FAITH: Illuminating Your Way Forward.

Sometimes, when life feels like it’s crashing down around you, when the noise of the world drowns out every whisper of hope, I find myself clinging to something so fragile yet so fierce - faith. And alongside it, grace. Oh, grace... that mysterious, unearned gift that somehow lifts us when we’re too broken to stand. You ever wonder why these two concepts - faith and grace - hold such power? Why they’re not just words tossed around in Sunday sermons, but lifelines thrown to the drowning? Let me take you on a journey through the raw, unfiltered truth about the importance of faith and how grace sneaks in to rewrite our stories.

Why the Importance of Faith Can’t Be Overstated

Look, I get it. Faith sounds like one of those abstract, fluffy ideas that only make sense when everything’s perfect. But here’s the brutal truth - faith is the backbone when everything else falls apart. It’s not about blind belief or wishful thinking. It’s about trusting in something bigger than yourself when the ground beneath you feels like quicksand. Hebrews 11:1 - Now Faith is the substance of things hope for, and the evidence of things not yet seen.

Think about it: when you’re facing a storm - maybe a health crisis, a broken relationship, or a job loss - what keeps you going? it’s the importance of faith that reminds us to hold on, to believe that there’s a purpose beyond pain. These principles aren’t just rules; they’re lifelines. They teach us to:

• Stand firm even when doubt creeps in

• Seek God’s guidance in the uncertainty

• Believe in the unseen promises that whisper hope is for you and me.

  
  

And here’s the kicker - faith isn’t static. It grows, it falters, it fights. But it never truly dies if you nurture it. It’s like a mustard seed planted deep in the soil of your soul, waiting for the right moment to burst into life.

How Grace Changes Everything When You Feel Unworthy

Now, let’s talk about grace. If faith is the backbone, grace is the breath that fills your lungs when you think you can’t take another step. Grace is the unmerited favour that God extends to us - not because we deserve it, but because He loves us fiercely and relentlessly.

Recently, I have had some dreams that I believe speak directly to this concept. It certainly has been illuminating for me. In a dream about a week ago, I was standing in what looked like a bedroom, a place of intimacy. on the roof of the room, I noticed three bulbed illuminated lights on the ceiling, striking me as odd and on the wall directly in front of me, a fourth bulbed light also illuminated. As I noticed these I awoke and very quickly the Lord began bringing me revelation around what I had seen. He quickly led me to Genesis 1:14 - which is the fourth day of creation, and the day God said, "Let there be light, and so it was, and it was good". I understood what he was showing me both personally, and for the larger body of Chris at this time.

He was revealing that we are entering a time of illumination. What has been in darkness, will be illuminated by his merciful light as we press into a place of intimacy with Him, bringing clarity and a re-focus of vision to our paths, but also highlighting the fact that He is the guiding light we not only need but should be seeking as relentlessly as He seeks us. That is the extending of His Grace. If you have been feeling as if the path forward is veiled, hold steady because God is about to illuminate your path forward. I guess the question I ask, both myself and you, the reader is; Are you able to hold the space of Grace for yourself, extending patience as He begins to illuminate your path? God's Grace teaches us:

• To forgive ourselves and others

• To accept love even when we feel unworthy

• To move forward without the heavy chains of past mistakes

  
  

It’s not easy to accept grace. Our pride, our fear, our self-judgment get in the way sometimes. But when you finally let it in, it’s like a floodgate opens, washing away the despair and filling you with peace.

Grace symbolised by a single candle illuminating darkness

What are the 7 Levels of Grace?

You might be wondering - are there different kinds of grace? Is it just one big, overwhelming gift, or does it come in stages? The answer is yes, grace has layers, and understanding these can deepen your spiritual walk.

Here’s a breakdown of the 7 levels of grace that many many teachers talk about:

1. Common Grace - The grace that sustains all life, regardless of belief.

2. Saving Grace - The grace that brings salvation and new life.

3. Sanctifying Grace - The grace that transforms and makes us holy.

4. Sustaining Grace - The grace that supports us through trials.

5. Cooperating Grace - The grace that enables us to work with God’s will.

6. Prevenient Grace - The grace that goes before us, preparing our hearts.

7. Actual Grace - The grace that prompts us to act in specific moments, by His leading.

   
   

Each level is like a step on a ladder, pulling us closer to God’s heart and purpose. Recognizing these layers helps us see grace not as a one-time event but as a continuous, evolving experience. On the fourth day of creation, God saw what was needed, light, and spoke that into existence. He will and does do the very same thing now for each of us. He sees what is needed and provides a way for us to access it.

