What It Means to Have Faith in God – Br. David Vryhof
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Something mysterious happens to us when we find something to believe in. We discover that some task, some project, some idea has so captured our imaginations that we want to give ourselves wholeheartedly to it. We become dedicated to its fulfillment. Perhaps it leads us to support a cause or join a campaign, perhaps to take up a new role or responsibility, perhaps to make a commitment of time, energy or financial resources.
Whatever it is, this new cause captures our attention and awakens our passion. We believe in what we are doing, and we commit ourselves to it with our whole being. We continue to push forward even when obstacles arise or doors close. Because we believe in our dream, we persevere.
We give ourselves wholeheartedly to it, because at some deep level – beyond the level of common sense or logic – we know that it is the right thing for us to do. We believe in this.
This is what faith is about.
Faith is at the center of Christian life. We profess that we have been saved by faith, and that we now live by faith. But what does it really mean to have faith? What does it really mean to believe?
This is an important question, especially in our day, because for a great many people, faith has first and foremost to do with assent. For them, to have faith means to give our intellectual assent to a proposition, to believe that a claim or statement is true. There are a great many Christians who understand their faith in this way. They have given intellectual assent to certain claims or statements about God, about Jesus, about the Bible, and about the human condition. But when faith is understood primarily in this way, it becomes a matter of the head rather than of the heart. When Christian faith is seen as assent, the emphasis shifts to holding the correct views, believing the right things to be true.
It is important to recognize how this notion of faith – faith as giving mental assent to a proposition, or believing that a claim or statement is true – limits and distorts our understanding and practice of Christian faith. What we believe to be true – about God, about Jesus, about the scriptures – then defines us and sets us apart from those who do not see things as we see them. Groups form and split. Some are considered “in” while others are “out,” depending on their “beliefs.”
The opposite of this kind of belief is doubt or disbelief. When we suspect that some claim or statement might not be true, or might have to be understood differently than we understood it in the past, we enter this gray area of doubt. If we imagine that belief is what God wants of us, the doubt or disbelief become sinful.
Knowing what we believe and being able to articulate it is important, but if this is all our faith is about, we have not gone deep enough. Authentic faith has more to do with the heart than with the head. Genuine faith involves trust. Christian faith, Christian belief, has to do with a radical trust in God. It does not mean trusting in the truth of a set of statements about God; it means trusting in God.
Who is this God in whom we trust?
In the course of our worship we regularly profess our faith in God using the words of ancient creeds of the Church. We profess that the God in whom we trust is the God who was revealed to us as the Creator, the God who was made known to us in Jesus of Nazareth whom we call Christ, the God who has stirred us up by the Spirit and united us together as the church, the Body of Christ. When we profess this faith, when we recite this ancient creed, we are not merely giving assent to a series of propositions about God, we are declaring our faith in God. We are saying that we believe in this God, that we have put our trust in this God, and that we have given ourselves wholeheartedly to the service and worship of this God. We are saying that we have willingly staked our lives and our future on God.
What does it mean to have faith, to believe and trust in God?
Marcus Borg cites a metaphor used by Soren Kierkegaard, a great philosopher and radical Christian of the 19th century, who claimed that faith was like floating in a deep ocean.[1] If we panic and struggle, Borg says, if we tense up and thrash about, we will eventually sink. But if we relax and trust, we will float, no matter how deep the water.
This is the challenge, isn’t it? Learning to relax in the water, to trust its buoyancy, to let go of our fear – all these are key to staying afloat in deep waters. In the same way, we could say that to have faith is to trust in God, to believe in God’s ability to sustain us, to hold us up, even in difficult circumstances. Faith helps us to relax and let go, to rest and find peace.
