Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
For we walk by faith, not by sight: 2nd Corinthians 5:7
The word appears in the Bible 402 times and these are a couple of my favorite verses pertaining to that important word: faith. How important is faith in your life? What is faith? Dictionary.com says:
1. confidence or trust in a person or thing.
2. belief in God or in the doctrines of teachings of religionj
Want to know something even more important about faith – it’s a noun. A noun is a quality; it’s not a verb or action, but instead it describes something we have, something we can display. This should change our outlook on the word and make it even more of a realization that we depend on God for this trait. Romans 10:17 (NIV) says:
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Faith comes to us, we don’t get it without God. This was a huge turn around in my walk with God. Once we realize that God gives us faith, then we should have more of a understanding of why we go through some of things we do. If faith comes to us, it has to come in trusting God. The next time you find yourself in a particularly tough situation, think about it as being a faith growing exercise. That doesn’t mean that every trial we go through will be a faith building exercise, instead when we are going through a trial, pray that God will reveal to you what he wants you to learn from it. We know God puts us in these situations to gain faith, to discipline us, and to make us more fruitful (read John 15:1-5).
God wants us to be faithful, He loves us and wants to walk with us daily; so don’t lose site of Him and keep your heart focused on Him that you may grow and become more faithful!
Filed under: Devotion | Tagged: Faith, God gives faith, Hebrews 11:1
Faith is an awesome thing. The source of all the promises of God flow out of faith. It is His failthfulness that is awesome. When we realize He is faithful even when we are not, then we begin to become established “in the faith.” I do believe that every trial we go through can be a faith building exercise. In fact, every moment of every day can be a faith building exercise. Every day will produce moments when we can walk out some part of the sermon on the mount. Of course we will fail, but the promises are made to those who overcome. When we fail, when we fall, then it is incumbant upon us to get back up again. And of course, we have a whole cloud of witnesses cheering us on in the race of life. ……………….Frank