The Declaration of the Downcast

John Stumbo, whom Pastor Dave referred to in the opening words of Sunday’s sermon, pastored a large Alliance church in Oregon before contracting a devastating disease that nearly killed him. Partially recovered, John still cannot swallow and has numerous other limitations, but can drive and work part-time in an associate position at his church.

On his blog, John recently posted his declaration of faith, and encouraged his readers to use it to assert their own faith. “Remember,” he wrote, “this isn't a prayer, but a declaration of faith. Speak it boldly.” Maybe you’ll even want to use it for awhile in your daily devotional time, or start each day by proclaiming it to the Lord:

DECLARATION OF FAITH

In Him we live and move and have our being.

Christ is here. He is with us.
Christ is present. He is among us.

I believe we will be recipients of His grace every day we live. With David I believe that goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives. With Paul I rejoice that nothing can separate us from God's love. With Mary, I accept His divine plan for our lives and say, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said."

Christ is here. He is with me.
Christ is present. He is surrounding me.

I believe I will be a recipient of His grace this very day. I don't know if today will bring the grace of physical healing or the grace to have the courage and strength to thrive in my brokenness. But I celebrate that both are acts of grace, both are from His good hand.

Christ is here. He is with us.
Christ is present. He is among us.

I believe that, as we have eyes to see them, we will encounter evidences of His grace today. He has no old mercies. They are ever new. He is never thwarted by evil, but can always bring good out of the worst situations if we let Him. He is the God who can redeem anything.

Christ is here. He is with me.
Christ is present. He is encompassing me.

I believe that His grace will invade my world as I walk it today. I know that as long as I live in this fallen world, I will face hardship. But I also know that I can be of good cheer--I can live with joyful courage--because the One who has overcome the world goes before me.

Christ is here. He is with me.
Christ is present. He envelopes me.

I believe that His grace will be sufficient through all of life. Even when my path takes me to the valley of death, I will have no reason to fear for He is with me. With that being settled, I can more fully embrace all he has for me this day, for I am alive. I am alive in Him.

Indeed, it is in Him that we live and move and have our being.




(For further reflection, here are the Scriptures that are directly or indirectly referenced in the above: Acts 17:28, Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5-6, Psalm 23:6, Romans 8:39, Luke 1:38, Genesis 50:20, John 16:33, Psalm 23:4)

Grateful to be on this journey with you,
John