[Hebrews 11:1 (NLTse)] Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
So, here I sit at the computer asking God some interesting questions about my life, my future, my calling, and about things I just can't see...Ah, FAITH.
I have a difficult time liking FAITH, because I enjoy seeing things actually happening; and actually seeing things gives me assurance. If I see the chair, I am secure in knowing I can sit down on it. I will even approach it and confidently sit down.
FAITH is like being blind-folded, having someone tell me they will lead me to a chair and positioning me right next to it, telling me to sit down. Now, it really matters WHO I am placing my faith in; who I am placing my trust in; who I am placing my hope in. So now I am really asking myself an interesting question.... Who am I listening to and who am I placing my FAITH in? This world is so backward. Think about it, the physical realm-earthly realm is 100% "real" and the spiritual realm-heavenly realm is 100% unseen. Yet, this "real" world is only temporary and full of smoke and mirrors and the heavenly realm is what is REAL!
So, I am learning about FAITH differently as I ponder this with you...FAITH is the real deal and I need to place it in the REAL God, allowing Him to guide me to sit down in an imaginary chair that will hold my weight because GOD says it will. FAITH in the wrong person (myself, the world, the enemy) will not work, I will still be guided to sit down on an imaginary chair that will not hold my weight because only God has to power to uphold me.
We all have FAITH...the real question and answer is WHO do we place our FAITH in!
There are insane people who have FAITH, and there are people full of FAITH following the world or false gods...they are even willing to die (and take others with them) because of their FAITH.
So, as I put my FAITH upon God, and as I am learning to trust and hope in Him, I can place my FAITH more and more securely in Him and He does grow my FAITH in balance with the amount of trust and hope I have in Him. I am holding on to promises from God because I do trust Him, and as my walk with God has grown over time He has consistently told me to sit and I have found myself sitting comfortably in His presence, waiting upon the Lord.... and I am becoming more and more FAITHFUL and strengthened in my FAITH, LOVE, and HOPE in the Lord. There are things I am told will be mine one day, I look around and don't see it at all, not a shred of real evidence that this will come true. Now because these promises came from God; I have the FAITH to believe the reality of God's Word over the "reality" of the things I currently see myself in.
Then I wonder how to grow my faith. Is it something that I build up, something God can give me, and is it something that I can pray to have more of? I believe the answer is yes, to all three questions.
When I prayerfully intercede for others or pray for my own stuff it helps build my faith. When God stuff manifest in my life and in those around me, it builds my faith.
Since God is the source of all good things, then it is God that gives me faith. I do believe He will either place me in positions and situations where I can "see" the supernatural occur and it will grow my faith, in increasing measures as I see more and more often, and I do pray for more faith opportunities.
There are times when God will manifest things into the earthly realm, in answers to my faith (and prayer) and this will cause me to grow in faith and more confident in my hope of things yet unseen...cool stuff.
I love praying for more faith, more faith opportunities (putting it to the test), AND praying for more confirmations of right-placed faith to make sure I am calibrated and plugged in to what God is doing and wanting to do in and through my life.
Some people may say that it is weak to ask for signs; that Gideon's fleece test is not a sign of a "mature" Christian. Well, okay, I'll take that one, and pray that I grow to the point where I can always simply move in total faith. Not seeking confirmations, or revelations, until then, I'll ask the Lord for wisdom, I will seek His counsel, and I will take bigger bites of faith in the dark. Okay, maybe with one eye open on occasion...getting better at this along the way.
I'd even say that my faith is much stronger and bolder than even 9 months ago, so looking forward to where I'll be in my increasing measures of faith in 9 years from now. Again, cool stuff.
So, where am I at now?
I am more and more willing to have faith in the miraculous, to have faith to pray for the miraculous, and have more faith to want more of the miraculous, even when a prayer for the miraculous previously didn't manifest--it in fact gives me faith to even pray more and for bigger things...how exciting for I want to put all my faith to action now!
Let's hook up and corporately and in intimate settings and seek increased measures of FAITH! You are always welcome to get ahold of me to pray for you, pray with you, to intercede on your behalf...just ask me.
hmmm, curious to get your thoughts and impressions...
3 comments:
Wow!!! This is good, very good! God in His infinite wisdom knows ALL things and He is imparting much on you, my friend! Everyone should, "tatke a big bite of faith in the dark" because of the word TRUST! FAITH and TRUST are best friends and I think I'll hang out with them for a while. Be absolutely blessed, because God says you are!
Good thought man. I wonder in what ways I trust unduly in the seen at the neglect of the unseen. I suppose i don't intercede all that much for others or situations. Part of me jsut doesn't understand what occurs when I intercede. I say some words, I feel the same, no change, still feel busy and rushed with my own priorities, and intercession takes wayside. But I'm moving it forward. I need to keep that reality present, that God's promises are all that count. I wonder where I am missing the point this week..
Do you know what blows my mind in all of this? The lives of the people in the rest of Hebrews 11. Here is the thought that comes into my head. Let's use Abraham as an example. It seems to me that he had faith for something he never saw come to be in his lifetime. As a result he saw God move in amazing, miraculous ways in his life.
It makes me wonder, is there a truth that, if we hold onto it, will produce as a byproduct the ability to see God's hand at work in our life?
Maybe we miss the mark when we focus on what we perceive to be God's more immediate promises, instead of placing our focus on something bigger.
I don't know. What do you think?
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