Recently I read an article in Joyful Life Magazine titled How to Build a Faith that Overcomes Fear: Even (And Especially) Amid A Global Pandemic. Author Jana Carlson talks about how knowing God is the key to building our faith.
That got me to thinking where would be the best place to start in the Bible for knowing God. The verses Carlson mentions in her article are wonderful ones for building a faith that conquers fear by knowing God. However I wanted simple, one-liners. Verses that would be easy to pray for a grieving widow or anyone else whose faith needs built up.
Then it dawned on me – I AM. The best way to start knowing God is through the I AM statements.
They tell you who God is, was and will be because He is ever faithful and never changing.
There are 7 or 8 I AM statements depending upon with whom you talk. The 8th is John 8:58 and I have also added Exodus 3:14 where God, via the burning bush, calls Moses to lead his people out of Egypt.
- God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:14)
- And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).
- Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12).
- “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:9).
- “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
- Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25).
- Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
- “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser” (John 15:1).
- Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58)
Each verse tells us who God is and when we understand who He is, our faith in Him will grow. Then we can deal with grief and other troubles in life better, and in turn help other struggling people grow their faith.
Read, meditate and pray over these verses. Write your thoughts about them in a journal. Keep coming back to these statements. Memorize a verse a day, week or month. Ask God to speak to you through these verses.
May these verses help you focus on who God is so your faith grows.
This one is my favorite – so far.
Related Reading: The Eighth “I am” statement in John’s Gospel | David Bahn – Reflections
Bio: Michele Kearns is the founder and HUG© (Hope Unites Globally) Award-Winner of JoyReturns. She shares her widowhood adventures hoping to encourage widows to move through grief and rebuild their lives. A graduate of Kent State University with a Bachelor’s degree in communications, she’s used those skills while managing call center teams, co-facilitating a grief support group, and helping small businesses with various writing and administrative assignments. Michele is a bookworm, and a lover of history, chocolate, red roses, and golden retrievers. She is also the amateur photographer behind the blog OgleOhio.com
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