Living Faith “Out Loud” – integrating faith into everyday life and relationships

Who here has ever shrunk themselves to fit in?

🙋🏽‍♀️

Oh, good I’m not alone. And neither are you.

It’s a basic human instinct to want to fit in. It’s ok.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be accepted and loved but our sin nature tends to lead us to conform in order to be accepted. 

As Christians we don’t need to stake our worth in anything or anybody other than God. 

We will never “fit in” the secular world because God never intended for us to but we do fit in the kingdom of God. 

“If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own… but I have chosen you out of the world.”– John 15:19 (NIV)

We were literally created to stand apart from the crowd!

We don’t have to shrink, or perform, or work for His acceptance. He chose us before we ever chose Him!

Once that’s done we don’t need to worry about fitting in anywhere else for anyone else.

Therefore, because we are forced to live in a world we’re not meant for but with the desire for acceptance by our peers, we must lean on the Truth of the gospel. 

Live in the freedom of knowing you already belong to a kingdom led by a God who loves you!

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”– Romans 12:2 (NIV)

I know that’s easier said than done, especially when you don’t just live in a secular world but it’s your life!

Most of us probably have a life that basically revolves around the secular world. Our jobs are non-Christian, our schools, possibly our friends, neighbors, and even family. 

We are bombarded with worldly social media, entertainment, news, and community all the time.

I know for me it gets spiritually draining fast.

But fear not, my friends, there is a Way!

Faith in Everyday Environments: Faith Lived Externally 

Let’s say you have a secular job with mostly if not only non-Christian coworkers and bosses so you have fallen into the habit of not living out your faith in that setting.

Is this wrong? Not necessarily but it’s not the full potential of your faith either.

The Bible is clear that there is a right and wrong time to display or share your faith. 

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”– Colossians 4:5-6 (NIV)

Hiding your faith however is never suggested. 

There is a difference between not showing your faith and intentionally hiding it. If you fall into the latter then yeah you’ve got some praying to do. Hiding faith comes from fear and God doesn’t give us a spirit of fear.

Becoming spiritually lax or passive in the workplace or other secular environments is different. That could be fear or spiritual uncertainty about how to boldly express your faith in a place that isn’t Christian.

This doesn’t mean your faith has failed, it just means it needs to be better exercised. Like a muscle your faith gets stronger when met with resistance (like secular socializing) and you respond with proper form and consistency.

“Trials test faith and produce perseverance.”– James 1:2-3 (NIV)

If the idea of exercising your faith sounds unappealing, sort of like physical exercise 😂 then remember that it’s not all up to you to build! 

Faith comes from God. It becomes stronger by leaning on the One who is strong. We are to pray for our faith to be fulfilled, multiplied, and strengthened by God. 

“The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’”– Luke 17:5 (NIV)

When we do this God has promised He will respond and it will naturally result in you being more openly faithful. That’s just how it works. 

Remember: God will not be hidden.

So if you find that there are areas in your life where you have shrunk your faith to fit into secular spaces, then yes that’s an area your faith is weak. 

This is a reality that is in your complete control to change.

The order is to:

Pray → Act → Trust God with the rest.

Faith should show up in our choices, words, and actions. This is how we become witnesses, a.k.a. walking testimonies of God.

Faith in Everyday Relationships:

Love first always. That’s how God does it and so that’s how we must also do it.

We don’t all have the blessing of a fully believing Christian family and some of us may be the only Christian in your family or maybe even possibly your whole family identifies as Christian but you are the only one who truly acts like it. 

This is a reality. One I’ve been fortunate enough not to experience. Most of my immediate family is Christian. 

But I do have family members who aren’t yet saved. There are still many people in and around my life that are not saved. There are people from my past that are yet to be saved.

A hard reality at times.

When applying faith to these relationships it’s important to as stated above, love first. Always.

That means pray for them and then give them unconditional love.

Unconditional doesn’t mean without boundaries it means that there is no condition in which you will ever take your love away. Boundaries can still exist within this.

Prayer is about the most loving thing you can do for anyone but especially for an unbeliever.

Take Jesus’s example to heart, “Lord forgive them for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

He said this AS he was being crucified!

That’s unconditional love. 

He prayed for us to be forgiven when we were literally murdering Him for no reason. Wow.🤯 

Jesus showed us His unconditional love but He also showed us examples of boundaries. 

Jesus corrected people, flipped tables, walked away from people, called them out, took breaks from interactions, and He even wiped His hands of people who were unrepentant. (Matthew 10:14)

He did all of this without taking back His love. As a matter of fact He did all of this IN love.

Because boundaries are loving.

They protect you and they protect others. 

Examples: 

• Refusing to gossip protects others’ reputations from harmful slander. 
• Declining peer pressure protects yourself from potential sin.