When faith is understood as trust rather than as assent, its opposite is not doubt or disbelief, but lack of trust. When we do not trust, we become anxious and fearful. To have faith means to let go of anxiety and fear, and to give ourselves over to God, trusting God’s love and care for us. “Do not worry about your life,” Jesus tells us, “what you will eat or what you will drink… Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:25, 26)
Observe the disciples in today’s gospel reading. They are gathered in a closed room, behind locked doors, filled with anxiety and trembling with fear. They have lost sight of the purpose for which God called them, the task which Jesus had given them, to be signs of God’s love in the world and proclaimers of God’s good news. They feel abandoned, alone and overwhelmed.
Jesus comes to them with a greeting of peace. He breathes on them the Holy Spirit. He restores their vision, their hope, their faith. They believe once more. Their fear is gone, and these trembling disciples are transformed into courageous witnesses, who testify to the resurrection of Jesus with incredible boldness, even in the face of opposition and death. They do not fear the power of men, but instead trust in the power of God. They are not deterred by hardship or persecution, by beatings or imprisonment. Their eyes are fixed on God. They move forward in faith, despite the obstacles.
There is much fear in the world today. We fear our enemies and those who intend us harm. We fear those who possess weapons of mass destruction; we fear nuclear proliferation; we fear guns and violence in our streets. We fear the warming of the earth and the consequences it will bring. We fear hatred and crime, poverty and oppression, chaos and suffering. Some of us are afraid that we might lose what we have, or that it might be taken away from us by others. We fear for our future and the future of our children.
But “perfect love casts out fear,” the author of First John tells us, and “God is love.” God’s perfect love overcomes fear and casts it out. Love holds us and sustains us, regardless of what may come our way. “Do not be anxious, you of little faith,” says Jesus. Trust in God. Entrust your lives and all your concerns to God.
Certainly, we must work against the forces of violence and war, we must respond to the threat of global warming, we must counter hatred and violence – these are all part of our call as Christians in the world. But we need not be bound by anxiety or paralyzed by fear. God is in our present, and will be in our future, just as God has been in our past. There is no power in the world that can overcome God’s power – even death itself has been defeated. Nothing, says Paul, can separate us from the love of God.
“Do not fear,” says God in the words of the prophet Isaiah, “for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame will not consume you… Do not fear, for I am with you” (Isaiah 43:1-5)
Are you anxious and afraid? What is it that worries or concerns you? Have faith in God. Trust God with your life and with your future. Let go of fear. God is faithful and will in all things sustain and keep you. Do not be afraid. Only believe.
Belief is finding something searched for. Faith is keeping it there.
Faith is the basis of Christianity, I was going through a serious challenge that make think I can sustain myself and having the intention that I can help myself, I was strategizing, making all effort to profer my solution, I was doing this under Fear and Tension, I was becoming more worried but trying to pretend as if am not, at the early hours of day I was Praying during my morning devotion and I slept off and went on trance, while on trance I received this particular verse of the scripture quoted in this sermon.
“Do not fear,” says God in the words of the prophet Isaiah, “for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame will not consume you… Do not fear, for I am with you” (Isaiah 43:1-5)
So, it is not about looking for Solutions or depending on self capacity, it is about what God want in you while are going through the challenges, it is a process of divine transformation, it is the time God really need your total reliance on him, it is the time God want to change you from Jacob to Israel, it is the time when God want you to remain focus on him, it is God time to show his Mightiness in your life, it God time to single you out and edify you.
God did it in the life of the hebrew men because they have Faith in the God of Israel, He was with them while they were put in the fiery furnace, there Faith in God stands and they came out of the furnace with their hair follicle intact.
David could face Golliant because it did not depend on his own strength but he derived his strength from God Almighty.
Job was Faithful in God, that even he lost everything but yet his Faith still stands, so at the God bless him in multitude fold.
You said right that “Something mysterious happens to us when we find something to believe in. We discover that some task, some project, some idea has so captured our imaginations that we want to give ourselves wholeheartedly to it”.
I was looking for a website that could help me with my faith in God. I was only saved about 3 months ago, and those 3 months have been some of the best because I didn’t worry as much. But now I feel like my faith is becoming less; my trust is thinning, and I don’t know how to get it back. This site has helped me now, because I’ve been worrying, and this has just showed me what to do. I know thag God pointed me to this website, because he knew that I was going through a rough patch, and I thank both him and the website for that. I just wanted to ask if there was anyone that could help me and reply to this comment, because I want to be with God again, but I really and honestly don’t know how… Thank you, and Amen.
