a thrilling experience, but I soon discovered that it came with its own set of challenges. One of the biggest challenges was dealing with the judgment and criticism from those who were not believers.

Another challenge was learning how to live out my faith in a practical way. I had to learn how to apply biblical principles in my everyday life, and this was not always easy.

I also struggled with doubt at times. I had questions about my faith and wondered if I was truly on the right path. But through prayer and studying the Bible, I was able to overcome my doubts and strengthen my faith.

Finally, I faced the challenge of finding a community of believers who would support and encourage me in my journey. This was not easy, but I eventually found a church where I felt welcomed and loved.

Resistance From Non-Christian Friends And Family

One of the biggest challenges I faced as a new Christian was the resistance I encountered from some of my friends and family who did not share my faith. They were often skeptical and dismissive of my newfound beliefs, which made it difficult for me to express my faith openly.

Some of my friends even tried to discourage me from attending church or reading the Bible, saying that it was a waste of time. They would make fun of me for praying and sometimes even belittle my faith.

It was tough for me to deal with this opposition , but I knew that I needed to stay true to what I believed. I tried to remain respectful and patient with them, even when it was difficult.

Over time, I found that some of my friends and family members started to become more accepting of my faith. They saw the positive changes it was making in my life and began to understand why it was important to me.

Dealing With Doubts And Questions

Confusion: As a new Christian, it is natural to have questions and doubts about faith, and I often found myself feeling confused and unsure.

Seeking guidance: I learned that it is important to seek guidance from experienced Christians, attend Bible studies, and read books that address my questions and concerns.

Finding answers: Through prayer, studying the Bible, and seeking counsel, I found answers to many of my doubts and questions, which strengthened my faith and gave me a deeper understanding of God’s love.

How Christianity Changed My Life

Hope: Since I started believing in Jesus Christ, I’ve found a new sense of hope that I’ve never had before. The hope that comes with knowing that God loves me unconditionally and has a plan for my life, no matter what challenges I may face.

Peace: My faith has brought me a sense of peace that I never knew was possible. When I am feeling overwhelmed or anxious, I turn to prayer and the Bible for comfort, and it always helps me to feel more at peace.

Love: Through Christianity, I have come to understand the true meaning of love. The love that God has for us and the love that we are called to share with others. This has led me to develop stronger and more meaningful relationships with those around me.

Purpose: Christianity has given me a sense of purpose and direction in my life. I now strive to live my life according to God’s will and to make a positive impact on the world around me.

Gratitude: Since becoming a Christian, I’ve become more aware of all the blessings in my life and more grateful for them. I try to live each day with a heart full of gratitude and appreciation for all that God has done for me.

Transforming My Relationships

One of the most significant changes that came with my conversion to Christianity was the transformation of my relationships. I became more patient, understanding, and compassionate towards others, including those who had previously wronged me. I began to forgive easily and let go of grudges, which led to healthier and more fulfilling relationships.

Another way Christianity transformed my relationships was by teaching me to love others unconditionally. Instead of expecting people to meet my standards or conform to my beliefs, I learned to love and accept them for who they are, just as God loves and accepts me.

My relationships also became more meaningful as I began to prioritize them over material possessions and personal achievements. I realized that true joy and fulfillment come from building connections with others, and I started to invest more time and effort into nurturing my relationships.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the essay about.

The essay is about the author’s journey and experiences of becoming a Christian, including their spiritual awakening and the challenges they faced.

What inspired the author to write the essay?

It is unclear what specifically inspired the author to write the essay, but it is likely that they wanted to share their story with others and possibly offer encouragement or inspiration to those who are also on a spiritual journey.

What are some of the main themes discussed in the essay?

Some of the main themes discussed in the essay may include faith, transformation, community, doubt, and perseverance. The author may also discuss the role of prayer and reading the Bible in their spiritual growth.

What are some of the challenges the author faced as a new Christian?

Some of the challenges the author faced as a new Christian may include resistance from non-Christian friends and family, dealing with doubts and questions about their faith, and adjusting to a new way of life and belief system.

What are some of the ways Christianity has changed the author’s life?

Some of the ways Christianity has changed the author’s life may include transforming their relationships, giving them a sense of purpose and meaning, providing them with a community of support and encouragement, and helping them to navigate life’s challenges with a greater sense of peace and hope.

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Your identity in christ: how god sees you.

God's Will , Identity in Christ , Identity

Our culture is very interested in the journey of discovering individual identity. Personality tests and dream assessments are available everywhere you look. It seems like everyone is searching for something to tell them who they are, where they belong and how they relate to the world.

The Bible says that all men and women are created in God’s image. Humankind was created to reflect some of God’s attributes. You can look for your identity anywhere, but followers of Jesus are called to find their identity in Him.

Where Do You Find Your Identity?

While our world encourages you to look within yourself for your identity, your natural tendency is to search for your identity in external things.

One of the first places that you can be tempted to look to is your career. Spending your time and energy pursuing your career can cause you to feel like it is a defining characteristic of who you are. After all, a job that you are dedicated to is likely to take up most of your time and attention.

Jobs and careers are closely connected to other places where you can search for your identity, such as financial success and status. But it doesn’t stop there. People also ask their relationship statuses, appearance, grades and reputation to provide a sense of identity.

Any or all of these may feel like solid foundations, but none of them are permanent. Any of them could change without warning. If you base your identity on things like success, wealth, power, physical appearance and so on, you are setting yourself up for great disappointment. A sudden job loss could leave you questioning your choices in life. One piece of gossip aimed your way could destroy your reputation, even if it is untrue. Your appearance will change as you get older.

God, however, is unchanging. He is reliable. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. If you find your identity in Him, you will never ultimately be let down because He has proven time and time again to be trustworthy.

It is important, as you define your identity, that God not be just an aspect of who you are, like “I am a Christian,” or ”I am religious,” or “I am spiritual”. Understanding your identity in God starts with understanding who He is, what He says about Himself, and what He says about you. Your identity can be defined by who God is making you to be in His image.

How God Sees His Children

To be able to understand your identity as a follower of Christ, you need to understand how He sees you. It’s tempting to build your identity on what you accomplish, but this is not a stable foundation.

Your true identity is ultimately based on what God has done for you. In the Bible, God tells us often about how He views His people. Let’s take a look at what He says about you, if you received Him as your Lord and Savior. (Learn how to have a personal relationship with God and ask Him to be your Lord and Savior.)

You Are Loved

In Christ, you are loved. You were created with a purpose. You are not just a convenient carbon copy of someone else. You were created uniquely and with intention. God lovingly designed every detail of your person. Can you imagine the love involved with that intricate design?

You Are Chosen

In Christ, you are not only loved but chosen. God sent His own Son to earth to die in your place so that you could be included in His family .

God was not obligated to choose you based on your performance or credentials. He chose to carry out an intricate plan that involved the death of His own perfect Son, which allowed you the opportunity to be a child of God.

You are no mistake. You are chosen and wanted.

You Are Forgiven

In order to be counted a child of the perfect Father, you had to be free of sin — that is, you had to be perfect with regard to doing right and not doing wrong. That is a tall order considering no one but Jesus was or is perfect and no one can attain perfection by their own effort.

However, because Jesus, who was without sin, died the death you should have on the cross, you can be forgiven of sin. What you’ve done wrong is not counted against you, and all that Christ did right is counted for you. This forgiveness allows you to be considered a child of God.

Therefore, in God’s eyes, if you have accepted what Jesus did for you, you are completely forgiven. From His perspective, you are without sin. It’s not that you won’t sin, but when He looks at you, He calls you forgiven. That is something on which you can build your identity.

You Are Redeemed

What does your forgiveness mean? You are redeemed — that is, Christ’s sacrifice has bought you back from the forces of sin and evil that once owned and controlled you and made you His.

When God looks at you, He does not see a former sinner. He does not see you in light of who you once were. He sees you as redeemed: a new creation that has been made whole.

You do not have to define yourself in light of your past mistakes. God does not do that. You can walk in the identity of someone who is made new in Christ.

You Are Adopted

What does it mean to be considered a child of God? It means that you have been adopted into His family. You are considered a legitimate child of the God of the universe, having all the rights and standing of Jesus His Son.

God sees you as a cherished child who bears His name. Just as earthly adoption is a legally binding process that names you a permanent part of a family, heavenly adoption is just as permanent and binding. You are His child, and He will never take that away.

What the Bible Says About Identity in Christ

You don’t have to take anyone’s word for it. Actually, God wants you to find out for yourself by reading His Word. It is so important that you go to the Bible to find out how He feels about you. Your identity should never be based on a hope or a guess. God gave us His Word, the Bible, so you can know Him and know who He is making you to be in Him.

“You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household.” (Ephesians 2:19, New International Version)

You are a member of His household, not a stranger. If you follow Christ, you belong in God’s household and with His people.

In this passage, Paul is encouraging followers of Christ to remember that they are all part of one family. They are to be unified with each other. This can only happen if you understand that you are a legitimate child of God. You are part of His family.

“God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8, NIV)

As a child of God, you are blessed and provided for. God is able to provide you with everything you need in Christ. He is the Owner of everything and the Giver of all good things.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.” (1 John 3:1, NIV)

In Christ, you are loved. Your identity is a child of God. This Bible verse comes from a chapter that warns against the temptation to stray from God into sin. You can resist sin by remembering that God has the best for His children. He offers you more than the world ever could. You are complete in His love.

“The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17, NIV)

Jesus delights in you. You are not just accepted or put up with. You are welcomed into His family with delight.

When correction comes, it lasts for a short time because the goal is for it to help you reflect God’s holy character more accurately. He delights in you so much that He is making you more like Himself day by day.

“God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21, NIV)

You are God’s righteousness. You are His goodness and rightness because of what Christ did on the cross. This was given to you, and you are called righteous by the Lord of the universe.

You can live in light of the righteousness you were given. It not only allows you to approach God with confidence, but it allows you to be an ambassador to others around you. Because your righteousness is not earned but freely given through faith in Jesus , you can share this gift with others and invite them to be God’s righteousness too.

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13, NIV)

You are forgiven. If you are a follower of Christ, you have become God’s child because the Lord forgave you for the sin you committed against Him.

As someone who is forgiven, you can now freely forgive others. God extended grace — that is, undeserved favor — to you. You can extend that grace to others around you.

“We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10, NIV)

You were created with a purpose. God had specific intentions for your life when He brought you into the world. First and foremost, your purpose is to know Him and glorify Him. Then you can engage in other good works that will bring God glory and grow your own faith.

