The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as “great trust or confidence in something or someone”
Pastor Phil Pringle is the Founder and Leader of C3 Church Global, an international movement of over 500 churches, and the Founder of C3 Church in Sydney Australia. He was an invited speaker at Favor conference recently. His message on faith helped me relate personally to how much God has blessed us as a family. His message he shared is on YouTube.
He spoke on “Steps of Faith” and his message was so inspiring, it reminded me of how we as a family, over the years, placed our trust and faith in the Lord and how much we have been blessed.
1. Desire it.
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalms 37:4 NIV
One evening in early 2016, I had to break the news to our family that our finances were dwindling and we could not afford the school fees for our two sons by mid of 2017.
Friends had always told me that it was our pride that led us to educate our boys in the most expensive school in the country. I listened, I prayed, I battled. I was convinced that changing from an ‘IB’ curriculum that had been their learning journey should not be changed because of what circumstances we were in, After all, we were blessed to have been able to educate them all this while and why would it be required to change their educational curriculam in their last few years of their schooling years.
2. Decide it.
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
James 1:6 NIV
We discussed our situation in detail, we understood God’s faithfulness, His love and His provision all these years, our family journey had been blessed, the countries and schools we had lived and studies in and had to explain with a painful heart that, if we were to be able to continue with the present education, I needed to look for employment outside our home country, because despite having a very good paying job, I was not able to afford the education and I had to find ways to be able to support our needs.
3. Ask it.
You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.
James 4:2 NIV
In our deliberstions, we concluded that we will prayerfully ask the Lord as a family to be able to go back to the Philippines, because the school they had attended previously was by far the most enjoyable experience and very specifically because the Christian values in that school was what the boys wanted! Everyone agreed that the country was nice, the people were warm and friendly and we had enjoyed our years we lived there!
We asked in prayer, we did this as a family for many days. Days passed, weeks passed, months past. We contunied to persevere, we did not give up because we beleived that asking in faith was the requirement. A persistent woman and a wicked judge is a parable from Luke 18:1-8. When a woman comes to a wicked judge for help, the judge refuses and says her problems don’t matter. But the woman doesn’t give up; she comes to the judge every day to ask for help.
We did not give up in asking, we asked continually for many months!
4. Receive it.
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Mark 11:24 NIV
Over the months, our daily family prayers would focus on our hearts’ desire. We were confident that things would work out according to His will in His time. God’s promise to us was clear, He would fulfil the desires of our heart. We beleived. We did not give up, despite the negative that would come to us from time to time. There were moments when I began to complain about my circumstances and became bitter about people and as we meditated, we learned the need to forgive and let go and receive Gods blessings, not the devils curses. The moment I began to forgive the people who had caused me so much pain, things began to change rapidy! We were delivered from the past evils. The joy of the Lord was our stregth!
5. See it.
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1 NIV
On the 29th of October, 2016, an unknown person sent me a message on Messenger.
Hi Mr.Jacob, I am working with many people who have worked with you before and have heard a lot (of good things) about you but never had the chance to meet you. Glad I could track you down on FB as I was wondering what you were doing following your exit with alcon.
Would love to talk and assess your interest to return into Ophthalmology in an exciting venture.
Best regards
Pascal Aeschlimann,
CEO Swissmed
I was shocked, lost for words and yet, was seeing the almighty hand in motion. I was able to visualize our future and I was excited! I could see where my passion was moving to, I was excited that I was able to get back to working in an area that I enjoyed so much! I was excited for my family and the boys, I could see the desires of their hearts being fulfilled!
6. Act it.
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
James 2:26
I kept looking at the message for a couple of times, then I began to search the internet for the name of the person and the company and was able to find out more details! I was convinced that this was legit! I acted on the message and sent a reply, which began my journey of my desire of seeking the Lord in something we desired.
By April 2017, I was blessed to begin my journey with Swissmed. It was am amazing journey!
Today, as we look back as a family, the Lord’s name is to be praised for every situation and experience we encountered. The boys got to complete their eduction as per their hearts desire, we were able to afford this because the Lord helped us with what we needed. We had many more desires too, we dreamed of having our house helpers back with us, they dropped all what they were doing and joined us immediately! We dreamed of returning to the home we had lived in back in 2007 and this was fulfilled on the 6th year of us moving back!
The Mini Cooper we sold when we left the Philippines was purchased by a very dear friend. One day in the year 2020, I did share with my friend that if he ever had an idea of selling the car, to remember me first, because I loved this car! On June 7, 2022, my friend informed me that he was planning to move from the Philippines and suggested I come immediately and take the car. I was worried of the price he would charge me because I did not have capital to aquire a ‘classic’ car at the then going rate. His reply was ‘Hey Dil, just pay me back the amout I paid you when I purchased the car back in 2009’!! This was a miracle, today we all cherish the Mini Cooper!
The Lord has a clear plan for each and everyone of us. He has set us apart for a devine purpose. He wants us to serve Him, He wants us to live for Him. He wants us to have the faith to move with Him and He will essures and promises to be with us always.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 1:4-9
INSPIRE 