Do you expect to require training and practice to acquire a new skill and become proficient at it? Many believers will expect this for every area of their live except their faith. But faith can grow and gain strength by practice and experience like anything else you do. Ask those whom you consider to be strong in the faith if they started out that way. Soldiers train in a safe place before going into battle, and athletes train in a gym before competition. You can apply the same principle for the practice of your faith, looking for safe places to develop it so that it will be strong when you really need it.

If you have gone on a long journey and come home then you know the meaning of a round trip. According to the laws of geometry the distance home is the same as the distance out, although it may seem shorter or longer. Yet there is a case in which this is not true. For no matter how far you wander away from me you are only one step away from returning to me. For though you depart from me I do not depart from you. I promised to be with you always and I will keep covenant even if you don’t. At any time if you turn your attention to me you will find I was with you all along. 

Have you ever heard, to thy own self be true and you cannot be false to anyone? This is usually used as a superficial justification for people going their own way and the Biblical versions of this are there is a way that seem right to a man but the end thereof is death, and everyone did what was right in their own sight. Yet there is a reality to this concept if viewed from first principles. To be true to yourself is to recognize that you are created in the image of God. This is true of atheists even though they are alienated from their source and origin. To really be true to yourself it to be true to me. 

In polite conversation people will allow everyone to speak and even to take turns in choosing topics. It is considered rude to dominate a conversation, especially if someone with more knowledge, wisdom, and insight is shut out. Do you apply this rule to your conversations with me? How much of your prayer time is spent in listening as opposed to speaking? I have so much to say, but I will not drown you out, although you can do this to me. Which of us by virtue of wisdom and knowledge should do more of the speaking? I will if you give me the chance. Are you willing to take the next step and let me pick the topics?