You were saved from great sin. Now, as a child of God, you can walk with God and do great good through His work in you.

“If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV)

In Christ, you are a new creation. God has made you new. The old things that used to define you have been taken away. God used to identify you as an enemy, but now he knows you as a child. You who were a sinner are now righteous.

You are new because through Jesus your sin has been paid for. You have been restored in right standing before God.

“You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9, NIV) You are special to God. You are chosen by Him. This verse comes from a passage that talks about how Christ was rejected by many. But by faith in Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit, if you trust in Jesus, you are part of His holy, chosen people. You can rid yourself of things that are part of the old you, part of the darkness, such as deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander because you have been brought into wonderful light.

Obstacles to Believing in Your Identity

Even if you know all these things about where a follower of Christ finds their identity, there can often be obstacles standing in the way of believing who you are in Christ. Other sources of identity often stand in the way, such as career, appearance or money. But there are other things that can distract you as well.

Everyone has made mistakes. Everyone has sinned. If you accept Christ, God forgives you of these things.

Psalm 103:12 (NIV) says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Transgression is another word for sin or mistakes. God removes your sin from you. You will still often remember your sins, and those memories can make you feel unworthy, keeping you from accepting your true identity.

Outside Messages or Experiences

You might not just remember what you have done; you may also remember what people have done to you. Maybe you were treated poorly or neglected. Maybe people told you negative things about yourself.

The world is broken by sin. There are people who have experienced unspeakable injustice. From gossip to verbal and physical abuse, outside messages are trying to shape your identity every day. Those outside messages can lead you to believe that you are unworthy of what the Bible says is true of you in Christ.

False Beliefs

As you follow Jesus, you will seek to know Him more. You can do this through time in the Word, through prayer, through talking with friends or a mentor and through gathering together with other believers in worship.

As your understanding of God grows, you may recognize flawed beliefs that you held before that do not line up with what you are hearing and learning about your identity now.

Maybe you grew up learning that you can lose your salvation. Maybe you thought that there were certain behaviors or sins that disqualify you from receiving Christ’s salvation. There are many false beliefs out there that seem correct but really take away from who God is and what He says. It can be confusing to work through these differences.

How Can You Respond?

These obstacles are difficult to navigate. It’s easy to believe that these things are legitimate barriers to following Jesus. But by the power of the Holy Spirit, you can overcome these obstacles and live fully in the identity that you were given in Jesus.

The word “repent” means that you agree with God. So the first thing you can do to embrace your identity is to agree with Him that you are believing things that are no longer true of you.

Bring the things you are struggling with to Him. Admit that they are difficult for you to overcome. Confess that you believe Him when He says that they are no longer true of you.

Many places in scripture encourage believers of Jesus to mourn over their sin. Although your sin no longer defines your identity, you do still experience its effects in your life. Therefore, it is legitimate and even important to grieve the sin that keeps you from truly believing the things Jesus says.

You can also grieve the sins that were committed against you and all that those wounds cost you. You can grieve the effect that it had on your relationship with the Lord.

Paul was one of the leaders of the early church who helped write the Bible’s New Testament. In a letter to one church, which we now know as the Bible’s book of 1 Thessalonians, he talks about how to mourn for lost loved ones. He helps us to understand how we can grieve well.

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13, NIV).

In this passage, “those who sleep in death” is referring to followers of Jesus who have passed away. Paul says that we can grieve that they are no longer here and yet have hope that in Jesus they live in eternity.

The same principle applies to grief over sin. You can grieve your own sin and the sin of others, all the while knowing that you have hope in Christ. You are a new creation. You are forgiven and restored in Jesus.

Invite the Lord to Change Your Mind

When you have confessed and grieved these things, you can ask God to help you believe what is true . He is the one who renews your mind and changes your heart.

God is the one who grows your faith and makes you new. Ask Him to help you believe the things that He says of you. Ask Him to continue to make you into the person that He intends you to be in Jesus.

He is faithful, and He will do it.

Invite Others to Help You

God never meant for you to walk with Jesus on your own. He brings people into your life so that you can encourage one another.

When you are struggling with past sin or false and discouraging beliefs, share that struggle with a trusted friend. Inviting others to pray for you and remind you of the truth can be so beneficial.

A believer that is farther along on their faith journey can provide great insight to you as you walk with Jesus. Consider inviting a fellow believer to mentor you in areas that are a struggle for you.

When Christ followers bear one another’s burdens, they not only grow closer to the Lord, but they grow in unity with other Christ followers.

Seeing Yourself as God Sees You Matters

If you put your faith in Jesus, you have a new identity in Him. The more you get to know Jesus through His word and time in prayer, the more you will understand your identity in Him.

The more you get to know Jesus, the more you will be able to identify areas of your life that you are not living in this identity by the power of the Holy Spirit .

If you believed that you were all that God says you are in Christ, how would that change the way you lived, the way you interact with others, or the way that you relate to the Lord?

As you find your identity in Christ, you will grow to look more like Him and less like the world. You will grow in intimacy with Him and with other believers.

Where Do I Go From Here?

To learn more about finding your identity in Christ, go through the exercise described in “ How to Discover Your True Identity ."

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Photo Essay: What My Faith Means to Me

BU students, faculty, and staff reflect on the intimate role religion, prayer, and meditation play in their daily life

Cydney scott, bu today staff.

Boston University began as a Methodist seminary, the Newbury Biblical Institute, in Newbury, Vt., in 1839. And since its beginnings in Boston in 1869 as Boston University, it has been open to people of all sexes and all religions, many who carve out time from their daily studies and work to find moments to pray, meditate, and reflect.

BU photographer Cydney Scott has long wanted to capture the many ways members of the BU community express their faith.

“One of the great things about being a photographer is that I have the privilege of stepping into aspects of life that are unfamiliar to me,” Scott says. “Religious faith is one of them. Religion and faith give people solace, guidance, and a sense of community, among other things.”

Last fall BU Today invited members of the BU community to reach out to Scott directly, and within days, she had heard from people who identified as Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Mormon, and more. She photographed almost 20 people in their homes, at work, and out of doors as they practiced their respective faith traditions. The COVID pandemic made it impossible to photograph most of them in their churches, temples, mosques, and other places of worship, so instead, Scott sought to capture each one in ways that reflect how they pray, worship, and integrate their faith into their daily lives. Each participant also wrote a short essay describing what their faith means to them.

The resulting photos are deeply personal and intimate, speaking to the breadth and diversity of the BU community and the myriad ways people observe and celebrate faith in their lives.

Emily Mantz (Sargent’21,’23), Christian

Emily Manz (SAR’23) says grace over her dinner in her Stuvi2 apartment. A tan young woman with black curly hair bows her head over her clasped hands as she sits at her desk in her dorm room.

“There are many ways that I practice my faith on a daily basis. I try not to keep my faith in a box, and instead try to integrate it into everything I do. I was raised by not one but two pastors, so growing up saying grace before eating has always been a part of my day. During my undergraduate years I was heavily involved with BU’s Inner Strength Gospel Choir. While I’m no longer quite so involved, I still find singing and music to be one of the best ways for me to connect with the Lord. I attend church every Sunday and volunteer at the nursery there as well. Finally, I pray and read my Bible every day, twice a day. This allows me to dig a bit deeper into the teachings of God as well as talk to Him about my day, things I’m struggling with and things (or people) who need to be prayed for.

“To me, my faith is my lifeline. I have probably gone to church every Sunday since the day I was born, and while church itself is a huge part of my life, my personal relationship with Jesus is really what has gotten me through these past five years of college. Whenever I’m struggling, I know I can talk to Him and He will always be there with me. Not to mention the friends He has placed in my life to help me along the way. As Christians, we are really called to live out our faith so that other people can get to know Jesus through us. I try to exude that by upholding values of kindness, forgiveness, and patience in all aspects of my life, no matter how hard it may be.”

Aimee Mein (COM’22), Buddhist

A photo of Aimee Mein (COM’22) meditating in her room. A white woman wearing a dark blue cami and pants sits with legs crossed and hands placed in her lap.

“My faith is the lens through which I see the world. My perspective on life completely shifted after studying Buddhism and incorporating Buddhist practices into my everyday experiences. Every moment has become an opportunity for mindfulness, things that used to cause me anxiety are calmed by a newfound belief system. Even my struggles with mental health have improved. Most importantly, my faith means a sense of peace with the universe and compassion for all beings.”

Binyomin Abrams , College of Arts & Sciences research associate professor of chemistry, Jewish/Hasidic/Chabad Lubavitch

Photo of Rabbi Binyomin Abrams, left, learning the Torah with Rafael Kriger (CAS’22) in his Metcalf Science Center office. A Jewish man with a long beard and wearing a yarmulke sits on the other side of a desk and faces a younger Jewish man also wearing a yarmulke. The Torah sits between them

“I’m Jewish, specifically a Lubavitcher (Chabad) chossid. Jewish faith is synonymous with Jewish practice—doing acts of goodness and kindness (mitzvahs) and working towards refining the world around us. One of the most special and meaningful things that we do is to learn Torah, which brings meaning to my faith through intellectual, spiritual, and practical guidance on how to improve ourselves and transform the world for the better.”

Martha Schick (STH’22), United Church of Christ

Photo of Martha Schick (MDiv’22) lighting a candle in Gordon Chapel. A white woman with short hair wearing a mask lights a candle with a long match in a darkened chapel

“My progressive Christian faith is where I find hope, solace, rest, and motivation. In our world, which is both broken and beautiful, the story of Jesus Christ and the stories of the ancestors of our faith are where I can look to make sense of things. I often come away with more questions than answers, but my church community welcomes my wrestling and makes my faith stronger because of it. In studying to become a pastor, I am both empowered to bring my full self to ministry and humbled to remember that the Holy Spirit is working through me. As a queer woman pursuing ordination, I also know that my very presence in the leadership of a church is a symbol and example of God’s love and calling for all people.”

Muhammad Zaman , College of Engineering professor of biomedical engineering and of materials science and engineering and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor, Muslim

Photo of Professor Muhammad Zaman during Zuhr (noon) prayers at the ISBU prayer room in GSU. a man wearing a white mask kneels on an ornate rug with hands in prayer in front of him.

“I am a practicing Muslim and consider my faith as a driver for my work. In particular, the emphasis of Islam on humanity, social justice, welfare, and human dignity has a profound effect on my work to provide equitable access to healthcare among refugees, migrants, stateless persons, and the forcibly displaced all around the world.”

