A simple rule of the faith

I just listened to a testimony of a young Christian woman. Here it is. It is simple. Plain. She obviously is not familiar with the tapestry of doctrine that one would find in a Reformed systematic theology, yet she seems to be somewhat familiar with her Bible. At least to some extent. She does also reference a book I'd never heard of so I googled it and it appears to be a Joyce Meyer book. I don't think she mentioned the author, so maybe there are two books with the title Battlefield of the Mind, I don't know. Just anticipating the usual attack and mocking if somebody goes to the link and sees that book referenced then accuses me of being all about some Christian TV personality, which I'm not. So be it.

What this young woman said that caught my attention though was an articulation of a real, though simple, rule she had come to regarding her faith. She sees her faith as a relationship with Jesus, yet not as that phrase is often used (a hazy, Hallmark card kind of sentiment) but as a real rule of faith that is practical level and doable. She says she makes her relationship with Jesus part of everything she does and thinks. She tries to grow in this relationship with Jesus, but the main theme seemed to be she really attempts to keep Jesus in her thoughts and by her side as she goes through life. She realizes He loves her and wants to protect her and comfort her. So this is a real, practical rule for a Christian to come to. For this young woman her faith is practical and real and focused on Jesus in a real way. She also gave hints that reading the Bible is part of how she sees all this.

It all struck me because it seemed to me (shocked me to remembrance) that much of my own thinking of the faith involves this realization that I have to be closer to God. Constantly. That He can't communicate with me or help me or guide me unless I am in a state of remembrance of Him. And this includes engaging the word of the Kingdom, the Holy Bible. So this thought of actually imagining Jesus with me, having Him in my thoughts, accompanying my thoughts, is a practical thing to do. A real rule of the day, as one might put it. I may be more interested in doctrine and in getting a parts in relation to the whole understanding of the Bible than this young woman is currently, yet I could see in her approach something plain and real and practical I knew I was missing in my own approach.