Sometimes we are unaware of whether we are  walking in faith or have slipped back to sight- walking as we had lived previously, before we said “Yes!” to Jesus. I have come to see that there are some indicators when I have begun to move in the power of my flesh and I can use these, as personal wake-up calls to repent and seek the Lord.

FAITH IS NEVER IN A HURRY

“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.” (Isaiah 28:16, KJV)

When I was a teenager, I would sometimes repair my dirt bike and then go “test” it out on a back-road not far from where I lived. There was one road where I could really open it up and go full throttle. My bike hit somewhere around 75-80 MPH at full speed. I noticed that when I went really fast, my eyes would water so bad from going so fast. When that happened, I couldn’t see the road accurately.

When you go too fast things tend to get blurry and dangerous. Slow down! The Bible says Wait for the Lord Be patient. Sometimes, when someone is anxiously pressing me for a decision “right now!” I say “Well, if you must know now, the answer is “no“, but If you let me have time to pray about it, I will let you know what the Lord says to me.”

FAITH DOESN’T WORRY

 “Be anxious for nothing“ (Php 4:6)

The Assistant Pastor would often see church staff scurrying from one building to another on the spacious campus they enjoyed in Santa Ana California. When he would see an anxious look on their face, he’d open his office door and shout to them “Remember, if you worrying, you’re not trusting!” While it was a rather public reproof, it nonetheless was on mark. Worry is anti-faith.

FAITH SHOWS NO UNGODLY FURY

“The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” James 1:20

While there is something known as “righteous indignation”, most of us know far too little of it. In fact, we much more commonly believe God is angry at someone or some circumstance when we are usually alone and wrong in our reaction.

Moses became angry at God’s people and struck the rock to provide water for the congregation. (Numb 20) However, God punished Moses for not representing him correctly. James and John wanted to call down fire on the unwelcoming Samaritans. Jesus simply said “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.” (Luke 9:55)

Anger and wrath are so commonly an evidence of our fleshly nature that the Bible enjoins us to “Put away ALL… wrath and…anger” (Eph 4:31). 

When we become angry our ability to reason correctly is greatly diminished like the man who yelled “I’m so think, I can’t mad straight!”

Truth is, If you have anger, you have an anger problem! When you’re mad, you’re had! Your anger needs to become a flashing warning light that you are “off track”. You have left the road of Faith.

When tempted to “see red” see it as a sign that says “Wrong way. Do not enter! Repent!”