What is the size of your faith?

What is Faith?

Webster defines Faith to be:
     1. allegiance to duty or a person : loyalty
         b. fidelity to one's promises: sincerity of intentions
     2. belief and trust in and loyalty to God
         b. firm belief in something for which there is no proof : complete trust
     3. something that is believed especially with strong conviction
Webster defines believe to be:
     1. to have a firm religious faith
         b. to accept something as true,genuine, or real 
      2. to have a firm conviction as to the goodness or ability of something 

So in a general sense, faith is to believe in something or someone, to fully trust, to be confident to base you actions on what you believe. To have faith is to be fully convinced of the truthfulness and the reliability in what you believe. Faith in God is trusting and being confident in God and in Christ that leads me to commit my whole soul to Him as my Savior Lord. 

How do we live out our faith?

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) 

Through faith we can know we have the answer to our prayer before we see anything change.Faith causes you to know in your heart before you see with your eyes. "For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2Cor 5.7). Also through faith we know that there is an answer to our prayers before we see anything change.  The answers may not be what we desired or wanted but the Lord, our Father, knows what is best and ALL is for His glory. 

Living faith always has corresponding actions. We talk what we really believe, and we act according to what we really believe. The heroes of faith like Abraham were considered men of faith because they acted on what God showed them. They acted on their faith. (Hebrews 11:17-38, James 2:21-23).
What about when we are uncertain or doubting?

To live in faith means to do and say what you believe is right, without doubting. Faith hears the word of God and acts in obedience with a trusting heart. God often speaks to us thorugh our consciences by the Holy Spirit, pressing us towards a particular kind of action, which is based on truth from God's word. Real faith will not only yield to God's suggestion, but will do it!

In a conversation with a friend recently, they reminded me of a wonderful illustration. Some of you will probably be familiar with it, yet we all need reminders to not lose perspective of who God is.When you're in a situation do you tend to talk about your problem and complain about it? You have probably found it to be true that a majority of the time talking or complaining won't solve the problem but it gets worse as you talk more about it.The change happens when our initial response is not to talk about your problem but talk to your problem instead! Do not speak about how big your problem is, but speak to the problem about how big God is!

 "Jesus said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew17:20

                                                                             Picture created the Designer in Pajama

Personally:

I am in awe of God's faithfulness. He has never once been surprised by any step in the journey. He has not  lost any sleep, broke down, doubted, been frustrated,  felt lost, or even afraid. He has been in control, clam, patient, loving, gracious, forgiving, and leading.  

Faith is easy to talk about but often hard to put into action. The Lord has been teaching me a lot lately about faith and about trusting Him in this molding (sanctification process). It has been my payer of the last couple of weeks:  

"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts. And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" Psalm 139:23 -24

God is powerful and in control of ALL. I will continue to rest in this truth as I being to take this next step to serve in Honduras. He has prepared the way, He holds the future, He is my hope, He is my strength, He is my provider, He is the friend that will never leave or change!