Everybody has a form of faith. I didn’t say everyone has faith in God, but everyone has faith in something. Maybe they have faith in themselves. Maybe they have faith in a political system. Whatever it might be, everybody has a measure of faith. (By the way, I think it takes more faith to be an atheist than it takes to be a Christian.)
When we bring up the word faith, I think the problem is that we make it to mystical, when in fact we act in faith every day. But when someone says, “Have faith in God,” people think that’s insane. Listen to this: there is no safer place to put your faith than in God Himself.
What is faith and how does it work?
Practical Principles
- Faith is belief plus action. Faith isn’t just believing something. It’s acting on that thing one believes in.
- Faith does things. If you have real faith, you will do something with it. We are saved by faith, but then we live by faith.
- Faith can make the difference between something happening and not happening. God can do what He wants, where He wants, but it’s interesting how the Lord chooses to do His work through people of faith.
Relevant Reminders
- It’s easy to tell someone else to have faith, but then when you have to apply faith, it can be a different situation.
- Sometimes it seems like God isn’t listening to us, but He always is.
- God’s delays are not necessarily His denials.
- Your prayer may not be answered in the affirmative because there is unconfessed sin in your life, or you have an idol in your heart, or God wants you to keep praying.
Applicable Actions
No matter what, bring your problems to Jesus. Nothing will shock Him. Nothing will surprise Him. You might say, “I’m unworthy to approach God.” Understand that you were never worthy to approach God. But He allows us to approach Him because of what Jesus did on the cross.
When you pray, seek to find the will of God. Align yourself with it and pray with persistence.