God create men with power and authority not with faith because 1 man waked with God in the garden so he dont need it. but when men sin he left with out faith but still he believe in God. So believe is create by men thats why there is many religions faith is a gift from God and to have it you need to work hard for it Faith tried like gold tried in fire so its not easy to have it but if you work hard for it you never look back or waver cause you see things that you never see before You know why? cause we been create in the image of GOD and the image of God is love power and authority but these two alone dont work you need to have faith and people with faith makes miracle The bible said many are called but very few are chosen When you have faith all you need to do just say the word with authority (remember the centurion when he went to Jesus)That dosent mean the believers not going to haven they are but people with faith are elite of GOD its not easy to understand but God will make you do so if you need it Men with faith have to work for GOD and cut them self from the world not live in luxury if you looking for luxury from God (like some peoples say)forgot it cause you cant serve 2 Gods money and GOD Come to your call to have faith when you go to pray infrant of GOD you need to be sincere with your self infront of GOD then acknowlegde him whom you going to pray that why JESUS teach us the havanly father the rest wait til the right wind blow (remember elaija ) but praynad keep on praying the time your gone give up that is the time god talk to you GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY dont look for dimond but look for faith>>
I’m so happy I came across your message.I feel exactly how you feel scared wanting to find faith worried and wishing for the light to just shine on me so i don’t have to worry anymore. I said to myself God wanted me to come across this message for a reason,at times I feel so alone like I’m rushing myself to understand God and the word but next thing I know, I back to where I started. I just wanted to tell you I promise your not alone I wish I had the answers for you but God is working on us I can tell you that. All this is God. I pray that you get the answers you need that’s what I can do for you.
Thanks God for your a Good father ,,I am so very happy but you always guide me for everything what to do, l believe Jesus Christ he always guide me and everyone,,, thanks a lot of blessing , love,joy,, gave us ,even the pain of my life has come but you always beside me no matter what i never gave up to worship you,,
Please be encouraged and know that God know ‘s all and there is nothing new to him that is taking place in your life. Please allow me to share a road map for you to achieve true Faith . First , Deny yourself , Commit all your ways, Put God first in your life and Trust in God’s Faithfulness. Be blessed simply because God said you are ..
A few scriptures to study – Mark 11-22-24 ,Psalm 37-5, Jeremiah 17:7-8
Praise Father God and Jesus
Thank you so much. I needed to read this.I was up worrying and couldn’t find that restful place. But the word of God in this reading has supplied me with the rest I need. I will believe in God no matter what may come my way. I will keep my trust in my First love Jesus Christ. God is able to do exceedingly above all I can ask, think and imagine in my wildest dreams, but it is according to the faith that is within me. Thank you for stirring my trust up and for reminding me. I asked God to forgive me for not trusting Him, and now we’re back on the race. I am forgiven and loved by God. Again thank you for this. Now I can rest and sleep.
I really don’t know what to say for the situation in which I am right now matches with the words you guys have written. May God teach me how to have faith in Him.
