Reckless Faith

Psalm 125 ver 1

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." – Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

Man by nature is associated with careful consideration, prudent planning, and a sensible approach. Recklessness is irresponsible. But when it comes to trusting God, we'll, a reckless faith is what God wants! Complete and total dependence on Him alone. That does not mean a person needing medicines should not take them.

But what about "reckless faith"? It sounds almost irresponsible, doesn't it? Yet, when we look at the lives of many biblical heroes, we see a striking pattern of audacious, seemingly reckless trust in God.

Consider Abraham, who left everything familiar to go to a land he'd never seen, simply because God told him to. Or Moses, confronting the most powerful ruler of his time with nothing but a staff and God's promise. Think of David, a young shepherd boy, facing a giant with just a sling and five smooth stones. These weren't calculated risks; they were acts of radical, reckless faith.

Reckless faith isn't about being foolish or ignoring wisdom. It's about being so utterly convinced of God's character and His promises that we are willing to step out into the unknown, even when it defies all logical explanation. It's trusting that His whispered word is louder than the world's loudest doubts. It's choosing to believe in His provision even when our cupboards are bare, in His healing when the doctors have given up, and in His way when all other paths seem blocked.

Perhaps there's an area in your life today where God is inviting you to practice a little "reckless faith." Is He calling you to forgive someone when it feels impossible? To pursue a dream that seems too big? To give generously when your resources feel scarce?

It takes courage to embrace reckless faith, because it often means letting go of our need for control and certainty. It means being willing to look foolish in the eyes of the world, for the sake of God's glory. But the reward? A front-row seat to witness God's incredible power at work, and a deepening of our intimacy with the One who calls us to step out of the boat and walk on water.

Don't be afraid to be a little "reckless" in your faith today. God isn't looking for perfect plans; He's looking for trusting hearts.

The Hedge Of Protection

Expanding further on the concept of a trouble filled world and Gods hedge of protection,

A core tension in Christian faith is acknowledging a fallen, broken world while still believing in a God who is both powerful and loving. That is quite a dichotomy.

​The answer lies in understanding the difference between God guaranteeing a trouble-free life and Him providing a hedge of protection within a troubled world.

​Praying for a "hedge of protection" is a powerful act of faith that is rooted in several key theological concepts:

​1. Acknowledging God's Sovereignty and Power

​The phrase "hedge of protection" comes directly from the book of Job. In Job 1:10, Satan complains to God about Job, saying, "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has?"

​This passage teaches us that God's protection is not a passive force; it is an active, deliberate, and sovereign act. When we pray for a hedge of protection, we are not demanding that God act on our behalf. Instead, we are acknowledging that He alone has the power to place a barrier between us and the forces of evil and harm. It is an act of submission and dependence, a recognition that our safety ultimately rests in His hands.

​2. Acknowledging the Reality of Spiritual Warfare

​The Bible teaches that there is a real, unseen spiritual battle taking place. The "disaster and death" that came into the world through Adam's sin are not just random events; they are often the result of spiritual forces of evil seeking to harm humanity and thwart God's purposes.

​Praying for a hedge of protection is a recognition of this reality. It is a specific prayer for divine intervention against spiritual attacks, temptations, and the schemes of the enemy. It's an appeal for God to restrain the influence of evil in our lives, our families, and our communities.

​3. God's Promise to Intervene and Provide in the Midst of Trouble

​While God does not promise to remove all suffering from our lives, He does promise to be with us, strengthen us, and often intervene on our behalf. The prayer for a hedge of protection is a way of appealing to this aspect of God's character. It is a prayer for:

• ​Physical Safety: Averting accidents, protecting us from violence, and providing healing.

• ​Emotional and Mental Health: Guarding our minds and hearts from despair, anxiety, and fear.

• ​Spiritual Protection: Shielding us from temptations and attacks on our faith.

​In this way, the prayer is not an escape from reality, but an act of hope within it. It's a statement that while the world is broken, God is still a loving Father who actively cares for His children and is willing to intervene in their lives.

​Summary:

​The prayer for a "hedge of protection" is not a contradiction of the reality of a fallen world. Rather, it is an essential part of living in it. It acknowledges that the world is dangerous due to sin but affirms that God is greater than the danger. It is a prayer that seeks God's active intervention and provision in a world where trouble is inevitable, trusting that His presence and power can and will shield us from harm according to His sovereign will.

A Broken Life

                                          

Many people, including Christians, often ask - "when God loves us why does He allow bad things to happen to us? Why is there so much suffering, death and disaster in the world, affecting mostly everyone?"

The answer lies in the fall of Adam and Eve, a fact we gloss over as a story in Sunday school but is in fact the very foundation of our lives today. It highlights the seriousness of thier act of disobedience and rebellion. It all comes down to choices - what we choose to do as opposed to what God would like us to do.

Christianity teaches that God created humanity with free will—the genuine ability to choose between good and evil. This freedom is considered a necessary component for true love and a meaningful relationship with God. However, with the gift of free will comes the possibility of choosing sin, which introduced evil, pain, and suffering into the world. How?

Human Choice: Many theologians argue that a significant portion of the suffering in the world is a direct result of human choices, both on an individual and a collective level. God could intervene to prevent every instance of harm, but doing so would essentially negate free will and turn humanity into robots, incapable of genuine love, morality, or relationship with Him.

The biblical story of the Fall in Genesis describes how humanity's first choice to disobey God brought about a brokenness that affects all of creation. This is the origin of a world we made - where natural disasters, disease, and other forms of suffering are present, not because God wills them, but because of the consequences of that one act of rebellion.

God did not remove His hedge of perfect protection: we chose to walk out of it. Reason: curiosity, ambition, selfishness, greed,

So now we have to prove ourselves

As a consequence of Adam's disobedience, God "cursed" the ground (Genesis 3:17). This is a metaphorical way of saying that the world was no longer in its pristine, perfect state. It became subject to futility, decay, and disorder.

​Think of Adam as the CEO of a company. When he makes a disastrous decision (his act of disobedience), the entire company (the human race) suffers the consequences. The company's future is ruined, and the effects of that decision (like bankruptcy) affect every employee, even if they had no say in the choice. In this analogy, the "bankruptcy" is the reality of spiritual death, physical decay, and suffering that now defines the human experience.

​In summary, Adam's act of disobedience brought disaster and death into the world not as a simple, individual punishment, but as a fundamental, corporate change in the state of humanity and the world itself. His one choice corrupted the nature of all people and the world they inhabit, making all of us vulnerable to sin, suffering, and death

Then why do we pray for His hedge of protection?

The answer lies in understanding the difference between God guaranteeing a trouble-free life and Him providing a hedge of protection within a troubled world.