Faith?
Do we REALLY have it?
Faith--- what does this word really mean to us? We
so commonly use it in daily conversation. I am in Faith for my healing… I am in
Faith for my finances… I am in Faith for a promotion. We always say this… but
my question is, Do we really know what the word means. Anyone can say they are
in Faith for something but do their actions prove it. “Without Faith it is impossible
to please God.” God expects Faith to become common in our lives as a believer.
Faith must be based off of facts that are in HIS word. Unless our Faith is
established on facts… it is not more than conjecture, superstition, speculation
or presumption. Faith is the substance of things hoped for… the evidence of
things not seen. What does that mean? In America we are so adjusted to
everything being seen and fast. Fast food, Fast service, Fast responses with
email, text and chat. We are not adjusted anymore to things being a process. We
want what we want… when we want it and we don’t want to wait. We want to
visualize things immediately and if we cant… we find ourselves easily giving up
or giving in. With this new life we have been so graciously given by the
creator of all—who loved us so much—even when we were in a mess and couldn’t help
ourselves—we are called to depend on Faith and trust him. Yes—Something you can’t
visually see. Something you have to trust in every circumstance and situation…
Is it always easy? No. Is everything always going to be the way you imagined?
No. The Faith that we started our race with is the same Faith that we must
stand, walk and live in. We are willing to believe things that seem probable to
us—or things that come easy. Faith has nothing to do with the probabilities.
God calls us to stand up—but even more than that… to step out. When Peter
stepped out on the water… it wasn’t calm… it wasn’t the known. Its was the
unknown and the storm. If we are honest--- we are scared of the unknown and the
storm and we find ourselves as Peter did… sinking—our Faith is dependent upon
our feelings and our situation. Our focus… When Peter took his focus off of
Jesus--- that’s when he began to sink. We must keep our eyes and our focus on
HIM. Real faith is always increased by opposition, while false confidence is
damaged and discouraged by it. Step out—even when it is scary… even when it is
uncomfortable. THAT is what God has called us to do. He will meet us there.
Faith is dependence on God--- This GOD dependence only starts where our self-dependence
ends. It is a great thing to learn Faith… to depend completely upon God in
EVERY circumstance and every situation. Faith is necessary in everything. We
can not trust anyone further than the point that we know them. If we don’t trust—we
can’t have Faith. May we know him--- further than just a Sunday morning or for
the real people--- even the Wednesday nights J May we know
him as a Mother knows her child. May we become so dependent on him that we step
out without questioning the next step because we know he will guide us. May we
give all—our whole life—our comfort zones--- everything--- whatever it takes to
draw nearer and nearer to him. Close enough to not only hear but to FEEL his
heartbeat. Faith—it’s a necessity.