Faith is hard. I am going through a hard time and understanding one day at a time. I thought a month ago I am was going to close a chapter of my life. I was about to file for divorce and everything that came with it. My husband and father of the kids appeared. We are in different states and trying to work things out, I am scare, afraid of everything. Is he to be believe? I know I have to pray on it. Please play for me to show how to trust in God and to leaving it at all to Him
I would like to give a testimony about having faith and hope that this will help others. I was under severe stress these last couple of months. I couldn’t sleep, concentrate or function properly. I was overworked and trying to achieve an exaggerated level of perfection. This caused me severe stress and anxiety. I was recently let go from my job. This was one of the most biggest, beautiful blessing that God could have bestowed upon me. I had a ‘freedom from worries/shackles’ dream the night before I was let go from my job. This is how much I knew the Lord loved me. Ths was His way of reassuring me that everything was going to be OK and that he already made a way. Lack of financial security and stability has always been my biggest fear…this fear kept me from the ‘bigger’ plan that God had for me. Everything happens for a reason. After being let go, I realized how to begin to love myself all over again, I was able to sleep better, and take better care of myself. Instead of praying with hope, now I pray with faith. Those experience has taught me it’s OK to take risks, to stop living in fear. God has so much in store for us. This is the happiest, and most relaxed that I have felt in a long time. I was more angry at myself for ever doubting his love. To all of you that are afraid, or living in doubt or fear, ask God “Hold my hand….and walk wth me.” He will never forsake you. I pray that God be with you all, always. I love you all, as God loves all of us.
Amen. Thank you for your transparency in this testimony. You have blessed my life. Blessings to you sibling in Christ.
God is good. Faith is having total trust in the Lord. If you believe God will change your situation but thinks that it shall be when it shall be then your faith is not totally based on the Lord.
Thank you, with this post I feel a lot more positive. Me and my wife have till now battle with finance in our live. I don’t want to be rich, but thus so I can provide for my family. I want to ask, please GOD, I love you, help me in my life. I will always love you, trust in you, no matter what. Thank you again.
Pleas God help me to overcome all fears in my life, make me understand Your word more than I think I know, open my eyes, ears, mind and my heart in Jesus name I pray Amen
I was asked what does it mean to have faith? I answered by saying to have faith is to be one with God. This person was not happy with my answer. Please help me understand.
Faith sometimes includes the suffering of waiting with flashes of fear that God may not like me enough to answer my prayer (i know He is the God of love but does he like me? and, maybe I am not worthy for a direct answer NOW please!! etc.) Those times are agony to anyone in need. I, too, have bound myself in the thought He may not be present now, that He will not come when I call. Partly, because I feel unworthy, partly because the job of Gods’ enemy is to convince me it is absurd to believe at all. When those fears striike me I do 2 things. I speak my fears out loud to God and then open scripture to favorite words of Jesus, John, Isaiah, Psalms! the last chapter of Revelations (anything, except those begat geneologies!) and read them out loud. For some reason hearing the words come out of my mouth helps me visualize them. Then I find a friend who will pray with me. I read how God beckons us to come to Him, the Spirit and the Bride (all of us in Christ) say Come. Come forward and ask. His grace is sufficient to provide the faith and trust we need. Keep asking for it and keep thanking Him that the answer exits. He will not give us a (heart of) stone. Wait…until the knowledge comes, and, it will… the knowing that He was present in the asking, in our doubts, in the absence of answers, in the anxiety of disbelief …He will unravel those fears. I have a basket of answered and another of yet unaswered prayer. Astronomers have shown us we are hurtling fast through space. Who feels it? So, here we are, waiting, still, though moving and blogging about our need for this God who has placed the thirst for His love in our hearts. The proof showing in the myriad replies to this homily …sweet reflections of our great desire for Him who loved us first. Praise His holy name.
This has gave me more of an understanding of what faith is about in trusting God I thank you for sharing this beautiful message that God laid upon your heart brother!
This is one of the most anointed and well written article about “What is faith in God” , I had to share. I thank God for the leading of the Holy Spirit! Thank you and I am so glad to discover your writing.
I thank God for everything in my life and have faith God will bless my goals and dreams,,,,,amen
Had worries concerning my faith in God, worried if I had faith in God, or just belief, this article especially the middle to end of it opened a window of possibilities, still soul searching but now I’m not groping in the dark.
I was struggling with knowing that I believe. When really it was my having a lack of trust. This insight is truly a blessing. In plain terms, no secret message, no words I need to google and define. Something that will stick in my mind in each day. Am I trusting God? Relax, let go , his love carries & sustains me. While I dig into his word and recognize who I am in him, what my inheritance consists of, my boldness & confidence that comes from him, just deepens because I now understand. It’s really that simple.