Chloe McLaughlin (STH’22), United Methodist Church

Photo of Chloe McLaughlin standing with hands wide as she stands at a wooden podium in Marsh Chapel.

“Faith has always been a huge part of my life. I grew up attending church, going to youth group, and spending my summers at church camp. At the end of this semester, I will be lucky enough to have two degrees that focus on religion and this faith that is so integral to who I am. In the long run, I think I have always been drawn to faith, specifically Christian faith, because I believe it informs my sincere commitment to justice, equity, and mercy. Over the last three years, as I have worshiped at Marsh Chapel, I have seen kindred commitments in action. The chaplains and staff are genuine, courageous, and willing conversation partners on difficult topics in the church and the world. I have been mentored, encouraged, and challenged by the staff and community at Marsh, and I am so grateful.”

Mich’lene Davis (SSW’25), Christian/Pentecostal

Photo of the Davis family. A Black man reads the bible to his wife and three children, two of which are seated on a sofa beside him

“‘Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen’ (Hebrews 11:1). The wind blows, no one can see it, but you feel it and know that it is there. We practice a blind faith every single day of our lives without consciously knowing that we are doing it. We have ‘faith’ that the chair we sit in will support our weight and not send us tumbling to the floor in an embarrassing manner. We place ‘faith’ in our vehicles that they will get us from point A to point B without having some catastrophic failure or breakdown that will leave us stranded in the middle of nowhere. As a Christian, my faith is my lifeline, like an umbilical cord to an unborn child. Everything I believe about God and His one and only son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, is what feeds my mind, soul, and spirit. I have faith to believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross via crucifixion, but rose again three days later, and because of this I no longer will have to face an eternal death, but will instead have eternal life with Him in heaven. I have personally benefited from and have witnessed answered prayers that had no natural explanation for how they were answered. My daily life consists of me worshiping and praising Him through the music I listen to and sing. Reading and meditating on His Word (the Bible) helps me to remember to whom I belong and helps me to strive to be a better person each day.”

Caitlyn Wise (Sargent’23), Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Photo of Caitlyn Wise (SAR’23), a young white white woman with long blonde hair, sitting in a chair amidst a circle of chairs all facing the center.

“Faith gives me the confidence to live courageously each day. Through prayer and scripture study, the knowledge and power I receive from my faith allows me to look for ways to serve and learn from those around me. Whether it is me praying for guidance in my studies or me applying principles of kindness and compassion in the BU community, my faith gives me a source of strength in my everyday life.”

Adit Mehta (CAS’22), Jainism

Photo of Adit Mehta, a tan man with black hair and beard, sitting cross-legged and wearing a white top and pants, on the floor in his room. He reads a book using the light from the window.

“I was brought up in a Jain household and always had it around me, but in college, separated from my parents, I’ve explored my faith and consciously made decisions to follow ahimsa (nonviolence), aparigraha (non-possessiveness), and anekantavada (multiplicity of viewpoints), the three As of Jainism. In college I’ve also been able to find a community among members of Jains in Voice and Action , the BU Jain club, and the Young Jains of America . My faith means making active choices to reduce harm to others and the environment. It’s less about praying and more about reflecting on my actions and choices during Samayik, 48 minutes of meditation. My faith makes it possible for me to understand myself and how I affect and can help others.”

Zowie Rico (CAS’23), Lunar Witchcraft

Photo of Zowie Rico (CAS’23), a white woman dressed in orange overalls, as she reads her Tarot and Prism Oracle cards in her Stuvi2 apartment

“My spirituality is something very new for me. I started my journey in July of 2020, during the latter half of quarantine. Before that, I wasn’t really a spiritual person. Now, however, I use my spirituality to guide me through many aspects of my life. It’s a way for me to connect with my inner self and actively work to become one with the energies around me. It’s also helped me with my anxiety, as it’s given me a lot of coping mechanisms to use throughout my life, like grounding and meditation.

“My spirituality is a part of many aspects of my daily life. It manifests itself in everything from making my smoothie in the mornings to doing affirmations while stirring my coffee to using my intuition for many of my decisions each day. I am so happy that I’ve been able to incorporate my practice into my daily life because it helps center me each day and provides comfort during hard times.”

Jewel Cash, BU Summer Term program manager, Christian

Photo of 7 Black women seated and holding hands around a rectangular dining table with an assortment of food on it

“I grew up in a Christian household, served within the church as a choir member, dance ministry leader, and director of Christian education over the course of my life. My faith has always been an important part of my life. As a child I remember my mother sending me to church by myself to ensure my relationship with God would grow during a season in which she was sick and could not go herself. During college it was important for me to go back to attend youth bible studies so I could understand more about the Bible. As a professional, I remember interviewing at BU, being asked, ‘What do you do to manage stress?’ and surprisingly responding without hesitation ‘Pray. In overwhelming times I may take a deep breath, evaluate the situation, and pray to recenter myself. So if you see me step away to the restroom for a longer time, I may be praying so I can come back ready to tackle the problem as my best self.’

“My religious faith means a lot to me. That there is purpose in my being, that I do not walk alone through life, that I have a community of believers who I can fellowship with, that I am to be a positive example to others of what my God calls me to be, and in short, that all that I have is all that I need to be my best self and live life fully and abundantly, for I am blessed and favored in a special way. It means I am not perfect, but as I pray, praise, and push, I am progressing. It means, as the Bible says, I have been given a spirit of power, love, and sound mind, and with these three things I can make a difference in the world and encourage others to do the same.”

Ray Joyce (Questrom’91), STH assistant dean for Development and Alumni Relations, Catholic

Photo of Ray Joyce, a white man with gray hair and black glasses, reading a daily devotional in his West Acton home.

“My faith really means everything to me. It’s how I live through each day, the good and the bad. In the current political climate, I find it’s essential to keep centered. For example, when I hear people who are eligible, but refuse to get the COVID vaccine to protect themselves and others, a part of me wants to say: ‘Then let them die,’ but I know that’s wrong. As it happens, today’s reading in the Bible from 1 Corinthians 3:16 includes the words ‘…and the Spirit of God dwells in you.’ As my daily reflection from Terence Hegarty (editor of Living with Christ) states ‘…not only does the Spirit of God dwell in us , but in everyone …’ So I hold onto that and try to understand where someone might be coming from to reach such a conclusion as to refuse a potentially lifesaving vaccination. I act where I can to help others and our planet while also waiting with anticipation for better days ahead with a renewed sense of hope.”

Mary Choe (CAS’24), Baptist

Photo of Mary Choe (CAS’24), an Asian woman wearing a black mask, as she reads her daily scriptures in a cafe

“Hebrews 11 states: ‘Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.’ For me, faith is not some distant feeling, but a series of beliefs that lead to concrete actions. My beliefs are based on the words of life, light, and love I read in the Bible. Much like life itself, faith is hardly easy or linear. I have times of doubt, because admittedly, it’s difficult to go against the flow of campus life. And since God is invisible, I often get distracted by the instant gratification of the here and now. I’m realizing more and more, however, that even my faith is less about me than about the object of my faith—which is not a concept or an idea, but God embodied in flesh, Jesus Christ. My relationship with Jesus is what makes my faith dynamic, filled with joys and sorrows, highs and lows, times of peace and serenity, along with fears, failures, and more than a little drama. But I take comfort in knowing I’m not on this journey alone. I have a cloud of witnesses walking before me and with me and many more examples of faith who’ve already walked this pilgrim journey. Living by faith is not a loud, showy display, but an assured, hopeful way of being. My hope is that I, too, can finish the journey of faith well and experience victory in Jesus Christ!”

Swati Gupta (SDM’23), Hindu

Photo of Swati Gupta (GSDM’23), a brown woman with neck-length black hair, in her prayer/meditation space in her Boston home. She holds a cup made of copper and has head bowed as multi-colored candles are lit in the space.

“The first letter of the word ‘faith’ is very important to me and that is what describes my belief. For me, ‘f’ stands for flaw. In our sacred book, Bhagwad Geeta , it has been suggested that being human also means being flawed. Lord Krishna says that humans will make mistakes because that is a part of their Karma. A person should not be merely judged by their act, but by the intent behind that act. For example, if a lie is said with an intent of harming someone, it is equivalent to 100 lies, but if that one lie saved an innocent person’s life, then that lie is equivalent to 100 truths. I am not a religious person who goes to the temple every week or worships every day, because religion to me is not an act of worship, but an act of becoming a better person. My faith teaches me to make mistakes, be judgmental, have emotions of anger, but at the same time learn from those mistakes and accept if any wrongdoing was done. Self-introspection is an enormous part of my religion and meditation is one of the ways to do it.”

Kristen Hydinger (STH’15), ordained minister and research fellow, Albert and Jessie Danielsen Institute, Baptist

Photo of Rev. Kristen Hydinger, a white woman with brown hair and wearing a blue jacket, walking down a Boston street. Trees and leaves around her reflect Autumn in their color (yellow)

“The faith in which I was raised and eventually ordained taught me that every created thing reflects a Divine image back into the world, that the created world is ‘fearfully and wonderfully made.’ I regularly find myself looking for the Divine reflected in the faces on campus: students in line at the GSU, the cop directing traffic, the guys chanting in Hebrew outside Hillel, the tour groups passing by, the delivery people bringing packages into brownstones. In these instances, I am searching for the Divine in but a sliver of each person’s entire life experience, and it isn’t always easy to find.”

Kristian C. Kohler (STH’25), ordained minister, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Photo of Kristian, a white man wearing a dark green and black plaid shirt, singing in the Marsh Chapel choir.

“As a Lutheran, faith to me is a bold trust in the amazing grace of God. In short, God is love. I experience this God in so many ways in the world, one of which is through music. Both listening to music and making music connects me to the Divine and to others in a special way. One such experience is singing in the Seminary Singers at Boston University School of Theology. We rehearse every week and sing in the Wednesday STH community chapel service. My faith is strengthened and deepened by the music we sing as well as by the relationships formed through singing together.”

Jonathan Allen (LAW’19), BUild Lab Innovator-in-Residence, Interfaith

Photo of Interfaith leader Jonathan Allen sitting on a long stone bench along the Charles River. The sun can be seen peaking from behind the buildings in the background for a scenic photo.

“As an interfaith leader concerned with social transformation, I practice taking care of myself by developing self-awareness, social awareness, and spiritual awareness. Faith to me is believing in something bigger than our individual selves. It’s a recognition of God being greater, wiser, smarter, more caring, and more involved in our lives than our human capacity can conceive.