So when dealing with secular relationships in faith don’t be afraid to place boundaries. 

You should be able to stand firm in your beliefs and convictions without uttering a single unloving word or displaying any unloving behavior. (Of course you’re human so it will happen from time to time but give yourself grace and then correct it)

“Love “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” – 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NIV)

Faith in Everyday Character:

When secular situations arise that challenge your faith don’t give into your hesitation to accept it. Note that I didn’t say don’t hesitate.

Hesitation is human. Running from a challenge is a choice.

“You are the light of the world… let your light shine before others.”– Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

Christians have a duty to serve others and spread the gospel and that’s not always going to look like missionary work or discipleship programs. 

Sometimes it’s going to look like:

• Praying alone in public 
• Not tolerating “casual” jokes at the expense of your faith (aka standing up for your faith) 
• Making your voice heard when the topic of God arises
• Using scripture in your personal conversations
• Asking to pray for others.

Faith doesn’t have to be overt and in their face for it to be present. You don’t have to wear a cross or an “I love Jesus” t-shirt to be an ambassador of Christ.

You show your faith through small everyday actions. Those are all little mustard seeds of faith being planted in the hearts and minds of those that may not otherwise have been exposed to the gospel.

You should look at your workplace, school, friend group, and home as your ministry. 

Anywhere a soul can be saved is a place to minister at. Though to be clear your job is to plant the seed; God saves the soul.

Ministry doesn’t have to mean preaching the gospel over your lunch break. 

It could simply mean having good character and being a good influence on your coworkers. 

Being the person who is always kind no matter how poorly you are treated or how bad the day. 

Having integrity especially when it would be easy not to. 

Not engaging in idle gossip and drama.

Refusing to hide your faith or identity in Christ because of pressure from others. 

Sometimes the most powerful seed you can plant is showing that your roots are deeply rooted in Christ. 

Being unwavering in belief can be the most influential thing you can do. 

The little wins:

Celebrate moments of faithfulness. Positive reinforcement of your faith can be very helpful!

It’s not prideful to celebrate staying calm when you’d normally get mad, going a week without gossiping, talking to someone about your faith or sharing the gospel even though you were nervous.

Those are things to celebrate and doing so creates a safe place for you to do those things again and with more confidence.

Also make sure to celebrate others’ spiritual wins. If you notice someone growing in faith, be positive about it. You can acknowledge it simply, but be careful not to overdo it as that can make people recoil. 

Reflection:

Your goal should be to grow both internally and externally in faith.

Faith shouldn’t remain purely internally any more than a light should remain under a bushel.

This week, start by coming to God in prayer and asking for a bold, strong faith.

Then challenge yourself to exercise your faith in an everyday setting or with a specific person you feel could use some. 

Maybe that means praying over a meal out loud, sharing a piece of scripture, or simply refusing to shrink your faith to make others comfortable.

Openly express your faith at work or school or with your friends or family (or maybe start with just one person).

This isn’t about performing faith for others but getting comfortable living it out loud not because you have to but because you have the blessing and ability to.

Lastly, remember Jesus was surrounded by mostly unbelievers because that was his ministry so he understands the struggle of living in a world that doesn’t understand Him and His faith.

He may not have feared sharing the gospel but he experienced the hardships and cost of doing so. 

You’re not alone and you aren’t disappointing Him by not always being able to live out your faith. He loves you unconditionally! He already died for your sins.

So, when you falter, pick yourself back up, pray and try again.

Take it one step at a time, one day at a time. Living faith out loud doesn’t require perfection–– only willingness.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the blessing of my faith! Thank You for growing and strengthening my faith daily! Thank You for giving me the opportunity to minister to others in my everyday life and be a light in the world and salt of the earth! 

Lord, I ask that You continue to be my strength and my guide as I navigate this fallen world. Please give me courage where it is needed and peace when it’s too much. 

Forgive me for the times I fall short in my faith. Please use those times to encourage and embolden me with Your Truth!

Create in me a heart of patience, kindness, empathy, and understanding towards others especially those who aren’t under Your grace yet. Give me the wisdom to understand Your perfect love and the ability to love others unconditionally as You do!

I thank You and I praise the name of Your wonderful Son Jesus Christ to which I pray,

Amen.

Check out more faith building content:

Real Life; Real Faith-

• the Practical Application of Your Faith
• Faith over Feelings
• Everyday Idols Pulling You From God
• Created for Communion: God’s Design For Faith-based Relationships
• Building Faith-Filled Relationships
• Faith In the Little Things

If you’re new to faith or just coming back:

• the Basics of Christianity
• What It Means to Be Saved
• Understanding God’s Grace and Character

Or if you missed it, check out my Living Limitless in Christ series, here.