By Ann Doupont

We walk by faith, not by sight. (See 2 Corinthians 5:7.)

This may sound easier than it really is to do in reality. Many things come to test us, to try our faith. We sometimes stumble and fall from our faith walk. Even a righteous man falls seven times, but he does not stay down (Proverbs 24:16).

When I first prayed to ask Jesus to come into my life, the brother who led me in that prayer said to me that he was going to check on me in a couple of days to see if I had been serious when I prayed. I thought that was rather odd for him to say that, but later I came to understand that not everyone who says those words are serious about it.

They just repeat a prayer, for various reasons, not meaning it at all.

There are others who pray that prayer and are perhaps genuinely born again, but then the trials come their way and they do not continue in their walk of faith. In Matthew, chapter 7, we find one of the many parables which Jesus spoke to the crowds.

In verse 24, we see that when a person not only hears the words of Jesus, but also does what He says, it is like building your house on a rock. Your walk with Him is then solid.

For those who merely hear them, and do not do what He says to do, they are likened to a person who has built their house on sand. When the storms of life come their way, they will fall away.

In the book of James, we find that if we merely hear the Word of God, but do not do what it says to do, we have deceived ourselves. (See James 1:22.)

In the book of Mark, chapter 4, we find another parable. It is interesting to note that although Jesus spoke to the multitudes in parables, He explained them to His disciples (verse 11)…His close followers. He will do the same today.

When we have a close relationship and fellowship with Jesus, through the Holy Spirit living and abiding within us, He will tell us many things which will astonish us.

Starting in verse 3 of this chapter in Mark, we see the story of the Sower, and the seed. Some of the seed fell by the way side and the birds ate it up. Some of the other seed fell onto stony grounds and immediately sprang up. That sounds good so far, until you read more.

It goes on by saying that when the sun was up, it was scorched and it withered, because it had no root. This is beginning to sound like being rooted is important.

Some of the other seed fell on ground that had thorns, but the thorns grew up and the seed was choked. Then, there was the seed that fell on the good ground. Fruit was yielded by that seed as it grew up and multiplied.

Starting in verse 14, we see the explanation that Jesus gave to His close followers. He lets them know that the seed is the Word of God, and that the various grounds are the hearts of the people.

There are those who hear the Word, but because of the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things, the Word is choked out of them. The same is true for us today. We need to watch ourselves, lest these same things could happen to us.

There are several places in Scripture which I like to call my checklists. I read these lists slowly, carefully, evaluating whether or not I have fallen into any of these sins. If so, I will then confess it to God as sin, trusting Him to forgive me and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9.)

Some of these checklists are Exodus 20:3-17, Galatians 5:19-21, Romans 1:29-31, and 2 Timothy 3:2-5. It is interesting to note in the passage in Galatians 5, we find that we are to "walk in the Spirit" and it is then that we will not "fulfill the lust of the flesh." These words in verse 16 precede the list in that chapter.

The apostle Paul said that he dies daily (1 Corinthians 15:31.) What does that mean? Each day has trouble of its own. We are to take each day as it comes, not being anxious about the future. (See Matthew 6:34.) Instead of doing our "own thing," we are to follow Jesus…to do "His thing" instead.

What is "His thing?"

Jesus went about doing good, healing all that were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38). For this purpose was the son of God manifested, to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).

As we follow Jesus, we will do what He did. (See John 14:12.) Jesus said that if we would follow Him, He would make us fishers of men (Matthew 4:19). What does it mean to follow Jesus?

It starts with coming to Him for the first time, asking Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, believing that you sinned and need a Savior and that Jesus not only died on the cross for your sins, but also that He was raised on the third day by the Father. (See Romans 10:9.)

Once you have confessed out loud to Jesus that He is the Lord of your life and have believed that He was raised from the dead, you are then saved.

That is where it starts, in following Him. It continues by developing your personal relationship with Him, day by day, week after week, and year after year. Jesus said that His sheep know His voice (John 10:4) and that they do not listen to a stranger.

The walk we walk is a walked by faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6.)

Ann Doupont is the author of:  Surrendered, Irons in the Fire, God Can Heal Anything!  Visit her Web site at: www.anndoupont.org