Lighting Your Way

Okay, so now you’re probably thinking, “This all sounds beautiful, but how do I actually live it?” Here’s the raw, honest truth - cultivating faith and grace isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up, even when you don’t feel like it, and believe me, this morning, I didn't feel like it. But here is the hard and fast truth, being present when you feel like recoiling is a good place to start. It starts with our hearts. Surrendering our own differing levels of darkness that may be hiding in the deepest recesses of our hearts. Any light He brings has to begin within us and often, the darkness we feel stems from the root of un-forgiveness or offense we may be unknowingly carrying. We have to get out of our own way and let Him dig it up. Please don't get me wrong, I am not suggesting for a moment that our pain and hurts don't matter to God, they do, immensely. But we can't live there, we can't get stuck there. So, what places in your heart are still holding the sting of hurt that you may be holding onto and are you courageous enough to hand that same heart to Jesus with a simple request ' Fix it Lord?'

Here are some steps that have helped me - maybe they’ll help you too:

• Start small with prayer - Even a few words whispered in the quiet can shift your heart today. Say this quick prayer with me: ' Heavenly Father, I lift up my heart to you today and ask you to search the hurts hidden in the secret places of my heart and help me to come to a place of forgiveness. I know Lord, you see my heart, you see every hurt, but I don't want those hurts to drive my actions, just your word to light my path. Help me to forgive as you forgive me and release your Grace, in my life as I move forward with you. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.

• Read scripture with intention - Don’t just skim; let the words sink in and challenge you. This morning, I was in 1 Kings 9:4, which speaks of God answering Solomons prayer by highlighting the importance of walking before Him faithfully, with integrity of heart and uprightness as David, his father did. A convicting word for sure, but one I'm glad I pondered.

• Surround yourself with community - Find people who encourage your faith, who pray with you and for you when it gets heavy. Having prayer warriors as friends, is a game changer. (You know who you are)

• Practice forgiveness - This one’s tough but essential. Let go of grudges and open space for grace.

• Serve others - Sometimes, faith grows strongest when we step outside ourselves to help someone else, without expecting anything in return, and when we do that, we may infact, be illuminating another's path. Never discount the impact a moment you choose kindness can have on another or how God could be working through you to reach them.

  
  

Remember, faith and grace are not destinations but journeys. They ebb and flow like tides, and that’s okay.

Quiet space for prayer and reflection.

Why Holding Onto Faith Can Be Your Anchor in the Storm

When the world feels like it’s spinning out of control, when fear and uncertainty claw at your heart, the importance of faith becomes crystal clear. They are the anchor that keeps you grounded, the compass that points you back to hope.

I’ve been there - staring into the abyss, wondering if God even hears me. But faith whispers back, “I am here.” It’s not always loud or dramatic. Sometimes it’s a quiet assurance, a gentle nudge, a peace that defies logic.

And grace? It’s the safety net that catches you when you fall, reminding you that you’re never alone, no matter how dark the night.

Praise Is Your Weapon

Over the last week or so, I have certainly discerned a heavier feeling of weightiness that has been present. As I have pressed in in prayer and surrender, the Lord has imparted strategy that I would like to now impart to you. Praise. The Lord has whispered, ' Praise is your weapon'. AS you praise, He will illuminate.

Things don't need to be perfect,but there is something intrinsically beautiful about the way a voice sounds when a whispered 'Lord, you are good' falls from our lips. It's messy, it’s beautiful, and it’s real.

The only thing that can ever stop us from seeing His light and living in His grace is ourselves and our own darkness. Let the God of all creation speak a better word over you today. Let the light Jesus call us to be, be the light illuminating your path, your heart, your spirit. Forgive, release and walk forward with a conviction in your spirit. He is good, all the time. Because the reality is -- He is. Details friends, that's where you find Him.

I love you.

Priscilla xx.