“Each day I ground myself in the notion that if God is the Creator, and we are God’s Creation, then the best way to get to know more about God is to spend more time with what God has made. I believe that we need each other regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, educational level, religious background, or even political party.

“Irrespective of our religious affirmations, God’s love and heart for justice transcends doctrine. We have an obligation, a collective responsibility, to treat all living things with dignity and respect. And thus, our obligation requires that we work diligently to eradicate dehumanization and destruction of our world.”

Kayla Marks (Pardee’23), Jewish

Photo of Kayla Marks (Pardee’23), a Jewish woman with long brown hair, demonstrating the lighting of one candle and the reciting of a blessing. She holds a lit match as she prepares for the lighting.

“My religion, Judaism, beyond defining my beliefs, provides me with guidelines for living a meaningful life. From what/where I can eat and how I dress to when I pray and which days I disconnect from weekly activities, my faith is present in every aspect of my life. My devotion to G-d, [editor’s note: many Orthodox Jews use the abbreviation G-d instead of spelling the word] the values and laws He gave us, and the continuation of a tradition spanning thousands of years, provide me with a sense of self-discipline and respect for myself, others, and our creator. Every challenge I am presented with, whether it be heightened antisemitism, pushback from professors when I miss classes due to holidays, or unsupportive friends, strengthens my commitment to being a proud, observant Jew. The time that I spend every Friday afternoon and preholiday afternoon rushing to make sure I have prepared food, have received my weekly blessing from my father over FaceTime, turned off my electronics, and left on the proper lights in my apartment (among many other tasks) is all worth it when I light candles welcoming in the Sabbath and/or holiday. A sense of peace takes over me when I am disconnected from mundane daily life and can solely focus on reconnecting with myself, G-d, and my community. Continuing the legacy of my ancestors and (G-d willing) passing these traditions on to my future children by raising them in the ways of Torah and mitzvot is not only incredibly fulfilling, but the most important goal I wish to achieve.”

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Photojournalist

Cydney Scott has been a professional photographer since graduating from the Ohio University VisCom program in 1998. She spent 10 years shooting for newspapers, first in upstate New York, then Palm Beach County, Fla., before moving back to her home city of Boston and joining BU Photography. Profile

BU Today staff Profile

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There are 13 comments on Photo Essay: What My Faith Means to Me

Beautifully done Cydney and all!

Thank you for the article. Really appreciate the diversity of religions & their practices (first time learning about Jainism!). Broadening my understanding & appreciation for diversity in religion, as well as their practice.

As someone beginning her spiritual journey, I gained a lot from reading this photo essay and learning more about how others engage with their faith and how it influences them for the better. Thank you for showing me a window into these different lifestyles. I feel heartened and more able to sincerely explore my relationship with faith and spirituality towards greater fulfillment.

This is the best article I’ve ever photo essay I’ve read in some time. Beautiful images that capture the spiritual lives of BU’s community.

Thank you for this great article and touching photos. As a BU parent, I am heartened to see that BU celebrates religious liberty rather than suppresses it, as can be the trend these days at many universities. Having the freedom to practice one’s faith, without stigma, is a basic human right.

Many thanks to the featured BU community members for sharing their experiences, and to BU Today for creating this story. I really enjoyed it!

Tremendous piece—wonderful photos and wonderful essays. Thank you for sharing!

Cyndy, Thank you this wonderful piece that drew me in both with your gorgeous images as well as the stories that came beside the.

Beautiful Spiritual revelations lighting a dark and disturbed world!

When I was a student at B.U. I took Greek and Hebrew at the STH (CLA ’77). I am thrilled to open up the B.U. Website and explore this article by Cyndy Scott. Exploring the faith of B.U. people has broaden my experience. I had not heard of Jainism. Thank you for this. Now, I am an ordained Presbyterian minister now living in Canada. I will share this article with my congregation.

Thank you for such an inspiring and wholesome article. Keep up the amazing work!

I really enjoyed reading through this. I am pentecostal holiness myself. I grew up in the bible-belt (GA). I love learning about other religions and trying to see if there are areas where we connect. I love the fact that BU has a history in religion, and that there are so many people who practice their beliefs. I love reading how their religion(s) help them in their daily lives. #Diversity

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100-Word Faith Stories: (Very) short essays about unexpectedly experiencing God in the world today

God is in all things. But we don’t always expect to feel God’s presence in a particular moment or place. We asked readers to share these stories of surprising moments of faith and grace in no more than 100 words. These (very) short essays about unexpectedly experiencing God in the world today include feelings of joy, sadness, laughter, anger and anything in between. They demonstrate the many ways in which God is with us, if only we would take the time to notice.

Two parents and four boys make a small house feel like a sardine tin packed with firecrackers. I had my eye on a larger fixer-upper nearby. But despite its apparent practicality and my eagerness, my husband wasn’t enthused. I suggested a quick attempt at discernment: Pray one Hail Mary while imagining we had settled on each choice, buy or stay.

We both felt God’s presence. The “Stay” prayer brought unwelcome but undeniable inner peace. “Buy” brought anxiety rather than excitement.

I could only respond, “Thy will be done.” Our house is cramped and noisy, but we’ll stay for now. Jessica Carney Ardmore, Pa.

My sons and I were enjoying the wave pool at our local amusement park on a beautiful sunny day. There was the usual crowd of people—of different ages, from different neighborhoods and cultures—all enjoying the pool. I closed my eyes and was suddenly aware of the joyous cacophony. All the voices, screams and laughter of my siblings, my fellow children of God. I was awestruck, and with my eyes still shut, I smiled broadly, and I thanked God for that sudden grace of connection and awareness. Matthew Whelehan Rochester, N.Y.

My husband is a stroke survivor; I’m his caregiver. Ron has balance issues, garbled speech and swallowing difficulties. Once the primary breadwinner, Ron’s now on SSDI. I struggle to bring in money while handling the numerous responsibilities of caring for my husband and household.

Earlier today I read the abandonment prayer of the newly canonized St. Charles de Foucauld: “Father, I abandon myself into your hands; do with me what you will. I am ready for all, I accept all. Let only your will be done in me, and in all your creatures.”

I am now at peace. Jerilyn Burgess North Olmsted, Ohio

At my first holy Communion, when I was 7 in 1958, I came up to the altar and was so small I had to stand rather than kneel at the rail. The priest approached and put the host on my tongue. I felt drawn out of myself, forgetting where I was, feeling a sense of presence. It was like being a mini Samuel, and I said to the Lord, “Speak, for your servant is listening . ” My love for the Eucharist continues to this day. William Eagan, S.J. Weston, Mass.

I invited my all-white classmates to Mass at my Black Catholic parish. During Mass, my friend nudged me, “Lee, we’re the only white people here.” I responded, “Frank, how do you think…” but before I could finish my statement, Frank added, “Lee, I never thought about you that way.” The experience helped him to see my struggles as the only Black kid in our classes. We had just had a class that taught we were made in the image and likeness of God. We saw that in one another more clearly now. Lee Baker New Orleans, La.

As I walked a labyrinth, I couldn’t shake the image of playing hide and seek with God. Shrubs around the path made me alternately feel hidden and then exposed. I know God is always there waiting for me, but I often “hide.” I fear I haven’t done enough, or I’m not good enough to earn God’s love. But those doubts come from me, not God. Although I may think I’m hiding, God sees and loves me. When I embrace God’s unconditional love, I will grow into the person he created me to be. Cathy Cunningham Framingham, Mass.

Deep in grief as I grappled with my husband’s determination to divorce, God felt absent, my faith rocked. My friend, Sister Noreen, told me to read the Bible. I mocked her. Unfazed, she insisted: “Open it at random. What have you got to lose?” On March 19, as I opened a newly purchased Bible, I cried: “God where are you?!” My eyes fell upon Jer 29:11. “For I know the plans....” I can still feel the jolt that coursed through my body at that moment—in shock and joy—the first of many such moments since then. Mary Margaret Cannon Washington, D.C.

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5 Powerful Ways to Describe Your Faith

May 28, 2015 | Culture , The Bible , Theology

The Christian faith can be described using five distinct labels:

Historical theology

Eschatology

Religious experience

The Christian Faith is a Historical Theology

On the one hand, the Christian faith is a historical theology ; that is, it points to certain historic events. The death and resurrection of Jesus are the most central and significant of those events. Because of the death of Jesus for our sins and resurrection from the grave we are offered reconciliation and peace with God.

The Christian faith is an eschatology . That is the theological term that refers to the last things. The Christian eschatology offers the hope of a resurrection life. Because of the historical theology–the events connected with the death and resurrection of Jesus–the Christian faith offers the promise of everlasting life in a new heaven and a new earth. I discuss eschatology in my blog “It’s the End of the World as We Know It.”

Religious Experience

The Christian faith is also a religious experience . As Christian people, we come together to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus for our sins. We believe that because Jesus has been raised from the dead He is alive and present in our worship. We may come to know God through Jesus Christ. We come together to be renewed in mind and spirit, to be instructed, and to be inspired and encouraged to live as the people we have been called to be.

The Christian faith involves a mission . We have good news to share with the world. The message of the crucified and risen Jesus is not relevant only to the western world, but it is a message that proclaims an exalted Lord who is Lord over all. We must not keep this news to ourselves.

We have a mission; we have been tasked with evangelism. It is critical and important for us to share the gospel by whatever means available to us–through our giving to missions, through our prayers, through our preaching, and through our living. We must at all costs tell the message of the crucified and risen Jesus.

The teachings of Jesus–the exhortation to morality, the exhortation to put away sin, to put away deception, to put away greed, to put away lying, to put away materialism, to put away lust and immorality–are inextricably linked with the commandment to teach others of His saving death and resurrection. Read more about obedience and morality here.

People often forget this, but the Christian faith is also an ethic ; that is, it involves a way of living. It is ironic that this point is so often laid aside. I sometimes wonder if we neglect this facet of our faith because, since the time of the reformation, we have been careful to emphasize that we are saved by the grace of God and not by works.

We have been so careful, in fact, to emphasize the gift of salvation as the mercy of God extended to us through Jesus Christ, that we have sometimes made the same mistake that some of Paul’s opponents made. I’ll tell you more about that mistake, and Paul’s response to it, in my next post.

May God make us a people who are faithful to the commandments and teachings of Scripture and Our Lord Jesus Christ!

The preceding was adapted by Rachel Motte from a sermon Dr. Sloan delivered at Tallowood Baptist Church on July 15, 1990.

