In our journey of faith, many of us expect a straight, upward path, only to be surprised by its peaks and valleys. Faith is better understood as a wave, not a straight line. It is natural to experience a rhythm of high points, where grace feels immediate and intense, and low points, where we may feel numb, apathetic, or disconnected.
However, the real danger is not the existence of these high or low points themselves. The true risk lies in losing focus on Jesus during these fluctuations. At the low points, numbness can pull our attention away. At the high points, anxiety and a sense of being overwhelmed can do the same, stealing our attention from the one Person who can steady us: Jesus Christ. This document outlines three core principles for navigating these waves and maintaining a steady spiritual center.
1. The Anchor: The Principle of the “Purity Centerline”
The key to safely navigating the waves of faith is to maintain a “Purity Centerline.” This concept of purity is not about achieving moral perfection or maintaining a certain emotional state. Instead, it is a specific orientation of the mind.
Purity is a state of mind where one’s direction toward Jesus remains unclouded. It is not about the condition of our heart but the direction of our gaze. It is the act of protecting our line of sight toward Jesus.
Maintaining this centerline requires not just willpower, but a set of three anchors that correspond to truth, our inner spirit, and our ultimate focus.
2. The Three Pillars of a Steady Faith
Three core pillars work together to help us hold fast to the “Purity Centerline” amidst the natural fluctuations of faith.
• The Word (Logos): The Word acts as our fixed reference point. The term Logos points to divine reason and the unchanging, objective nature of Scripture, which is why it fixes our spiritual centerline like an anchor, preventing us from drifting regardless of our emotional highs or lows.
• Prayer (Ruach): Prayer is the disciplined act of realigning our heart. Ruach is the word for “spirit” or “breath,” reminding us that prayer is our spiritual respiration—the vital act of turning our internal focus back toward God’s Spirit.
• The Character of Jesus (Agape): Focusing on the character of Jesus is how we bring our gaze back to its center after it has wandered. Agape is selfless, divine love, and focusing on it pulls us away from self-centered anxieties or self-pity and restores our ultimate direction toward God.
Together, these three pillars ensure that the “wave” of our faith, whether high or low, is always oriented upward, toward God. These principles provide the “what,” but their value is found in how we apply them.
3. Practical Application: Staying Centered at Highs and Lows
The strategy for maintaining the Purity Centerline differs depending on whether we are experiencing a spiritual low or a high.
Navigating Spiritual Lows (Numbness)
The key is to maintain “small units” of engaging the Word (Logos) and Prayer (Ruach). This is an act of sheer will, not emotion, designed to prevent our gaze from fading completely when feelings are absent.
Navigating Spiritual Highs (Overheating)
The key is “temperance”—an act of consciously focusing only on the responsibility Jesus has given you. This practice, rooted in the Character of Jesus (Agape), is the antidote to the anxiety and fear that masquerade as spiritual fervor.
Conclusion: The Unchanging Center
The low points will pass, and the high points will also pass. These are temporary states. What does not change, however, is the centerline—our focused gaze on Jesus. Therefore, in every season, your primary work is not to change your feelings, but to guard your focus.
May you have a blessed day, staying on the purity centerline and keeping your eyes on Jesus.
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