“An Old Faith”

"My Eyes Are Dry" - The title to a song by Keith Green, (1953 - l982)

"My eyes are dry, my faith is old, my heart is hard, and my prayers are cold.

And I know how I ought to be, alive to You and dead to me.

Oh, what can be done for an old heart like mine? Soften it up with oil and wine.

The oil is You, your Spirit of love. Please wash me anew in the wine of your blood."

What can be done when our faith grows old? The following acrostic offers encouraging help for those times when our faith wanes and we experience dry seasons in our spiritual life.

F- FOLLOW: "The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people

and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. (vs. 4) So Abram left, as the Lord had told him; … .” (Ge.12:1, 4 - NIV)     "Come, follow me”, Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men. (vs.20) At once they left their nets and followed him." (Mt. 4:19, 20 - NIV)   

A - ABIDE: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide

under the shadow of the Almighty." (Ps.91:1, KJV)     "I am the vine, ye are the

branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:

for without me ye can do nothing.” (Jn.15:5, KJV)

I - IGNITE: “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. (vs.29) Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” (Joel 2:28, 29 and Ac.2:17, 18 - NIV)     “Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”(vs.22) And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (Jn.20:21, 22 - NIV)  

T - TUNE IN: “”Be still, and know that I am God.” (Ps. 46:10, KJV)     “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mk. 1:35, NIV)    

H - HOLD ON: “Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.” (Isa. 65:17, NIV)

“But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the house of righteousness. (vs.14) So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.”(2Pe. 3:13, 14 - NIV)

I’ve barely scratched the surface of this topic of FAITH. However, in my quest to obtain an unwavering, steadfast assurance in the face of any kind of adversity, I’ve gained a new-found confidence in knowing that “… all things work together for good to them that love God, …”. (Ro.8:28, KJV)

After waiting for God to renew our strength (Isa. 40:31, KJV) we must then resume the race set before us, so that we too may win the prize! (Php.3:14 and 1Co.9:24, NIV)

Sue Kelley