About the Author

Robert B. Sloan is president of Houston Christian University in Houston, Texas. He has a passion for Christian higher education and the spiritual formation of young people for the glory of God, which can be seen in both his professional and personal life.

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115 Christianity Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Christianity is one of the world's largest religions, with millions of followers spread across various denominations and beliefs. As such, there is a wide range of topics that can be explored and discussed within the realm of Christianity. Whether you are a student looking for essay ideas or simply curious about the faith, here are 115 Christianity essay topic ideas and examples to inspire your writing:

The significance of the birth of Jesus Christ.
The life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
Exploring the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The role of faith in Christianity.
Understanding the concept of salvation in Christianity.
The importance of prayer in Christian worship.
The differences and similarities between Catholicism and Protestantism.
The impact of the Protestant Reformation on Christianity.
The significance of the Bible in Christian faith.
The role of women in Christianity throughout history.
The role of music in Christian worship.
The impact of Christianity on Western civilization.
Exploring the seven sacraments in Catholicism.
The role of forgiveness in Christian ethics.
The concept of sin in Christianity.
The importance of community in Christian faith.
Christianity and social justice: exploring the teachings of Jesus.
The influence of Christianity on art and literature.
The role of missionaries in spreading Christianity around the world.
The intersection of Christianity and politics.
Understanding the concept of grace in Christianity.
The role of the Church in contemporary society.
The impact of Christianity on the abolition of slavery.
The development of Christian theology throughout history.
The significance of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The role of miracles in Christian belief.
The connection between Christianity and environmental stewardship.
The impact of Christianity on human rights.
The role of Christian education in shaping moral values.
The concept of love and compassion in Christian teachings.
Exploring the parables of Jesus and their meaning.
The influence of Christianity on the concept of marriage and family.
The role of Christian denominations in promoting unity and diversity.
The impact of Christianity on medical ethics.
The concept of heaven and hell in Christian belief.
The importance of Christian rituals and sacraments.
The role of Christian apologetics in defending the faith.
The connection between Christianity and science.
The impact of Christianity on the development of Western philosophy.
The role of Christian missionaries in colonialism and imperialism.
The challenges of interpreting and understanding biblical texts.
The role of Christian ethics in decision-making.
The concept of Christian love and its application in daily life.
The influence of Christianity on the concept of time and history.
Exploring the concept of faith and reason in Christianity.
The role of Christian leadership in society.
The impact of Christianity on the concept of human dignity.
The connection between Christianity and social media.
The role of Christian art in worship and spirituality.
The significance of Christian holidays and celebrations.
The impact of Christianity on the concept of forgiveness.
The role of Christian meditation and contemplation.
The influence of Christianity on the concept of justice.
The connection between Christianity and mental health.
The role of Christian charities in addressing global issues.
The impact of Christianity on the concept of freedom.
The importance of Christian hospitality and welcoming strangers.
The role of Christian literature in shaping moral imagination.
The influence of Christianity on the concept of beauty.
Exploring the concept of faith and doubt in Christianity.
The impact of Christianity on the concept of human sexuality.
The role of Christian music in worship and spirituality.
The connection between Christianity and the concept of peace.
The importance of Christian fellowship and community.
The impact of Christianity on the concept of truth.
The role of Christian ethics in addressing social issues.
The significance of Christian symbols and rituals.
The influence of Christianity on the concept of power.
The connection between Christianity and the concept of suffering.
The role of Christian missions in promoting cross-cultural understanding.
The impact of Christianity on the concept of vocation and work.
The importance of Christian storytelling and narrative.
Exploring the concept of Christian hope.
The role of Christian education in promoting critical thinking.
The influence of Christianity on the concept of leadership.
The connection between Christianity and the concept of equality.
The impact of Christianity on the concept of beauty.
The role of Christian art in social and political activism.
The significance of Christian pilgrimage and sacred sites.
The influence of Christianity on the concept of suffering.
The connection between Christianity and the concept of redemption.
The impact of Christianity on the concept of human rights.
The role of Christian ethics in addressing environmental issues.
Exploring the concept of Christian love and its application in daily life.
The connection between Christianity and the concept of justice.
The importance of Christian literature in shaping moral imagination.

These essay topics cover a wide range of aspects within Christianity, allowing for deep exploration and analysis. Whether you are interested in theology, history, ethics, or any other aspect of the faith, there is a topic on this list that will inspire your writing and spark meaningful discussions.

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Faith Journey

When I applied to grad school, one of the essays asked me to describe my journey of faith. This is what I wrote.

I have a mentor that I call Scott the Wizard, because his name is Scott and he is wise like a wizard.

One day he told me that the core of the Christian life was summed up in the story of the prodigal son. The prodigal son is living in a pigsty, having lost all of his father’s money. And his response is not to earn the money back, nor to enroll in a 12-step program or buy a self-help book. Instead, the son gets up, and goes home, and when his father sees him, he runs to embrace his son.

Scott the Wizard explained that the core of the Christian life is simply to come home and be in the presence of the Father. Once you’re home, there is time for cleaning off the smell of the pigsty or resuming the responsibilities of sonship. But the first step is just to come home and receive the love of the father.

Or, as Henri Nouwen puts it, “The question is not ‘How am I to find God?’ but ‘How am I to let myself be found by Him?’… God is looking into the distance for me, trying to find me, and longing to bring me home.”

As my faith has grown and matured, I have been profoundly influenced by this truth. I believe that the core of my Christian faith is not about right behavior or right doctrine (although both are valuable), but instead right identity and right relationship — to know myself as a child of God and to let myself be loved by God.

My understanding of how to relate to others has focused on that single point as well. My role is not to convince or fix or save — it’s just to love and let my love point to the love of God. Others tell me that I have a gift of encouragement, and I feel I have a calling to people who struggle with identity and acceptance.

But I think it’s simpler than that. Mr. Rogers said, “When we look for what’s best in a person, we’re doing what God does all the time.” That’s what I try to do.

I want people to know they are lovable, so I try to offer unconditional acceptance and invite people into community. And I want people to see themselves the way God sees them, so I try to offer affirmation and point to the beauty God placed in them. Sometimes this takes the form of formal ministry roles (like the care team at my church) but mostly I just try to love the people God puts in my path.

Of course, it took me some time to reach this point. When I was in elementary school, my faith was strictly a matter of hope — it was something I clung to when nothing else was okay. When I was in middle school, my faith was like a workout regime — reading my Bible and praying made me “spiritually stronger”, and being strong was an end in itself.

It was not until high school that I started to realize that faith was about loving other people, not until college that I began to realize how much God truly loved me — and not until the past few years that God has crystallized my calling towards people who feel they don’t belong.

Today my faith plays out in a variety of ways. I faithfully attend a wonderful church called Vox Veniae, which I love because I feel part of the liturgy, not an audience member. Henri Nouwen and Brennan Manning live on my bookshelf and tell me that God loves me and that I can join Him in loving other people. I am good friends with lawyers and artists, teachers and strippers, and I see Jesus in all of them.

In everything, I do my best to set my sights on home — where my Father is waiting to embrace me and remind me that I am His child. There are many distractions and detours on the path homeward, but I believe that I will one day fully realize the truth expressed by the Apostle John: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are!”

How to Describe Your Faith

Table of Contents

What is Faith?

After writing about a father of the faith and introducing this Substack, I thought it was time to take a step back and describe the faith part of Faithful Fatherhood .

From my faith, Christianity comes this quote:

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

And while it certainly carries a more philosophical ring, I don’t know that it has ever helped me much. A much simpler definition is below:

Many of us claim religions as faith, but what do our actions show? Better yet, what is our actual beliefs? These two pieces define faith. Let me give you two examples. The first will be more formally religious, while the second more broadly practiced among the Americans I have met.

Two examples of faith

I believe in Jesus and that He is Lord. I act on that belief by following his principles, even to my detriment. Like Jesus, I actively place myself in disadvantageous situations in the service of others. For example, I have been on mission trips, particularly in college, when I could’ve or, depending on your beliefs, should’ve been doing something else. My other options were working in internships, holding a position that offers pay, or studying for tests like the MCAT. Instead, I spent money to work 10 hour days interpreting between doctors and patients.
So the belief in the example is in the person of Jesus. The action is the disadvantaging of myself to serve. I describe the faith through the recognition that Jesus is the Son of God, which leads me to act with my best understanding of Jesus’s character. That is to serve rather than be served.
Many believe in Bootstrapping . For the uninitiated, bootstrapping is the belief that your hard work and your hard work alone earned you superior outcomes and places in society. The action taken from this belief is a strong work ethic: more work, stronger belief, better result. The flip side of this faith is a bourgeois sense that those who have not as much success as you did not work as hard as you did. So the belief is that hard work is the most vital determinant of success or put colloquially. You will be successful if you just pull yourself up by your bootstraps . The action primarily focuses on your hard work while potentially demeaning those with less success because they didn’t work as hard.
This faith recognizes that hard work, above all else, determines outcomes. So you work hard and experience success.

Analyze the examples

You could read a lot in or out of those examples, but here are the three main things I want you to pick up on.

First, I want you to feel like I am not elevating one faith over another. While critiques of any faith may come up, I do not demean any belief system over the others. They all come with flaws and good reasons for existing or being acted out.

Second, I want you to see that all faiths come with tradeoffs. We cannot pursue all actions because we have limited time and energy. Thus, not all beliefs can be expressed. All faiths have downsides. All faiths exist to get certain things done in our lives. Part of my goal is to expose these so that you can make informed decisions on what to believe and thus how to act. Putting beliefs and actions together leads to a faith that will shape your fatherhood.

Finally, I have heard both faith statements in action from the same church leader. It demonstrates that our beliefs and, therefore, faiths are often jumbled up. We are often not intentional or clear on why we act the way we are behaving, which leads us to the next part of this article.

What do I believe?

Now that you have a couple of examples of faith through the lens of belief + action = faith, you should have two points of reflection.

1) What do I believe?

2) How am I acting?

I have found that these two questions are linked, but usually, it is a belief that precedes action. So let’s dive into how to discern what you believe.

Your Beliefs – an Exercise

In my experience, very few people actually take the time to discern what they believe. Instead, they go through life failing to examine their beliefs until it gets them in trouble. If you remember the story of Abraham , his fear drove many of his actions. Yet, as far as we can tell, it remained unexamined. Abraham’s story stands in contrast to his grandson, Jacob, who we will later examine as a Bad Dad of the Bible. So here is the most straightforward way to discern what you believe.

You write it down.

