What Does Living Out Your Faith Look Like?

When others look at our lives, they should be able to tell that we are followers of Christ. But how? What will they find in our lives that sets us apart? 

If you’re reading this, I’m guessing it’s because you take your faith seriously. You don’t want faith to be something you only think about on Sunday—you want it to shape your life all week long. And it should.

Faith realigns every aspect of our lives and rearranges them according to God’s design, beginning within the walls of home and reaching beyond the borders everywhere we go. It affects all of our ways for all of our days. It’s not something to pull out for a couple of hours on Sunday and then tuck away in a corner (or hide under a bushel) for the rest of the week. We are to let our light shine at all times.

Faith infuses every part of our lives with a God-focused perspective. But let’s get practical. What exactly does that look like? I’m going to devote the rest of this post to presenting several examples—divided into the categories of how, who, what, and why.

how

➙ how we think: We will think in a way that is consistent with truth, not dictated by popular thought. We will use logic and reasoning to the utmost of our powers while humbly acknowledging that the human mind has its limits and only God knows all of the answers. 

➙ how we present ourselves: How we choose to present ourselves both in public and in private will manifest true humility balanced with godly confidence. Our way of dress and manner of behavior should not hinder or detract from the message of the gospel by drawing undue or improper attention to ourselves. In no way should we proclaim the message of trying to fit in with the world—instead, we should embrace our distinct identity as children of God and let this be reflected in the way we present ourselves. 

➙ how we spend our time: Time is a precious commodity. We will put it to good use by investing our lives in things that outlast time, such as acts of love that form building blocks of God’s kingdom.

➙ how we use our talents: As with time, we will use our talents to build up God’s kingdom, not to promote ourselves. We will see our talents as gifts God has entrusted us to use for His purposes. Stewarding our talents wisely and being faithful to our calling will lead to great blessing for both ourselves and others.

who

➙ God: Faith makes it possible for us to have a relationship with God in the first place. It helps us to realize the reality and relevance of our relationship with Him by opening our eyes to see His hand at work in our lives. Faith is also what enables us to draw closer to God. “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” ( Hebrews 11:6 ESV). 

➙ others: Our faith is a determining factor when we are deciding whom to befriend and whom not to befriend. We must take into account that “bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV). The people we choose for role models or examples to follow (those we pattern our lives after and seek counsel from) should be mature believers who will build us up in the Lord and stir up our faith. We will strive to be an example and encouragement to younger believers and a witness to unbelievers, and we will seek to show love in all of our relationships.

➙ ourselves: We will see ourselves as God sees us in Christ: loved, chosen, called, and set apart as His own. We will find our identity first in Him and let all other conceptions of ourselves flow from that most important truth.

what

➙ money and possessions: God calls us to hold money and possessions lightly as gifts from Him to use for His glory and share with others in need. We are to be generous, gracious givers and wise stewards of what God first gave to us. 

➙ words: As followers of the Living Word, we are called to use our words in a way that honors Him. This means putting our words to work in building others up and speaking the truth found in love. Whether spoken or written, in public or in private, our words are vessels to be filled with the pure water of God’s sweet grace.

➙ influences: We will guard carefully what we allow into our minds and hearts (what we think about and love), because we know that what dominates our minds and wins our hearts will eventually rule our lives and form us into its likeness. Since we become like what we love, we will diligently watch over our hearts so that the world doesn’t woo us away from the God we love.

➙ plans: It’s all right to make plans for ourselves, but as followers of Christ we must always be willing to surrender those plans to His. Sometimes interruptions or changes to our plans are signs of God’s plans breaking into ours; we have to stay open to that possibility. His plans are higher and greater and grander than ours could ever be, and while we can’t always see what He is doing, we can still trust that He is working for our good and bringing about something better than we could imagine.

why

➙ motives: When faith has its proper place in our lives, our main motive is pleasing God in all we do; any and all other motives must be subject to that overarching, all-encompassing purpose.

➙ priorities: Our first priority should be loving God; our second, loving others. As we wholeheartedly pursue a life that honors God, He will lead us deeper into an embodied expression of His love and show us what true love looks like lived out.

➙ goals: Our greatest goals in life should be growing closer to Jesus and becoming more like Him. Anything that hinders this relationship must be confronted and dealt with in no uncertain terms. When Jesus is at the center of our lives, everything else falls into its rightful place.

shine bright

As the moon glows in the dark of night, reflecting the face of the sun, so you also shine in this dark world as you walk in heaven’s light, letting Christ radiate through you. Be living the truth you’re believing, revealing the God you know. Live a love that dwells within walls and dances beyond borders, surrendering to the Author of your story. Dare to be real in the power of weakness, falling free into the arms of the Father’s grace. And never forget the wonderful truth that He is making Himself known through you.

The world is watching you to see the image of God revealed. Bravely and boldly, keep making your faith seen.