Faithful Is As Faithful Does

One of the most iconic lines from the movie Forrest Gump was “Stupid is as stupid does.” It always makes me chuckle a bit when I hear it, highlighting the fact that people should be judged by their actions, not their appearance.

I’ve spun it differently over the years, saying, “Faithful is as faithful does,” willing myself to not grow tired in doing good to people. I know that, in the proper time, a time only God will calculate, it will reap a harvest. (Gal. 6:9-10)

In keeping with this thought, I’ve appreciated author Eugene Peterson’s definition of faithfulness, as “a long obedience in the same direction.”

I was in one of those seasons a few months back at the end of an event at Northstar we call Prophetic Prayer and Communion.

It was a Sunday evening, and I had been on my feet all day long, preparing and ministering. The ache in the back was reminding me that I’m not as fit as I used to be. I was generally pleased with the ministry that had happened over the last hours. However, I’m not going to lie, I was in shutdown mode. I was anticipating getting home, kicking my feet up, and relaxing.

However, as is always the case, there are those who want to check in, or talk about what did or did not happen, or simply ask for additional prayer. I do welcome these requests, and often find myself locking up the building because of them. This evening was no different. The room cleared out, but then coming back through the main doors was a friend of mine. She walked deliberately right up to me and asked if I would pray for her. She described a lump on her neck about which was causing great concern to her.

She said other things, but honestly, I was so tired, I just smiled and said, “Let’s ask Jesus about it.” I placed my hands on either side of her neck, not something I’d usually do, and I asked God to release His healing power upon her. 

"One who is faithful in very little is also faithful in much."
Luke 16:10

Honestly, it wasn’t one of my best prayers, but it didn’t matter because a "suddenly of God" happened.

She felt around her neck and, to her astonishment, the lump felt smaller to her. She began to burst with the reality of God being present. 

Understandably, I quickly became very engaged. “Let’s pray again,” I said. With hands on her neck, praying, I could feel the small lump shrink beneath my fingers until it was gone, totally. Amazing! She was overcome with the manifest presence of Jesus healing her right on the spot. She wept and praised and laughed all at the same time. I said, “That’s how He does it sometimes, isn’t He good?” “He is, He is!” she cried, sharing with the people still milling around the room.

It was absolutely beautiful. I was struck with how normal it all seemed. My back still hurt, my feet still ached, but Jesus had worked a miracle right in front of me! A few minutes later her husband came in, overjoyed, having announced it in the parking lot to those who were there.

Several weeks later, she was asked to share testimony before our church congregation of what Jesus had done. It was there that I learned of the anxiety of a lost job, combined with this health scare. She had felt rejected and unseen. The attendance at that prayer event was a sincere reach for God, and though she’d received prayer several times, no one mentioned the specific things for which she was hoping. Afterwards, sitting in the car feeling sad, she felt the Lord nudge her heart with a thought: “Go back in and ask for prayer, you’ll regret it if you don’t.”

So, she ran back inside, intending to ask for prayer. She just happened to run into me. To be honest, in that moment, I’m convinced God would have moved through anyone who offered a faithful prayer. God’s just good like that, He’s no respecter of people. Jesus is as Jesus does, you might say. 

The coordination of such evenings can feel laborious at times, but in the end it’s always worth it. “Faithful is as faithful does,” I hear inside. 

Luke 16:10, says, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much…”

And because we’re His friends, from time to time, He pulls back the curtain and lets us see even more. 

What small things are faithfully holding you?

TRUST Prayer Tool
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFhjhljyK-E