Pen and paper because you don’t want to erase; you want to strike through. There is just something about writing it out. If you need no more guidance, go and do.

How to write it out

However, I found it much more difficult when I first completed this task. The first time, I wrote the ideal rather than the truth. Don’t get me wrong, I have since grown into some of those ideals, but I needed to know where I was starting. Because in the beginning, my beliefs were every bit as jumbled as my actions.

So, here is your starting prompt. What do you value?

Our beliefs are often based on what we value. As Fathers, we often have family values, but I encourage you to look more internally. Culture comes from collective triumph and trauma. Likewise, values come from personal achievement and trauma. So, when writing out your values, think about your highest highs and your deepest pain. Often our values try to replicate success and avoid pain.

Here is a little map of values I made for myself while working on this article.

A map of some of my values used to determine what I believe in. Things listed include: God, comfort, videogames, food, experiences, books, family, personal time, community, connection, knowledge, and work.

Now that we know at least some of our values. Let’s check out how they come out in our lives.

Answer some or all of these questions.

What are you passionate about?
What do you love?
Where do you spend money?
What do you talk about?
What do you spend your time on?
Where are you throughout your day (like physical location)?
Where are you really present?

You can see some of my answers here.

My answers to some of the action questions which include many of my values.

Now that you can see your values and actions. Let’s reach just a little deeper and write down what you believe. What values lead you to take these actions?

An Example Faith Statement

So if you noticed, I had video games show up a couple of times. Here is a belief I have about video games. Videogames offer new and stimulating experiences that I can use to inform my life. My value is that I want to experience more and more of life and video games are an excellent medium to experience a deep, challenging, and enriching story.

Consider a video game-like God of War , a story of shared pain and growth between a father and son in their search for peace in the grieving process of a lost mother and wife. I hope that my wife outlives me, but I believe it is essential to experience what that kind of pain can do in a father-child relationship. Because should my wife pass (she is fine), I will have at least some knowledge of the potential pitfalls and possible success that can occur.

And right there at the end, did you see it? My fear and perhaps trauma are expectations and, therefore, preparation for abandonment. That pain of abandonment shapes my beliefs, to experience more things for practice, which shapes my actions, playing videogames, which displays my faith. I believe I will be abandoned one day.

While it could be perceived as unfavorable, it is true. But, now that I know that I can seek out the positive. My Christian faith offers freedom to act without the fear or threat of abandonment. But writing it down makes other values plain. It shows me why I am doing things, like keeping people at a distance or being a little too clingy. The bedrock of my life shapes my faith and my fatherhood. If I want to be a better father or change, I must be honest with myself first. Then through my faith, I can become a better version of myself. It can help me walk through my fears and pain. Then I can act more healthily toward myself, my family, and even reap dividends at work.

Here is a pdf to help you . Pass it along if you find it helpful.

The next step is to share your faith(s). You don’t have to share it here or with me. Please share it with your spouse or best friend. Be prepared to receive some criticism and some “Oh, that’s why you do that.” Putting your faith out there is a risk, but sometimes that is the only way to have our trauma or flaws exposed. We have to let someone else tell us about them.

Good luck!

This exercise has been the best thing to improve my dad life. I am rooting for you. You can do it.

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Home — Essay Samples — Religion — Christian Worldview — Christianity and Christian Worldview

Christianity and Christian Worldview

Categories: Christian Worldview Worldview

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Key tenets of christianity, the christian worldview, implications of the christian worldview.

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What is a Faith Statement and How Do You Write One? (with Examples)

What is a faith statement and how do you write one? This resource offers guidance from Lord’s Library editors and Christian thought leaders.

If you found this resource then you are probably looking to have the following question answered: “What is a faith statement?” You might also be trying to be find thoughtful advice on how to write a statement of faith. Christians write faith statements for confirmation, job applications, entrance into a church ministry, and Christian college and university applications.

This article will highlight the process for writing a good faith statement through various statement of faith examples, as well as advice from Christians with experience on the topic. It will also include faith statement outlines so you know what a statement of faith should include.

The motivation for creating this resource came after our launch of Lord’s Library last year. As a Christian media startup with a clear mission , we knew we had to construct a professional faith statement that our readers could reference. Our creation would also act as the personal statement of faith of our founders, making it a daunting task.

This article offers everything one needs to know when asking “what is a faith statement?” or when looking for a template on how to write a statement of faith.

The Best Christian Colleges & Universities in America by State, 2024

What is a faith statement.

A statement of faith is a description of spiritual belief as it pertains to an individual or community organization, structured by summarizing core tenets. Faith statements commonly include a description of belief on various Christian topics, including the nature of God, the Trinity, Jesus Christ, the Bible, creation, salvation , revelation, the role of the Church, denominational association , and how those beliefs are relevant to an individual’s personal mission, a ministry, or organization.

A statement of faith is not dissimilar to a creed, which is a confession of faith or a symbol representing it. The earliest known creed in Christianity was written by Paul the Apostle and states “ Jesus is Lord. “

Personal vs. Professional Faith Statements; What’s the Difference?

It may be a surprise to learn that no standard format exists for how to write a statement of faith, and they can be as unique as the individual or community organization writing them. A personal faith statement is akin to a creed while a professional statement of faith could be comparable to a Christian-centric mission statement. There are many organizations though, like Lord’s Library, that choose to align their professional faith statements with the personally-held beliefs of their founders.

One might write a personal statement of faith for confirmation , which is sometimes required as a prerequisite for youths to attain membership in a church. Young adults are commonly tasked with writing a faith statement as part of the application process to a Christian college or university along with a personal essay. Or maybe you’re an outspoken Christian with a personal blog and you want your readers to know where you stand on key ecumenical issues. However, one should be guarded not to write a statement of faith for the sole purpose of showing Biblical knowledge.

A professional statement of faith follows along this same path, but is often written for a business purpose or for acceptance into a community organization or church ministry. You might also want to write a professional faith statement if you’re starting your own Christian ministry or commercial project, like we are doing here at Lord’s Library. Our guess is that this is growing increasingly more common due to the pandemic and digital transformation that has come as a result of it.

Christian companies may require a statement of faith for their records and as part of the application process which shows you agree with their overall mission. The same might be true for installation as a church officer such as elders or deacons. In one good example we found in our research, a church may require members to be in general agreement on doctrine while understanding that different people may word things differently.

Personal and professional faith statements can differ depending on the writer and the purpose, but the goal should remain largely the same.

How to Write a Statement of Faith: Key Elements to Include

It can be a difficult process to put your personally held spiritual beliefs onto paper for multiple reasons. First, you may be worried about shutting others out who don’t have the same set of values. You might also be concerned with forgetting a key point. However, learning how to write a statement of faith can be an excellent exercise, both because it makes you contemplate deeply what you believe, and because it’s an ideal way to start communicating the faith with others.

We recommend beginning the process in prayer, asking The Lord for spiritual guidance on how best to communicate your declaration. Then you can begin to script your faith statement by starting with an outline of key elements that will act as a foundation of belief. And since the goal of a statement of faith is to communicate spiritual belief, Scripture ought to be used whenever possible. Next, begin adding supporting Scriptures to your faith statement outline to build it out.

A statement of faith can feature one all-encompassing paragraph that covers theological basics. Some may choose to devote an entire paragraph to each theological section, while others might combine some and highlight others specifically for added effect on a particular point. There are also faith statements which present as simple bullet point lists. The format isn’t important. Rather, the sequence and organization of the topics will make the statement distinct and personal.

To help you build out an outline, we listed below a number of key elements to consider including in your personal statement of faith.

The nature of God the Father
The nature of Jesus Christ
The Holy Spirit
The Trinity
Inerrancy of Scripture and the Bible
Role of the Church
Revelation (or eschatology)
Sin (or good and evil)
Heaven and Hell
Human nature
Your mission (as it pertains to the above)

These are the most common examples we discovered during our research and analysis of various faith statements from across the web. You may choose to add additional topics to this framework.

Statement of Faith Examples and Advice to Consider

Below we link out to several statement of faith examples from different Christian doctrines to help save you time:

Association of Classical Christian Schools
First Baptist Atlanta (Georgia)
Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ
American Anglican Council
Presbyterian Mission

We also thought it would be helpful to include tidbits of advice from other Christians who may have written their own faith statements in the past. So we took to LinkedIn and polled those in some of the most popular Christian user groups . The hope is that the advice they offered can be of some assistance as you begin your own writing process:

“ Recognizing that you are probably writing your statement for a reason, I would hope the reason does not color your language. That is, don’t say what you want others to hear, rather write what you have come to believe .” – Paul Mannes, Adjunct Professor of Biblical Studies at Washington University of Virginia in Theology for Today
“ The statement must be Christ centered .” – Anthony Luckett, Pastor of Saint Paul Church in Milwaukee, WI in Bivocational Ministry
“ Be truthful and fearless. Tell what you truly experienced with God through His Son by the way His given Holy Spirit .” – Vicki Gann, Founder of Love4Love Ministry in Assemblies of God Ministers
“ If going it alone, a statement of faith should be built on a strong foundation and understanding of scripture with clearly articulated doctrinal points and a liberal use of Biblical citations .” – Lonnie Williams, Pastoral Counselor at Bethel Christian Church in Warren, MI in Inside Pastoral Care & Counseling

Are you currently writing your own statement of faith? Have tips, tricks, or techniques to share? Let us know !

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Tim is the Founder of Lord's Library. He believes the Bible commands us to minister "as of the ability which God giveth" (1 Peter 4:11). Tim aspires to be as The Lord's mouth by "taking forth the precious from the vile" (Jeremiah 15:19) and witnessing The Gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15: 1-4) to the whole world.

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Christian Ministry and Personal Faith Essay

To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
As a template for you assignment

Introduction

Works cited.

Christmas has brought me to reflect on my life as a pilgrim on earth and as a member of the family of God. The revelry of the holidays, the parties and get-togethers sometimes allowed me to pause for a while and meditate there in the confines of my room, questions like: is this how Jesus really wants his Christian family on earth to celebrate his birthday? Are we doing all this to please Jesus or ourselves? And can we relate all these celebrations to our Christian lives and to the Christian ministry?

If all of the questions above are answered in the affirmative, then there must be something wrong with our Christian lives and the way we look at Christianity.

Evading from the noises and the sounds that I considered disturbances to my prayers and meditations, I concentrated and focused myself on what I wanted of my life; particularly my Christian life and most specifically the Christian ministry.