Must be a common fear. Now to just have enough trust to stop trying to save myself and let God’s hands support me.
It is impossible to please God without Faith. I believe that each person has a measure of faith. According to your faith be it unto you. Hold fast to your belief. It is God that has made us and not we ourselves. He knows my today, tomorrow and my future. So If I love God then I will be alright. I do his commandments I will be alright, If I do not waver in the faith I will be alright. God will never change and so therefore, stand on his world. Let every man know that they need to considered Trusting in God for real in everything we do and Say. Where is your faith,, who have you put your faith in. If you are going to put your trust in anything or anybody it is best to put your faith in God.
Excellent post! There’s no doubt about the fact having faith in God is such a critical matter. It’s so important to the extent that people’s eternity will be decided by their own willingness to exercise faith in God on the basis of Christ’s atonement.
As Christ’s believers, without faith, we wouldn’t have undergone that life-changing transformation. Faith is important from salvation to the final stage of the Christian life known as glorification.
reading all this comments on faith in god, has really made my afternoon, its has put a smile on my face, and leave a good feeling on and in my heart , I thank god for all of you who despite of all the disbelieve in the world. There are people out there,Holding firm to there faith and believe in God
Our Heavenly Father, I thank You for loving me unconditionally and for loving me forever. Father, increase my faith, trust, hope, and dependence in You. Father, help me to be like Your Biblical friends. I pray these in Your Son, Jesus Christ, Who died and rose again for us, amen.
Having faith in God can be explained that simple way, it’s all about laying aside our human understanding as well as our reasoning in order to embrace God’s divine truth revealed to us through the means of His written Word. It’s interesting that faith and human logic don’t work together because lot of things that God requires of us don’t even make sense.
Arold because as God make sense we shouldn’t make no other sense Having faith in God can be explained that simple way, it’s all about laying aside our human understanding as well as our reasoning in order to embrace God’s divine truth revealed to us through the means of His written Word.
Hi, I’ve been struggling for a long time with doubt… And I’ve prayed, cried out in pain, “Lord I believe help my unbelief!”… But I can’t stop doubting! I’m so caught up in my doubt and unbelief, I can’t focus on the Lord. I keep dwelling on how bad my problems and flaws are, rather than focusing on how big God is. I read his word all the time, reading memorizing, focusing on his promises, trying to trust it. But it feels like he’s not even there. I pray, yet, it feels as if my prayers are never heard. I doubt his existence, his love, his promises! I’m a complete wreck, I feel like I can’t be fixed, yet, I know God can. And I’ve heard God always has a plan for you, even when you don’t understand, but again, I doubt! And I just want to scream, “What’s wrong with me?!” And I think that I’ve been misunderstanding faith, for feelings, but one problem, how do I stop doing that?! I want true faith in Christ, I want a relationship with him, I’ve been asking, and waiting, and I don’t know what to do anymore! I’ve asked God to give me genuine faith in him, but nothing! When Pray now, I’m afraid he won’t answer, which means I’m not trusting… I feel hopeless, and I need the Lord. Also, I’ve found out when I’m not doubting I forget about God, and that’s when I start doubting again, so maybe God’s using that doubt to help me, but again, I don’t want to trust feelings, I want to trust God, but I don’t know how! And I’ve thought that I was saved, but now, I have no idea! If I were, I’d show the fruits of the Spirit, but I don’t see it. I really think I have dead faith, and appreciate an answer, thanks!
Brother or sister,
Do you believe in gravity? Surely you are aware of ‘it’, at least as a concept, although few, if any, can truly explain it. The same might be said of God; that we understand the concept, although the deeper understanding is often absent. Does it trouble you that you ‘believe’ in gravity, but are struggling with ‘belief’ in God? Of course.
There are certain Truths that one must simply accept; that gravity, and for certain, that God exists (He who created the universe and the laws which govern it—like gravity), that He loves and cares for his ‘children’, or, His ‘believers’, and that He is not ever going to give up on you, or ‘go away’, if you are truly seeking Him, or if you ‘believe’ in Him. Understand that this is often more of a process than is typically admitted in so-called ‘Christian’ teachings.
