About five years ago, I found myself in a deep  moment of reflection at a Christian retreat centre. Inviting my mother to this spiritual sanctuary, we discovered that there was a course
on faith being offered. Feeling an intuitive nudge, I encouraged her to attend, believing it might fortify her spiritual connection. My personal goal for this trip was clear: I aimed to spend the week submerged in the  depth of God’s embrace.

On the course’s inaugural day, as I accompanied my mother and a dear friend, an unexpected invitation came my way. The Pastor, discerning the vacancies in the room, beckoned me to join the course. With a heart set on solitary communion with Jesus, I was initially hesitant. But, as often happens when we set our plans before God, I felt the tender urging of the Holy Spirit. Attempting to resist this  guidance, my solo worship felt blocked, as if my prayers met an unseen wall, leaving me in a state of spiritual stagnation.

In a moment of clarity and surrender, I joined the faith class. There, enveloped in the warm ambiance, I was reintroduced to the omnipotent presence of God. This experience illuminated a truth: God’s plan, often enigmatic and surprising, always surpasses our limited perspectives

The Hebrew understanding of faith reinforces this experiential lesson. In the Hebrew context, faith isn’t just a mental acknowledgment or a stagnant concept; it’s an action. “Faith” is most aptly conveyed as a verb, emphasising that genuine faith necessitates tangible action.

Adorned In Faith, our platform, is anchored in this very principle. Faith, to truly resonate with its Hebrew roots, calls for action and purpose, as I came to understand during my experience at the retreat centre.

The metaphor of faith being a staircase beautifully encapsulates this idea. While we might rationally understand that a staircase leads to another level, only by ascending it do we truly experience the new horizon. Martin Luther King Jr. poignantly remarked, “faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.”

This action-oriented understanding of faith is further emphasised in the scriptures. James, the half-brother of Jesus, proclaims a powerful message about the inseparability of faith and works. He challenges believers, asserting, “Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?” (James 2:17-26 MSG). He further elaborates, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? … Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works [obedience], is dead. … Even the demons believe … But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is useless? … For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:14-26).

The spiritual journey is often a delicate balance between belief and action. While faith is the foundation, our works—our steps on the staircase—bring that faith to life, revealing the divine plan that God, in His infinite wisdom, has laid out for us. As believers, it’s paramount to recognise that our faith journey isn’t just about belief but about the transformative actions those beliefs inspire.

About five years ago, I found myself in a deep  moment of reflection at a Christian retreat centre. Inviting my mother to this spiritual sanctuary, we discovered that there was a course
on faith being offered. Feeling an intuitive nudge, I encouraged her to attend, believing it might fortify her spiritual connection. My personal goal for this trip was clear: I aimed to spend the week submerged in the  depth of God’s embrace.

On the course’s inaugural day, as I accompanied my mother and a dear friend, an unexpected invitation came my way. The Pastor, discerning the vacancies in the room, beckoned me to join the course. With a heart set on solitary communion with Jesus, I was initially hesitant. But, as often happens when we set our plans before God, I felt the tender urging of the Holy Spirit. Attempting to resist this  guidance, my solo worship felt blocked, as if my prayers met an unseen wall, leaving me in a state of spiritual stagnation.

In a moment of clarity and surrender, I joined the faith class. There, enveloped in the warm ambiance, I was reintroduced to the omnipotent presence of God. This experience illuminated a truth: God’s plan, often enigmatic and surprising, always surpasses our limited perspectives

The Hebrew understanding of faith reinforces this experiential lesson. In the Hebrew context, faith isn’t just a mental acknowledgment or a stagnant concept; it’s an action. “Faith” is most aptly conveyed as a verb, emphasising that genuine faith necessitates tangible action.

Adorned In Faith, our platform, is anchored in this very principle. Faith, to truly resonate with its Hebrew roots, calls for action and purpose, as I came to understand during my experience at the retreat centre.

The metaphor of faith being a staircase beautifully encapsulates this idea. While we might rationally understand that a staircase leads to another level, only by ascending it do we truly experience the new horizon. Martin Luther King Jr. poignantly remarked, “faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.”

This action-oriented understanding of faith is further emphasised in the scriptures. James, the half-brother of Jesus, proclaims a powerful message about the inseparability of faith and works. He challenges believers, asserting, “Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?” (James 2:17-26 MSG). He further elaborates, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? … Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works [obedience], is dead. … Even the demons believe … But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is useless? … For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:14-26).

The spiritual journey is often a delicate balance between belief and action. While faith is the foundation, our works—our steps on the staircase—bring that faith to life, revealing the divine plan that God, in His infinite wisdom, has laid out for us. As believers, it’s paramount to recognise that our faith journey isn’t just about belief but about the transformative actions those beliefs inspire.