Core Strength 

God on Monday
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'He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body… or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised’ (Romans 4:19-21). 

Reflection

Recently I commented to a friend that I still know what it feels like to do a handstand. At 51, and certainly not at peak fitness, I am realistic about my limitations. If I threw my hands to the floor and attempted to swing my legs up right now, injury and embarrassment would ensue. As my friend said, when it comes to muscle memory, ‘at our age, the problem isn’t the memory. It’s the muscles’.

Abraham and Sarah were old - as good as dead, says Paul - when God promised them as many descendants as the stars in the sky, making them a great nation and a blessing to all people. Trusting in God’s promise required Abraham to hope against hope, to believe in the miraculous despite the prevailing evidence. It’s easy to think of Abraham’s faith as a one-off, assuming that he just happened to be feeling faithful that day, but the account in Genesis shows that he learned to be faithful by following God’s call and trusting in his provision over many years, even when he got it spectacularly wrong.

Despite his age and lack of physical vitality, Abraham’s inner strength - the faith that is credited to him as righteousness - was built through years of relationship with the Lord. Spiritual muscle memory, if you like, is built through habit and experience, in intimacy with Jesus.

We are increasingly encouraged to pursue physical strength through habit. Weight-training, core strength and resistance work is promoted to build healthy, resilient bodies. Without denying the value of all this, followers of Jesus will want to create habits that build unwavering spiritual muscle so that, like Abraham hoping against hope, we will remain faithful and keep trusting in God’s promises. God blessed Abraham materially – just as God will have blessed you through your work or through the work of others around you. But that blessing comes, for Abraham and for us, within a relational context of covenant, obedience, mission and trust.

Response

Think about areas of your life in which you are ‘hoping against hope’.
What habits can you cultivate to build resilient faith?

Take time to remind yourself of God’s promises, jotting some of them down as an encouragement to keep trusting.
Perhaps you, or your colleagues and friends, spend time at the gym or the yoga studio. Are there ways you can spark conversations about spiritual fitness, either through example (e.g. sharing your own journey of spiritual habits, offering to pray) or direct challenge (e.g. invitation to church, or an evangelistic course)?

Prayer

Lord, give me hope today to trust in your promises. Teach me to build faith through my walk with you. Make me a blessing to those around me. 

This Week's Author

God on Monday is produced in partnership with the Church of England. The reflections are based on the scriptural readings designated for the coming Sunday in the Church's lectionary. You can sign up to Faith in Business here to receive each God on Monday instalment.

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