You must not, however, give up on Him, or walk away from Him, or His ways, or His Word, as manifested in and by your fruits; your thoughts, deeds, or actions. If you don’t see or produce ‘good’ fruits, then it is fairly certain that you are not knowing, understanding, or perhaps, simply disobeying God, and hence, showing Him that you really don’t believe. Similarly, if you know and recognize that you are disobeying (in thought and/or deed), than you understand that you are acting in disbelief—without God—and therefore, you truly do not believe, or trust, or have faith in Him; you have abandoned His ways (thoughts) for your ways, or carnal ways (thoughts), or ways (thoughts) of the world-Satan’s ways.
So, what it really comes down to is a choice of in whom one will believe, and obey; God or Mammon—ways of the body or the ways of the spirit—the ways of mortality or that of immortality. Consciously, it’s a ’no-brainer; of course we all want to be good, and all such, but our true desires are manifest by our actions, and thoughts, and deeds, we more often show that we want to be bad, to disobey, and to sin—it seems (feels) so good in our carnal mindset—it gives the desired immediate gratification. However, the short-lived pleasures do not provide a true and /or lasting peace, or happiness, but leaves us an empty space that needs to be filled—by something—anything!
If you are struggling with doubt, fear, and anxiety, it is because you are struggling with your own self, and your own disobedience—your own sinful nature. You consciously think that you ‘want’ to be ‘good’, or to ‘believe’, to trust, to have faith, but what you really want is to sin, and disobey, and to please yourself—you want to do things your way. In my view, that is the fear and anxiety you are experiencing—a struggle within—and so far, apparently, the sin, or the carnal, or the (ways of the) world is ‘winning’, as you acknowledge it. However, the fact that you are struggling suggests a true desire to overcome. You have to choose. You cannot serve two masters. Which will it be? Choose one, and relieve this struggle; God or the world (Satan)? Good or bad? Obey or disobey? Carnal or spiritual?
Thus, only when one turns away from sin—repentance—can one truly believe, in the spiritual way in which biblical belief is framed. Through Truth & Spirit; this is how one must know and understand God. It is not a physical, or a mere mental ‘belief’ in His existence; Satan both knows and fears God, and demons tremble—it goes to a different level. To obey and to follow in His Word, and His Way is to show ‘belief’, or ‘faith’, and trusting in Him. In Missouri, they would say “…show me” !
It’s like standing at the edge of a cliff; if you jump or fall, you just know that gravity will act upon your physical body to bring you to the bottom, below. One needn’t understand physics or gravity (ie., how it really works) for it to work upon one’s body–it exists, and it just works. No faith or trust or belief is necessary. Likewise, God also exists; whether or not you believe, and He is acting upon the world, in ways we may not understand or acknowledge. Unfortunately, there is also an opposing one, or adversary, who desires to rob God of your belief, and worship, and obedience—one known as Satan. He has been given much power and authority here in order to test God’s potential children; to try us by fire, or provide challenges to temper us unto righteousness. God doesn’t want us if we don’t want to be His—if we fail to choose to serve and love and worship His ways. Thus, one must not only CHOOSE who will be one’s master, but also, thereafter, one will show fidelity, to self and to Him, and be visible to others by one’s fruits. It is a natural consequence, or result of, believing—of salvation.
However, salvation is not reliant upon works, lest any man boast. How or whether that relationship, or salvation, is retained, or whether our crown is taken away, then depends upon our ongoing fidelity to our God and to our beliefs, etc… We will fall, and we will sin, and we will be snared, but ongoing prayer and confession, and forgiveness, is the grace that is promised. Should sin multiply that grace would abound? NO. By our changing nature we shall shy away from and avoid sin, and rebuke temptation as paramount objectives. Once you KNOW, and believe, and repent, then the Holy Spirit enters unto the heart, and helps us understand, and avoid disobedience &/or convicts us of our sins. If one persists in sin, then he/she is not showing belief or obedience, and can thus lose his/her crown, as I understand it. Persistent, resistant, rebellious sinners will not be entering unto the Kingdom. Perhaps that’s why we are here—to go through our trials by fire? Will we overcome to the end, will we persevere? or will we fall—and fail—and ‘crash & burn’? It is our choice…really.
