After 47 years of being a disciple of Jesus Christ, a Pastor and a studied observer of Christian’s lives up close and personal in the church, having read and studied the research on Christian’s personal habits and choices, I have discovered one indisputable fact. The vast majority of Christians are extremely lackadaisical and haphazard in their faith. As a result they suffer greater emotional, mental, and family difficulties because of their anemic faith. Just look up the word lackadaisical and its synonyms and you will understand exactly what I mean. The vast majority of Christians are primarily just talk. To quote God from the ancient scriptures, “These people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me.”
Authentic Christian discipleship is rigorous and demanding.
If you willingly embrace it, ordering your life around it, you will find an abundance of real life and stability. You will discover deep meaning in following Jesus Christ and a depth in your life and experience you have never known before.
These are the disciplines of rigorous faith and Christian discipleship.
Each one has tremendous meaning and direct implications for you. Be sure to grasp the implications and meaning of each for your personal life. The daily pursuit and practice of these is the meaning of rigorous faith!
THE DISCIPLINED PURSUITS OF RIGOROUS FAITH
FEAR GOD
SEEK GOD
TRUST GOD
LOVE GOD
OBEY GOD
WORSHIP GOD
PONDER GOD
DELIGHT IN GOD
HONOR GOD
SERVE GOD
PRAY OFTEN
PRAY LONG
PRAY FERVENTLY
PRAY OUT-LOUD
PRAY EMOTIVELY
PRAY HONESTLY
CAST BURDENS
READ BIBLE
STUDY BIBLE
CHERISH BIBLE
MEDITATE DAILY
LISTEN CAREFULLY
BELIEVE BIBLE
BELIEVE PROMISES
OBEY BIBLE
BE DOERS
RENEW MIND
DISCIPLINE THOUGHTS
THINK LIKE PHIL.4:8
THINK ETERNALLY
LOVE WISDOM
HATE FOLLY
SPEAK WISELY
CONTROL MOUTH
PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS
ARMOR UP
AVOID TEMPTATION
HATE EVIL
DO RIGHT
BE HUMBLE
BE BROKEN
BE CONTRITE
BE HUNGRY
LOVE LEARNING
GUARD HEART
WEED HEART
BE GRATEFUL
GIVE THANKS
SING PRAISES
REJOICE IN GOD
BE ZEALOUS
BE ENTHUSIASTIC
KEEP BELIEVING
BUILD FAITH
BE FAITHFUL
BE CONSISTENT
ENDURE HARDSHIP
CARRY CROSS
BE DISCIPLINED
DISCIPLINE BODY
PERSEVERE ALWAYS
ENCOURAGE YOURSELF
STAY DETERMINED
STAY FOCUSED
REMEMBER MISSION
STAY UNENTANGLED
KEEP UNPOLLUTED
LIVE FRUGALLY
SHARE FAITH
DO GOOD
CRUCIFY SELF
NO COMPROMISE
WORK HARD
BE COURAGEOUS
BE COMPASSIONATE
LOVE FERVENTLY
GIVE GENEROUSLY
FORGIVE FREELY
SERVE OTHERS
FELLOWSHIP OFTEN
MAXIMUM EFFORT
NO EXCUSES
REMEMBER THE GOSPEL
REMEMBER GRACE
TREASURE JESUS
If you pursue and practice this kind of rigorous faith, I can promise 3 things. It will change and transform your life. It will greatly impact your marriage. It will have a great impact on your children and their desire to know and follow Jesus Christ.
I urge you on God’s behalf: choose rigorous faith!
