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FAITH

When going through a difficult situation in life, we may hear people offer encouragement by saying things like “keep the faith” or “trust in the Lord.” When you stop to think about it, do you really understand what they are telling you? What is faith and how do you get faith? How do you apply it to your situation? Let’s take a quick look at the subject and learn what the bible tells us about faith.

The dictionary tells us that faith is having complete trust or confidence in someone or something. The bible let us know that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).

Now, let’s look at how to receive faith. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Listening to the preacher and reading your bible daily will help you get to know God, learn of his ways, and know what he desires for your life. It is impossible to have faith without knowledge of
the Word. After you have knowledge of the Word, then you must make a conscious

decision to accept the Word as true. Next, apply the Word to your life. As found in the scriptures, faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26). You must put faith in action. In other words, determine what it is that you are believing God to do for you and do not allow anything or anyone to change your mind or to discourage you. From a carnal perspective, what you are asking for may seem impossible, but just know that with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

Faith releases God’s unlimited power and causes God to work on your behalf. There is no need to pray if you do not believe God will do whatever it is that you are asking when you ask according to his will. How do you know God’s will? Read the Word! Now let’s get back to the subject. Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man…. (Jeremiah 17:5). God must be your only source. That means you cannot have a backup plan for just in case God doesn’t come through.  One of the many examples of faith found in the bible can be found in 1 Kings chapter 17. The widow woman in the parable had only enough food for one last meal for herself and her son. She put her trust in the message from God that Elijah delivered unto her and did as Elijah asked her to do. As a result of her trust and obedience, she and her son did not give out of food. Later, her son dies and the woman immediately allows condemnation to set in. She started remembering her past sins and reasoning within herself that her son’s death was somehow connected to her past. When you get saved, all of your past sins are forgiven and forgotten by God. He remembers them no more (Jeremiah 31:34). Fear not! Fear connects you with Satan. Fear is Satan’s trick to get you to doubt and miss the blessing that God has in store for you. If you resist the temptation to allow doubt into your thinking, faith will always work!