I love writing. Funneling and unpacking a thought, expressing something God has shown me, makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop. Watching someone grasp new understanding, seeing how God wired them to “get it,” brings me so much joy. So when I learn something from Him, I can’t wait to share it, hoping the next person will live with the same freedom it brought me.
So here we are again, another “connect the dots” moment God walked me through over the past year.
It started with a simple prayer for deeper, consistent wisdom. Some things I could spot a mile away, but others left me feeling scattered and worn thin. I couldn’t figure it out. For years, I had been walking through the process of authentic faith (honesty, exchanges, guts/grace). A system, He showed me, that leads to learning and pursuing Christ’s likeness. He used this method as a way to heal me from childhood trauma, teen marriage and motherhood, divorce, single motherhood, depression, insecurity, immaturity, people pleasing, resentment, unforgiveness, anger, rage…you name it. I had to learn to pursue His likeness despite it all. And honestly, that’s an ongoing process we all have to walk through if we want to uncover what we genuinely believe, align with, and who our allegiance is really to. One of the eye-opening lessons for me was realizing, not just with head knowledge but through an awakening by the Spirit, that “Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52). To grow in wisdom is to observe, discern, and learn to choose the best option based on the purpose being pursued. That got my attention. Why would Jesus, the Son of God, need to grow in wisdom?
God answered that quickly. Right before we launched our Bible studies, He directed me to dive into the book of John, but with a clear purpose: pay attention to the humanity of Christ. That caught me off guard, because John is the gospel that emphasizes His divinity more than any other. Why focus on His humanity from this gospel?
Here’s why this matters: we can’t imitate Christ’s divine nature. That belongs to Him alone. But the beauty of salvation is that His Spirit now lives in us, giving us access to His nature. As Peter wrote, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). That duality is important. Our God has given us everything, or as the ESV Study Bible notes: “all things pertaining to life.” We create systems to keep in step with the flow of His Spirit (Galatians 5:25), just like God has built systems from the very beginning. Seasons, our bodies systems, and even the order of creation itself are all designed in an order to serve a greater purpose.
And here’s why the duality of Christ is so amazing and significant for us. In His humanity, “Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52). And “Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered” (Hebrews 5:8). These are the parts we can and should imitate. He never let His focus drift from His divine purpose: to bring God glory. That’s our model. In our humanity, we face distractions, pressure, and competing desires. But the call is the same: keep our focus anchored in God’s purpose for His glory. When we do, our choices, habits, and systems begin to align with how He operates instead of our own impulses.
Authentic Faith is the root of what we believe and receive from God. Practical + Faith is the structure that helps us live it out with consistency, strategy, and proof that we are sincere about our faith.
When we fail to create systems in our lives, we’re dropping the ball and making faith harder to sustain. Faith alone is powerful, but Scripture teaches us that faith is expressed through practical living. (Hello, Proverbs has entered the chat.) Allegiance, wisdom, choices, and discernment connect our hearts to our actions for the practical side of what we say we believe. So, if you’ve ever wondered why areas of your heart have been uprooted but you struggle to maintain a consistent life of authentic faith, the first place to check is your systems, or the lack thereof. Show me where your life is struggling, whether in relationships, mentally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually, and I’ll show you where there is a dismantled system. And here’s the kicker: none of this is new. It’s just not the “big wow” in the Christian circle. Attributes like God’s order, structure, wisdom, systems, discipline, and accountability. However, it is the John-the-Baptist flow to maturity and reinforcing Christlikeness, preparing the way (Mark 1:3). Consider this. If God has to stop and get our attention just to put things in order, then we’ve already interrupted the flow of how He operates, because “God is not a God of confusion but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33). The Greek word used for “confusion” here, akatastasia, means instability, disorder, or disturbance. In other words, God’s ways bring structure and peace to our lives, not chaos.
Why systems are important
Ever notice how nothing God does stands in isolation? Not even the Godhead. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit move in perfect unity. That unity is the model; multiple parts working together as one. The same is true for the systems God designed. There’s always a unifying flow, where different pieces come together to create balance for us and evidence of “on earth as it is in heaven.” That balance confirms we are moving in step with God, and at the same time, it reflects His power and character. We can’t create systems outside of Him or without Him. And the beauty is that He loves us enough to invite us into that process, His system. Creating deepened unity with us, while teaching us how to live in order, connection, and alignment with Him. We get to actively participate by doing our part: using the wisdom and discernment He gives, the creativity He’s placed in us, and demonstrating the likeness of Christ in everyday life. It’s evidence, both to us and to the world, of who we belong to. We use systems for a higher and greater purpose because our best life should lead to eternal life. Think of it this way, when we finally bring our lives into operating for Kingdom purpose, it’s as if we’re sending a signal to heaven: “I’m ready when You are.” That kind of order is an open welcome for God to move in every space and place in our lives.
We limit our maturity when we selectively choose where and how we want God to show up in our lives. However, practical faith systems are designed to maintain authentic faith and relationship with God, our family and our neighbor. Authentic Faith establishes what we believe. Practical + Faith is how we live it out, systematically and strategically, so that everything continues to flow from authenticity. Systems are not “extra”; they’re markers of growth and a shift in our point of view. Our lifestyle should look very different from the world’s. Our intentions have been flushed out, our motivations are pure and we want to bring God’s peace into those who are apart of our lives. When our systems start to break down, it’s often a sign that our focus and purpose have already shifted away from God’s. And since He is a God of order, the breakdown usually reveals that disorder has crept in. Here’s what I mean when I say practical faith is a significant point in receiving. That can be a range of godly blessings. From bearing more fruit, more abundant living (not just money) and what’s next from the hand of God for your life.