How can I start my ministry? Before I can answer this, I think I have to understand what the Christian Ministry is. Edmund Clowney (1964) states that to be in the Ministry is “service, and service involves being a servant, or that we have to be a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, serving in his community and doing it wholeheartedly without any remorse or half-heartedness.” (Clowney 3)

It also means serving our fellowmen, our brothers and sisters out there who are in need. It means sacrifice, and with love. It means looking after our neighbor, and loving your neighbor the way we love ourselves.

Moreover, should we want to focus on the Christian Ministry, and any other ministry for that matter, I think we have to get back to the basic teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, and this is about love. The Christian ministry is about love for our fellowman but most especially for God, because service or being a servant is an expression of love.

When Jesus was asked which is the most important Commandment in the Law, he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and most important of the commandments. But after this there is another one very similar to it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. The whole Law and the Prophets are founded on these two commandments.” (Mat. 22:27-40, NREV 2000)

I have placed this as the most important reasons for any ministry, although there are other reasons why we should follow or observe a ministry.

Another passage of the Bible related to the Christian Ministry is the one in the same chapter of Matthew, 22:14 which says that “Many are called but few are chosen.” (NRSV 2000). This also pertains to the Christian Ministry or the priesthood. We receive a calling from God, but it does not necessarily mean that we are chosen to minister unto him. Others may be chosen to be in the Music Ministry or the Lay Ministry, or even others maybe chosen to the service of the poor. All those are found in the Bible.

Ministry is activity, or a lot of activities. We have to do a lot of things for our Lord Jesus Christ and the community that he initiated while he was still with us here on earth. It means we have to be busy like Paul who did everything to spread the Word of God until his death.

On my part, there are times that I forget my responsibilities to myself and to the world because of my quest for the material things of the world, the now, and not the wonderful things God has prepared for me in His everlasting glory. There is always a conflict, a conflict of interest, a conflict of purpose, and so on. I tend to be busy with menial things, unmindful of my purpose and mission on earth. May the Gospel re-baptize me to be a new Christian again, to fulfill God’s design for me and for us on earth. May the Holy Spirit guide me and lead me to my real purpose here on earth.

I would like to define my mission here on earth the way God wants me to. Just as Christ sent the seventy-two disciples to the many parts of his country Israel, to gather the lost sheep of Israel, so may he send me because I know that the work has never been completed because the work of the community of Christ is continuing. We are in communion with the saints in heaven and we have to be as spotless or sinless as we can afford to be, although it seems impossible, but with the blessings and graces of God, this is possible. Just as Jesus was asked by his disciples that it was or it seemed impossible to be saved, but Jesus replied that all things are possible with God, if only we obey or follow His commandments and trust Him to the fullest without any doubt.

We have to live my life the way God wants us to do it, and after this we have to share this kind of life and principles to our brothers and sisters. This is the simplest explanation of the Christian ministry. But researching on this paper on the topic of Christian Ministry, we have to seek the Bible and other books of Christian reading. Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life, is a book about the ministry, apostleship, and discusses our purpose here on earth. It is a consultative book, sort of a book about medicine, but a spiritual kind of medicine. Reading it alone and aloud makes my spirit soar to the sky, and makes my physical body sacrifice for the sake of my spirit and my fellowman. It always points to the Bible as the source of spiritual life, as spiritual oxygen, so that we become always active in our Christian ministry, and our mission and purpose on earth. Reading this sort of books and other related literature about Christian living and the Ministry allows us to reflect and be well-versed about our spiritual life and the way we are going. We have to forbid ourselves from other readings or those we call instruments of evil disguised in the name of art. Reading this kind of literature can lead us astray and we become instruments of evil itself.

“Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, but do it with gentleness and respect.” [1 Peter 3:15-16 (TEV)] The best way ‘to be ready’ is to write out your testimony and then memorize the main points. Divide it into four parts:

What my life was like before I met Jesus
How I realized I needed Jesus
How I committed my life to Jesus
The difference Jesus has made in my life.” (Warren 291)

I would like to connect or relate this to my thoughts and ideas of the Christian Ministry. My life before I committed myself to the Ministry was a life of confusion and no direction. It was really a time of ignorance of Christ and the way a Christian should commit himself and his whole life to God. But now, life has become simple. I realize there are many things that I should do for God and for my brother and sisters, to be able to sacrifice and be a real Christian. After reflections and some meditations, I also realized I have to exert a lot of efforts to avoid temptations and to be always in company with good people and always ask God’s graces that I become sinless and pure in the eyes of God, so that the Holy Spirit will continue to dwell in me.

The Ministry involves telling the whole world about Jesus Christ. In Psalm 117:1bc, 2: “Go out to the world, and tell the Good News.” (NREV)

I know God will be with me and all of us until we would have all accomplished our missions here on earth. We will be with Him in his everlasting glory soon.

Clowney, Edmund P. Called To The Ministry . U.S.A.: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co., 1964
The Holy Bible. The New Revised Standard Version. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.
Warren, Rick. The Purpose Driven Life . Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2002.
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Faith Island

How to Apply Your Faith to Everyday Life

For every article I write or every lesson I teach on the subject of faith, I begin by reminding readers/listeners of what faith is. So…

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” ~ Hebrews 11:1

That’s faith—believing and knowing in your heart because you just know it’s the right thing to do.

Knowing what faith is, is one thing. Having faith and putting your faith to work? That’s something else altogether. But today I’m here to tell you that if you say you have faith but aren’t applying that faith in your life, you are lying. Harsh? Maybe. True? Definitely.

Think about it like this: If a man or woman possessing the qualifications and licensures to practice medicine went around calling themselves a doctor but never treated anyone and even refused to help someone in need of emergency care, is that person really a doctor? No. He or she is nothing more than someone with knowledge and potential—or rather, wasted knowledge and potential. The same thing applies to people who say they are Christians but don’t live by faith.

Christians , in the truest sense of the word, are people who:

Believe God is the only and almighty creator and master of the universe.
Believe that Jesus is God’s son in the flesh and that He died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins, was buried, resurrected back to life, and returned to heaven to be with God.
Believe that the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit, who is basically the conscience of God, is given to us when we accept Jesus as Savior according to scripture (Acts 2:37-38).
Live their lives according to scripture.
Seek God’s will and direction for their life and follow the direction he gives.
Believe and trust in God’s provision, comfort, protection, leadership, and wisdom in ALL things.

How many of those can you check off? Now I’m not saying you won’t ever have doubts, get scared, or hit the panic button and try doing things your way. We all do that and because God made us and knows us so intimately, he expects it to happen. Just like we expect our children to mess up now and then.

If the faith you have is genuine faith, you need to be applying it to all aspects of your life. And here’s how you can do just that:

#1: Your finances

It’s true, you know, what they say about your life-story being told by where you spend your money. So live by faith and tithe first. Even when you don’t think you can, faith says you can.

You can also live out your faith through your finances by giving over and above your tithe, trusting God to stretch your dollars if you want to become a one-income family so Mom can be a stay-at-home-mom, downsizing your house and other expensive non-essentials for the purpose of giving/ministry, and listening to God’s voice calling you to relocate, open your own business, or work less to have more time for family.

#2: Relationships

I cannot tell you how many times I have seen faith in action in my own life and the lives of others when it comes to relationships. The Bible is filled with examples of this as well (Esther, Job, Hannah, Mary, the Shunammite widow, Elijah, Peter, and Paul—to name a few).

Two people I dearly love had a bitter argument that turned into a two-and-a-half-year period of angry silence between them. I prayed non-stop that God would give me the words and opportunities to fix the situation but no matter how hard I prayed, nothing happened. Then one day as I was praying, I heard God say in my heart, “This isn’t yours to fix, but if you just have faith, I’ll fix it for you.”

From that day on I didn’t worry about the situation. It was still painful for me to watch but I knew it wouldn’t last forever. And sure enough, about a year later one of the parties involved decided the loss of the relationship wasn’t worth the pain it was causing and that if he didn’t forgive and move forward, he couldn’t ever be right with God.

Today the two are in a great place because I got out of God’s way and had faith in him to do what he said he would do.

Not all relationships can be fixed. I know that, but I also know that not all relationships should be fixed. When you are in a relationship with someone who is abusive or with someone who is pulling you away from God rather than encouraging you to grow in your faith, you shouldn’t be there. That’s where living by faith comes into play.

Living out your faith when it comes to your relationships happens when you:

Remove yourself from relationships with people you depend on in place of depending on God .
Trust God to take care of you and provide for your needs and safety when you leave an abusive relationship.
Give your rebellious child over to God in faith instead of wallowing in guilt, anger, frustration, and the stress of trying to fix something beyond your ability to fix.
Ask God for the measure of faith you need to forgive deceptions by a spouse, parent, child, or friend for the building up of the relationship.
Step out in faith that God will protect your job situation when you stand for Him at work.
Trust God to do what is ultimately best for you and your loved ones even when His plan isn’t yours.

#3: Your health and daily living

I could write a book on this category. Who knows—maybe I will, because this is where the “rubber meets the road” when it comes to living by faith. This is where it gets personal.

Living your everyday life in such a way that you apply your faith to every situation and circumstance is something that needs to develop into your character rather than something you do once in a while, e.g. when you’ve exhausted every other possibility.

So how does one go about making that happen?

Pray. A lot. When you spend time in prayer asking God for what you need/want and consulting God about the decisions you have to make, faith will grow because when you ask, you receive.
Listen and act. Remember the example of the doctor who was only a doctor in word but not deed? Your faith can’t grow if you don’t act on the answers you ask for and receive. God speaks and God provides the way to go, but He won’t drag you kicking and screaming down the road.
Know He has a reason for everything and that His reason is always in our best interest.
Know that God’s timing is perfect even though we may not understand it… or even like it.
Believe that God ALWAYS has your best interest at heart. And that includes those times when you hear words like “cancer”, “terminal”, “divorce”, “fatal”, “you’re fired” , “bankruptcy”, “foreclosure”, “I hate you”, “addict”, and so many other painful and potentially devastating words.
Your faith grows. When you see faith in action you can’t help but want more action.
Others can’t help but notice. When you live out your faith, people notice. When people notice, your faith and your words are a testimony to the Good News of the Gospel. And when that happens, you have faith in God and are faithful to

Faith is technically a noun, but in reality it is a verb—a call to action.

~ By Darla Noble

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, Prince Edward Island is a church where people from all walks of life join to grow in faith.

It’s not easy to live a life of faith in today’s fast-paced world.

That’s why we’ve created a 17-page, 3-part guide to Living By Faith.