If God is truly your Father, then you must fear, love, and respect Him as such; to think and act in ways that you know would please Him and respect Him and that shows you obey His commands—His Laws—His Word. As a child of God, we respect His ways, and His rules, and we follow—obey—His desires, rather than our own, or what might temporarily please our carnal selves. We are to become as children, loving and trusting and believing in His Ways, His Word, as like a Father. If you diligently seek the Father, then you shall find Him, and you will KNOW, and have faith, or trust, or belief, by default. This requires a commitment—a choice made—to follow and obey Him only, and denying all other gods and usurpers, such as Satan, and various idols in and of this world (which we often succumb to worship, without conscious awareness). We must also deny our carnal selves and such desires as the world, or Satan, presents [or tempts].
Again, this is a process, and knowing Him is a function of continually seeking and actively learning via His Word. The spiritual nature of the Word precludes understanding by the carnal mind—it is foolishness to the unbeliever—to the carnal—to the worldly. It is hidden from the fools—from those who choose the wrong way. We learn and grow in Him with increasing knowledge and devotion over time, and with experience…
Hope this might help you—may God bless you. Amen
Yes it is a great help I can discuss Faith with others and my husband with a much clearer understanding! THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS! E.J.
I appreciate it Thanks dude
I found it Helpful
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son Hannah thats you.jesus died for you he loves you and he’ll never stop loving you.He gave his all in love. Now love him back and everything will be added to you.
Hannah – we have all struggled with doubt at some time – the enemy seems to have bombarded you with more than you can handle. Look up my sister the struggle is OVER – satan is a liar – I command you to be loosed from all doubt and a spirit of God’s peace to come upon you – that God will calm all your fears and you will rest peaceably in HIm.
Be encouraged and know that God is able – He will deliver. In Jesus Name – Amen
Hannah, I spent many years feeling just as inadequate as you do right now. I thought I had to come to God with my faith fully formed and fully assured. Finally, I began to simply listen to what God might have to say to me. And I began to understand that God’s grace is fully formed and fully assured. My faith will never be perfect, but God’s grace and love is always perfect. God always comes to us, we do not need to strive to come to him. I think placing our trust in God’s perfection – and setting aside the quest to be perfect ourselves – is what Br. David is suggesting in this article.
May the peace of the Lord be with you.
This article cements in my head what I was beginning to understand about faith in God. Thanks very much
Without Faith Satan can come and cause us all sorts of doubt! However with Faith anything is possible and we must never give up on it as our prayers do get answered, not always as quickly as we like but the more Faith we have the more we trust in God and the closer connection we have to him! It truly is extraordinary how much he loves us so he deserves worship and praise as well, don’t forget to thank him & Jesus for all that they have done for us!!
I need someone to explain to me in a simple manner pls.
Is it not if I have faith in God I Trust him therefore is faith and trust not the same??
Faith is believing God can do the impossible – Trust is putting it in His hands knowing that God will do it – waiting patiently no matter how long it takes….
Keep teaching faith is bog blessing to the body of christ.
I love you.
I thank God for his love for me that he has forgiven me for all of my sins I am restoring my relationship with God and with all the situations in my life I can’t believe in what things look like I have to trust God to deliver me from them all I have put my faith in God and I trust him and not man I put my trust in the God of all things and I know that all things are possible with God no matter what the situtstion looks like God is my source and it is with God that I have victory in my life Amen
Praise to the lord thy creator. I think faith should be the central aspect to any borne again person. I want to thank God because i feel that i am better than what i was one month ago.
