Now more than ever the understanding of how to apply your faith is needed. The body of Christ has shown loss of faith and power in many areas. The development of faith is more critical than ever! Political scandals are common place in the news. Sadly divorce, murder, crime, suicide, and poverty are all on the rise in today's world. Too many people have their faith built on things that are not of God! This is why when their foundations collapse and hurt them; they hurt, become hurt, and hurt others and themselves.

For a Christian the home must be strong! That can't be so when divorce continues to increase in our world.

The divorce rate in America for first marriage, vs. second or third marriage:
50% percent of first marriages, 67% of second and 74% of third marriages end in divorce, according to Jennifer Baker of the Forest Institute of Professional Psychology in Springfield, Missouri."

According to enrichment journal on the divorce rate in America:

The divorce rate in America for first marriage is 41%
The divorce rate in America for second marriage is 60%
The divorce rate in America for third marriage is 73%

Barna report: Variation in divorce rates among Christian faith groups:

Now below is shows the rates of those who have proved to operate by faith with their actions instead of just words.

"The slogan: "The family that prays together, stays together" is well known. There has been much anecdotal evidence that has led to "unsubstantiated claims that the divorce rate for Christians who attended church regularly, pray together or who meet other conditions is only 1 or 2 percent". 8 Emphasis ours]. Dr. Tom Ellis, chairman of the Southern Baptist Convention's Council on the Family said that for "...born-again Christian couples who marry...in the church after having received premarital counseling...and attend church regularly and pray daily together..." experience only 1 divorce out of nearly 39,000 marriages -- or 0.00256 percent. 9"

Those few who were successful had the faith to submit themselves to the church. They learned teachings under a man of God and exercised their faith by following the word of God.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.

However, to trust the Lord requires the knowledge how to apply your faith on a consistent basis. You have to stay inspired and stay faithful even when there is a desire to do other wise.

If you have no faith at all you care nothing about yourself. This is why suicide is on the rise was well. These are the suicide statistics from 2005.

On average, one suicide occurs every 16 minutes.

Suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death for all Americans.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people aged 15-24 year olds.
(1st = accidents, 2nd = homicide)

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for 25-34 year olds.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students

That is horrendous! Nearly every hour four people kill themselves. Saints those are faithless souls that have been lost and need our inspiration! Since the problem has magnified and transformed to something worse. No longer is it only suicides at a high rate; we now have murder suicides as well! This concept began to emerge much more about five years ago but now it is common place in the news.

The real estate market has crash and burned. The failing of the job market and banks also have sent the economy on a train wreck! Though signs of progress have begun to show only people with abundant faith in God who are optimistic will cause us to bounce back in these trying times. No matter how bad a situation looks it can be resolved but it all depends on your faith!  

Mark 10:27 - And Jesus looking unto them said, With men with it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

It is crucial as a Christian we stay inspired and encourage others as well! The world itself is in an unfamiliar area of struggle.  Everything else has failed jobs, homes, families, banks, government now what about your faith?

Faith is the key ingredient to overcome anything. No matter what fails in the world it will always comes down to people. People that are motivated to add solutions to problems during chaotic times! People who have more faith in God than fear of the challenges they face. A consistent inspiration comes through only two sources faith in God and other inspirational people.  

References:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_dira.htm

http://www.divorcerate.org/

http://www.suicide.org/

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