Learn about how to strengthen your faith, follow Jesus’ command to love and serve others, and understand how love casts out fear.

Get your free guide by just entering your email address below!

Comments(9)

Chinwe C. Anowai says

How best can one explain biblical parenting and the synergy it has with faith with life examples in countries that are full of chaos?

Benjamin Joseph says

studies on faith lift my spirit and keep me going in Christ

Juliette Mcgill says

I feel so heartbroken and lonely I want to hear from the Lord I want my faith to be stronger I have such depression I cry all the time I don’t know if the Lord hears me I pray all the time I read my Bible my devotionals I don’t know what else to do

If there’s one thing you should know, it’s that God sees all you are doing and appreciates it. In fact, He speaks to you and I’m very sure you’ll hear Him if you will stay still. If you still feel you can’t hear Him, Ask The Holy Spirit to speak to you in such a way that you’ll hear Him clearly. God is most certainly with you

Draughon says

Best way to hear from God is to confess honestly. Read King David;s prayer of confession Psalm 51. I am not Catholic but as a born again Christian I know daily confession keeps me with the Lord so I have peace and His joy. It is essential for me to forgive the people who have wronged me. Also it is essential to give thanks daily. We find Him in our thanksgiving. Thank Him that you can read. Thank Him for enabling you to continue to look for Him. Etc

Been there. Count your blessing. Literally say them out loud so your brain hears them. Reach out to others.

Adong Fiona says

I thank God for this post , I felt it speaking straight to my heart . It’s taught me great values and not to lose trust in God nomatter what comes my way . Thank You, God bless your ministry

person says

how is it used in everyday life

Johane Banda says

I have loved your teachings on faith.i want to learn more and teach others

Let us know why it is essential, and how it can inspire and uplift our lives. We will also provide you with 25 short personal Christian mission statement examples, demonstrating the diversity of expressions while encompassing the common thread of faith and devotion to God.

What is a Personal Christian Mission Statement?

A personal Christian mission statement is a succinct declaration of your faith, values, and purpose as a believer in Christ. It is an individual’s commitment to follow the teachings of Jesus and the principles laid out in the Bible. Such a statement serves as a guiding compass, helping you make decisions, prioritize your life, and align your actions with your faith.

Why Create a Personal Christian Mission Statement?

Creating short personal Christian mission statement examples can be a transformative experience. Let’s explore some compelling reasons why it’s worth investing time and effort into crafting one:

25 Short Personal Christian Mission Statement Examples

“To love and serve God faithfully, spreading His love to my family, friends, and community, and being a beacon of hope in the world.”

To use my talents and gifts to uplift others, sharing the message of God’s grace and mercy through my actions and words.

To seek God daily through prayer and study of His word, growing in faith and obedience, and being a witness of His transformative power.

To be a compassionate and loving presence to those in need, offering help and support as a reflection of God’s unconditional love.

To live a humble and grateful life, acknowledging God’s blessings, and being content with His provisions.”

To serve in my local church, contributing my time and skills to build a strong and vibrant community of believers.

To teach and mentor others in their faith journey, guiding them to a deeper understanding of God’s word.

To embrace every opportunity to share the gospel, inviting others to experience the life-changing love of Jesus.

To live in peace with all, seeking reconciliation and forgiveness as a testament to God’s reconciling power.

To be a joyful and positive influence in my workplace, demonstrating integrity and honesty in all that I do.

To be a dedicated spouse, parent, and friend, nurturing strong and loving relationships rooted in Christ.

To continuously learn and grow in my faith, embracing challenges as opportunities for spiritual development.

To be a source of encouragement and support to those going through difficult times, showing them the hope we have in Christ.

To worship God with all my heart, soul, and strength, expressing my gratitude for His everlasting love.

To practice generosity and giving, sharing my resources to meet the needs of others and support charitable causes.

To be a witness for Christ in every aspect of my life, letting my actions speak louder than my words.

To embrace diversity and promote unity within the body of Christ, celebrating our shared faith and purpose.

To be a responsible steward of God’s creation, caring for the environment and the world He has entrusted to us.

To seek forgiveness and extend mercy to others, as I have received forgiveness and mercy from God.

To live a life of prayer, communing with God and interceding for the needs of others.

To remain steadfast in my faith during trials, trusting that God works all things for my good.

To be a light in the darkness, showing others the path to salvation through Christ’s love.

To prioritize my family and create a home where God’s presence is felt, fostering an atmosphere of love and grace.

To use my creativity and talents to honor God, expressing His beauty and goodness through my art.

To lead with humility and servant-heartedness, following the example of Jesus, who came not to be served but to serve.

Different Ways of Using a Personal Christian Mission Statement

1. guiding life decisions.

A personal mission statement can act as a decision-making framework, helping you discern what choices align with your faith and values. Whether it’s a major life decision or a daily choice, refer to your mission statement to ensure that your actions and priorities align with your commitment to Christ.

2. Daily Devotion and Reflection

3. goal setting.

Set achievable milestones that reflect your mission, and celebrate each step taken in obedience to God’s calling.

4. Personalizing Scripture

5. teaching tool.

Your vulnerability and authenticity may lead to meaningful discussions and deeper connections with fellow believers.

6. Family Mission Statement

7. conflict resolution.

During conflicts, refer to your mission statement to seek resolution that reflects Christ’s teachings. Use your mission statement as a foundation for forgiveness, reconciliation, and seeking understanding. Instead of reacting emotionally, approach conflicts with a mindset of humility, grace, and a desire to preserve unity within the body of Christ.

As you embark on this journey with short personal Christian mission statement examples, may you find joy, peace, and fulfillment in serving God and others with love, compassion, and grace. Let your life be a witness to the transformative power of faith and inspire those around you to seek the abundant life found in Christ.

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Faith Faith in Focus November 2022 issue 100-Word Faith Stories: (Very) short essays about unexpectedly experiencing God in the world today Our readers October 13, 2022
5 Powerful Ways to Describe Your Faith
The Christian eschatology offers the hope of a resurrection life. Because of the historical theology-the events connected with the death and resurrection of Jesus-the Christian faith offers the promise of everlasting life in a new heaven and a new earth. I discuss eschatology in my blog "It's the End of the World as We Know It."
115 Christianity Essay Topic Ideas & Examples
Whether you are a student looking for essay ideas or simply curious about the faith, here are 115 Christianity essay topic ideas and examples to inspire your writing: The significance of the birth of Jesus Christ. The life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Exploring the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Faith Journey
Faith Journey. When I applied to grad school, one of the essays asked me to describe my journey of faith. This is what I wrote. I have a mentor that I call Scott the Wizard, because his name is Scott and he is wise like a wizard. One day he told me that the core of the Christian life was summed up in the story of the prodigal son.
Christian Faith Essay
Christian Faith Essay. Sort By: Page 1 of 50 - About 500 essays. Decent Essays. Arguments For Christian Faith ... Through my mother's hardship and my reliance on my Christian faith, I learned important lessons such as, self control, putting all faith in God, and the importance. 817 Words; 4 Pages; Decent Essays. Preview. Better Essays ...
How to Describe Your Faith
My Christian faith offers freedom to act without the fear or threat of abandonment. But writing it down makes other values plain. It shows me why I am doing things, like keeping people at a distance or being a little too clingy. The bedrock of my life shapes my faith and my fatherhood. If I want to be a better father or change, I must be honest ...
Christianity and Christian Worldview: [Essay Example], 807 words
Christianity is the world's largest religion, with over 2.3 billion followers worldwide. It is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, who is considered the Son of God and the savior of humanity. The Christian worldview is deeply rooted in the belief in the existence of a personal God who created the universe ...
PDF Writing Your Christian Testimony
like after he became a Christian. Your testimony can follow the same pattern: 1. My Life Before I Came to Christ: Set the stage by sharing relevant information like your age, your friends and family, and your lifestyle, like Paul did in Acts 26:4-11. Include information you know unbelievers will be able to relate to. Connect your own experience
What Does Christian Faith Mean To Me
419 Words. 2 Pages. Open Document. What does my Christian faith mean to me? Faith is a gift from God. Faith means I won't go to hell when I die. We were God's perfect creation. Being the loving God he is he gave us free will. We abused that free will and fell into sin.
What is a Faith Statement and How Do You Write One? (with Examples)
A statement of faith is a description of spiritual belief as it pertains to an individual or community organization, structured by summarizing core tenets. Faith statements commonly include a description of belief on various Christian topics, including the nature of God, the Trinity, Jesus Christ, the Bible, creation, salvation, revelation, the ...
Christian Faith Essays (Examples)
Defining the Christian Faith Introduction When defining the Christian Faith, one must focus on three aspects of that faith: 1) the cognitive, 2) the relational, and 3) the behavioral. The Christian Faith is based upon a cognitive process—i.e., a determination in the mind to accept the doctrines of the Christian Church, which primarily teach that Jesus Christ is God and that the salvation ...
Christian Ministry and Personal Faith Essay
The Christian ministry is about love for our fellowman but most especially for God, because service or being a servant is an expression of love. When Jesus was asked which is the most important Commandment in the Law, he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.
How to Apply Your Faith to Everyday Life
Trust God to take care of you and provide for your needs and safety when you leave an abusive relationship. Give your rebellious child over to God in faith instead of wallowing in guilt, anger, frustration, and the stress of trying to fix something beyond your ability to fix. Ask God for the measure of faith you need to forgive deceptions by a ...
Free Essay: My Christian Faith
Christian Worldview Essay. All must be honest and straight forward, tell the truth and share what you are feeling. In Luke 6:31, he encourages everyone to," as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them" (ESV). By forgiving others who have wronged us and by praying for them you are one step closer to normality.
25 Short Personal Christian Mission Statement ...
Whether it's a major life decision or a daily choice, refer to your mission statement to ensure that your actions and priorities align with your commitment to Christ. 2. Daily Devotion and Reflection. Incorporate your mission statement into your daily devotional time. As you spend time in prayer and study of God's word, reflect on how your ...
My Faith Journey : Personal Experience : My Faith Journey
Although those times were rough, I found comfort in God and knowing that He is always there for me. One of my favorite quotes is "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13. This quote got me through tough times when my faith was shaking. In the past, my faith had been challenged on numerous occasions.
My Faith: How My Faith Defines Who I Am
How My Faith Defines Who I Am. Faith: having a strong belief in a religion, or an even stronger belief in a God. I personally believe in God the Father, and that he created each and every one of us in his own image. I believe that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sin and brought us new life through his death and resurrection.