I thank God for all He has done for me and my family.I have learnt how to put my trust in Jesus and not to rely on my own understanding.I love you Jesus and I know all I request from you will surely come to pass.Amen!!
Thank you for this article. The Lord has been dealing with me on faith and your views is what the Lord has been telling me. When I read others perspective on things like this article on faith it lets you know that you are apart of the body of Christ. The all powerful Lord is able to speak to us on how he is with us and how we can trust him no matter what me be more confident in the Lord everyday. I do trust him because he do know what is best for me and it is about the relationship I continue to develop with the Lord that increases trust/Faith in God. I have to preach tomorrow and I had plan to preach on Faith- this exspond it even more. I am a scuba diver and can relate to the water part. The Lord always want to preach on were you are so it can be a testimony so the people who hear it can overcome.Amen
I love this teaching on faith for ist’s clarity and would like to share the illustration ‘trusting to float on the ocean’ with my Facebook friends. thank you Sir and More of God’s grace and anointing in your life, amen.
I am learning to do things with God instead of trying to do everything by myself. I feel like I haven’t lived my life at all yet and I’m not at all happy with where I’m at and where I’ve been. There are times (like right now) where I’m so anxious to get my life where I want it to be and to start being happy with my life that I start worrying and getting a bit depressed. But then I have to remind myself that although I’m no where near where I want to be, God has already done wonders in my life and has already taken me far, and that I have to trust in God. Even when things get stressful and I can’t see a way out, I will continue to have faith in God and trust that he knows what he’s doing. He will do many things in my life when the right time comes, and I know that his plans for my life are more important and even better than anything that I have planned. Right now I was starting to worry a lot about some things in my life, and I came along this article and I am once again reminded of the greatness of God and that I need to relax and let him take charge. God bless.
Just want to thank god for renewing my faith or shall I say strentghing my faith. I know god is real because only he knows all about me and I just want to give you so much glory and praise for being my lord and savior I love you lord and thank you for loving me and my children although I am just a little nobody I m willing to tll everybody who s illing to listen about somebody who can heal and anybody yes lord I di sing the song but praise unto my lord thank you lord for letting me know in that you do hear my prayer and you do love me no matter what I know the battle ahead is going to be tougher but oh lord,who is mightier than you no one I ay lose but god will never lose the battle has already been won
This is really useful post as it has really given me an encouragement and a reason on why and how to build my faith and trust in God. Most especially the bible verses and am going to memorize each to stay at my finger tips.
I have been learning to accept God and all that He does through allowing faith to envelope me. Sometimes worry and fear, despite my efforts to handle a challenge, creep up. I am allowing faith to work by trusting God will lead my life to the way He sees fit as I do my best and let go of the fear and worry. It’s a work in progress, and each day I have to remind myself that after I’ve done my part, let go and trust.
Faith applied to life on earth… Other than our faith in God our father, I understand and practice faith in that God will seek the best for us. Lately, I’ve been trying to understand what Jesus’ message was about faith moving mountains and our having faith in our lives turning out optimally as we hope/wish/”have faith in.” Is that an appropriate use of faith as Jesus has spoken in the bible (outside of faith in one God – our father)? Is it proper/appropriate to have faith for a positive outcome .. to “boldly” ask God for help in a positive outcome for whatever we face in life?
To date, I truly believe this is appropriate… and even a clue Jesus has left for us in how faith can work in our ordinary/human/earth existence type life.
Thoughts?
thank you for your time!
K
This is not what I hear Jesus saying. I hear Jesus saying, I did not come to make you healthy and wealthy, I came so that you might have a right relationship with my Father. Read Luke 6:20-26, James 1:2-11. Look at Hebrews 11, see if these ideas of faith match up with yours. Blessings to you.
Amazing I love u lord I love u woth my whole heart and soul ….. I’m not perfect put at least I’m trying to live as decent as I can and at least I’m wayyyyyyyy better off then what I was years ago that’s called progress u are good lord amen ….also thank u for this website this beautiful amazing things here I so need to copy this in my note thank u br.david