Holding on to Your Faith!


Devotion:
I read a story about a little girl who was very nervous at the prospect of her first horseback ride, even though she was to be perched behind her grandfather who was an excellent rider. As her parents helped her onto the horse, she cried, "What do I do? I don't know how to ride a horse! I've never done this before! What do I do?"Her grandfather said in a reassuring tone, "Don't worry about the horse or about how to ride it. Just hold on to me, Darlin', just hold on tome."

This story reminds me of the familiar saying, "When you're at the end of the rope, hold onto your faith." That's easier said than done unless you realize that the object of your faith is a person???Jesus Christ. We always can hold onto Him.

It's when we lose touch with the Lord that we fall into fear and panic,but keeping our minds on Him in thought, prayer, and worship brings peace to our hearts and minds. Most of us have sung about this truth.Today let the words of this old faithful hymn sink deep into your soul.

What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and grief to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.

We must grip tightly to our faith in Christ through prayer and mediationon a daily basis Then, whether our day is like a tried old nag or abucking -bronco, holding on to our faith keeps us in the saddle untilthe ride is over. However, if we look to ourselves or at the "beast,"whatever that may be, then we will always feel weak, helpless, andafraid. Like the grandfather, who was an excellent rider, our heavenly Father iseven greater. Christ has both hands on the reins. He knows how to ride,which direction the horse will run, and how long the journey will last.All we have to do is hold on.

Dear Lord, No matter how wild the ride gets, I trust that You are incontrol and I'm safe holding on to You, in Jesus' Name, Amen.