For context and an example, consider John 6:1-15, where Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand. That title alone speaks volumes about the order of God. Think about this: how would we even know how many Jesus fed without order? I’m getting ahead of myself…Let’s find out.
jesus used systems
I love this passage of Scripture because we usually only focus on the divinity of Christ, but miss the practicality woven into how he handled the situation from a human point of view first. Let’s dive in. (Deep Dive Tip: A practical practice that’s useful for bible study is comparing the same story across all four Gospels to catch different perspectives.) I caution you, don’t let familiarity fool you because there’s more here than meets the eye. Pay attention to how strategic and practical Jesus was before the miraculous move of God.
Don’t let familiarity fool you—there’s more here than meets the eye. Watch how strategic and practical Jesus was before the miraculous move of God.
- Jesus noticed the crowd. He paid attention to what was happening. Cross-referencing the other Gospels, we see He was also trying to give the disciples rest after serving so many.
- He asked Philip a straightforward question: “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” Philip responded practically—they didn’t have the money. Andrew chimed in about the boy with five barley loaves and two fish, but quickly dismissed it as not enough.
- Jesus introduced a system. He told the disciples to have the people sit down, and John notes there was much grass in the area (Psalm 23:2).
- The people were seated. About five thousand men, plus women and children, all accounted for. Imagine being in a crowded room where you can’t even see past the person in front of you, let alone count thousands. By seating them in groups, as the other Gospels record, Jesus created order in the middle of chaos.
- His strategy created clarity. Now the fish and bread could be distributed in an organized way, and even more importantly, the people could witness the miracle itself: the breaking of the bread and the multiplication of the fish.
What could have been overwhelming became both orderly and undeniably miraculous. Nothing is too big for God, but He often moves where there is structure and preparations have been made to receive. That’s His nature and our example. That’s the point. We need systems to structure our personal lives, too. Keep in mind, authentic faith is always the starting point because the work means nothing and bears no fruit if it doesn’t flow from a sincere place in our hearts towards God’s purpose and plan. Without God’s presence, our efforts fall flat, and we know the opposite is also true. When God is in it, there’s no denying it. You are left with the unmistakable evidence and marks of His presence. That’s why Practical+Faith matters. It’s the feet on our faith, it bears fruit, and without it, our lives would be chaos.
real life connection
Take our bodies, for example. Scripture tells us they are temples of the Holy Spirit. But do we have systems that allow us to have the ability to physically keep up with the Spirit? Do we steward our health through training and eating in ways that sustain us long-term? Many of us are winging it. We don’t seek the nutritionist or even the Scriptures to learn some methods to eat healthier. We don’t make a grocery list so we don’t buy unhealthy food. We don’t regulate how often we eat out. Most are not paying attention. Another example, look at our homes, if my house is cluttered, eventually my mind and thoughts will feel cluttered, too. Yet, many of us don’t make a system that works for us. For example, a practice in our home is to clean up at night so we can wake up with a fresh start. No stressful ugh feelings before we even start the day because we know we need to clean something.
This is a common one I often see and one I have to stay on top of. Time management. When we don’t have time for things that are important to us, it’s because our time is not managed well. We scroll when we should be working on something for ourselves that God wants us to do. Instead, we watch others live a life of highlights. Or in my case watching yet another renovation show. What if we created a system that limited our time scrolling or watching to 30 – 45 minutes and use at least an hour preparing for something we’ve been putting off or neglecting. Not everything is “the devil”; often, it’s our lack of a system to keep our lives in order and consistent with who God says we are and what we’re called to do.
Do you see the connection? Authentic faith must translate into lifestyle, and that’s where practical + faith comes in. Did you notice, Jesus already knew the supernatural work He was about to do before He ever asked Philip that practical question. The same is true for us. God knows what He wants to do in and through our lives, but are we preparing ourselves with systems that can handle it or maintain it in continuous honor of God? This applies to every part of who we are: mind, emotions, body, and spirit.
More Scripture References:
- Psalm 23:2
- Exodus 18:21–27
- Matthew 7:24
- Hebrews 12:11
- 1 Timothy 4:7-8
Pause + Pray
Take a moment to pause and ask God to show you where He’s calling you to align your faith with practical order. Use these prompts to guide your pause + prayer time:
- Mind: Where do my thoughts feel cluttered, distracted, or scattered? What system could help me keep my focus anchored in God’s purpose? (2 Corinthians 10:5)
- Emotions: Are there unresolved feelings, such as resentment, fear, anger, or jealousy, that disrupt my ability to live authentically? How can I build rhythms that keep my heart soft and surrendered? (Psalm 51:6)
- Body: Am I caring for my body as God’s temple? What daily choices in rest, exercise, or nutrition would help me stay in step with the Spirit? (1 Corinthians 6:19–20)
- Spirit: What spiritual disciplines (prayer, Scripture, community, accountability) do I need to strengthen so that my faith consistently flows into fruitful works? (James 2:14-26)
Ready to Build Your Own Systems?
If during your pause + prayer, you realized some areas of your life need to be brought into alignment with the way the Kingdom operates, you don’t have to figure it out alone. That’s why we created The S.Y.S.T.E.M.
It’s a step-by-step framework that teaches you how to:
- See Your Patterns that keep pulling you off track
- Yield to Purpose so you align with God’s will
- Simplify the Habit to make obedience sustainable
- Tailor to Your Style so your system fits your life
- Establish Anchors that keep you grounded
- Measure + Modify as you grow
The SYSTEM is practical, strategic, and rooted in how the Kingdom operates. It’s designed to help you build systems that keep your authentic faith alive, active, and consistent, so your life bears lasting fruit.
Authentic Faith and Practical Faith move together with one purpose, to glorify God in every area of life.
