Scripture tells us what is faith. "It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see." Hebrews 11:1 NLT

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1 KJV

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1 NNAS

"That substance which is not evident to us, that we believe, that is what God considers FAITH!" Hebrews 11:1 AGI

"Moreover "belief" is the essence of things we have confidence for, the conviction of things not yet perceived." Hebrews 11:1 BDI

So what exactly is FAITH anyway? We hear that Salvation comes by faith, and we are to have faith in God, but what is faith and how do we acquire, obtain, gain, or get it? Scripture makes it somewhat Mystical and its really not.

When we turn on our water faucets, we have faith that the water come flowing out.
When we go turn on the light switch in our homes, we have faith to believe it will work.
When we go to the grocery store to buy our food, we have faith that there will be food in the store for us to buy.
We also have faith in ourselves.
We have faith that the sun will rise and that the darkness of the night will fade away.
We put our faith in ALL sorts of things everyday.

It is so easy to have faith in all of these things.

Small children have wonderful faith in there parents. They believe there parents will meet every need they have. Why do we have trouble in our faith in HIM?

Is it because we cannot see Him? -
I think not, we do not see electricity, yet we believe in it!

We cannot look around and not see all the beauty of this world God made for us. A gardenia pure white and in full bloom, its smell is sweet and wonderful, a delight for all. The tall green trees in the woods, standing like arrows pointing up and out His praise. The mountains and the clear streams flowing over the rocks singing as it moves along. A bright blue beautiful sky full of white cream puffy clouds, painted by winds of changes on a summers day. A sunset of red and gold, with its light streaming through the clouds saying, "I must brighten another part of God's creation for now." This God, our God, He controls our very existence, the very breath that we take is given to us by HIM.

Yet we forget to praise Him everyday for All these good things in our lives, things that make us rich in spirit. He is the healer of our bodies, and He sees us through many hard times, in our troubles He forgets us not! Praise be His goodness, there is none like our God.

The Bible tells us that without "faith" it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6) Do you believe that beloved? I do!

He has many promises that if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, "And Yeshua (Jesus) said to them, Because of your unbelief: for truly I say this unto you, If you have faith as small as a grain of mustard seed, you shall speak to this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall be removed; and Nothing shall be impossible unto you."
(Matthew 17:20)

Faith Is!

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Faith is not something that we can be taught, nor is it just saying we believe.
Faith is something that grows in us, like a seed planted in good rich soil.

Children have no problem with faith, oh that we were all like little children again. Its this kind of FAITH God asks of all of us!

Do you believe God is real?
I do! Beloved of God, God is real!!!

The above acrostic Faith Anticipate Incredible Things Happening tells us that FAITH is Active.

Faith is trusting God completely with all things. Knowing that He alone can be trusted because He is faithful to His Word. He can be trusted with all aspects of our lives, every little detail, no matter how small. As we grow in our knowledge of the Word of God, our experience with our Lord becomes more solid. Learning to have that total trust that no matter how the situation looks to us, we know that we know its of God.

Yes our God is both interested and caring, and will always love you no matter what. He alone will make the best possible decisions for our welfare when we place that whole hearted trust in Him. Does your situation look hopeless? Its not you know! Our God is working it out for your good, and this is a promise He makes in His Holy Word to you and to me beloved.

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called to His purpose." Romans 8:28

Faith like the seed planted in good ground does grow when watered by the Word of God. As we see the Lord of glory working in our lives, we learn to recognize our faith in Him more and more. By the way, let me tell you "Luck" is a false god, a faithless god, and we sholud never call on him. We need never say "I was lucky today, I did not get hit by that car, etc.etc.! The god of luck played no role in it beloved. It was the God of Israel who is in control of all things, He who kept you for danger becayse you are a child of the King. The ONE and only God, YHVH!

Each situation makes us strongs if our faith is founded on the ROCK, Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah. Hopelessness moves out of the way, when faith in God steps into our lives. I know this to be truth, I have seen it work in my own life many times.

Do you feel wronged by someone? Let God moves in and uses this situation for your own good. There is a blessing in it I promise you. In the story of Yoseph (Genesis 37), we read as the youngest son of Yacov (Israel) he was miss used. His brothers were jealous of Yoseph because he was their father favored him son, the son of the wife Yacov loved. So they plotted to take his life and threw him into a pit to die alone. However, he was rescued by the fact one brother had a heart, so he was sold to some traders as a slave. However, we see God's hand on Yoseph, the beloved of the father, and Yoseph was made second ruler over all the land of Egypt, because of his faithfulness to God, who Yoseph never doubted was going to be faithful to him. Yoseph was able to forgive his brothers, and help them during their crisis in life because Yoseph would be faithful like God was to him. You see beloved, God can make good things come out of bad things in our lives.

"And as for you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. Genesis 50:20

If you will take the time right now and stop a minute or two to examine your own life, you will see how many times God has intervened in your times of crisis. Let me share one with you.

One day, when I was going through a personal crisis, God gave me Matthew 14:22-33. This trial might not seem that "big a deal" to some. But, to me it was an ordeal. I had received a card in the mail for a neighbor’s 25th anniversary celebration across town. Oh, yes, I wanted to go. However, because of the fear of not being able to handle the results of a physical condition, sometimes it has been difficult to go out in public. Well, I woke up in the middle of the night with a full blown panic attack. And when I awoke in the morning, I called a friend. After praying with her, the Lord gave me a word from His Word. In faith I decided that I was going to leave my house and like Peter, step out of the boat and trust in Him whom we have not yet seen. To the glory of God, I witnessed the divine intervention of our Lord, as He brought peace and joy to counteract my fears.

At the end of a very enjoyable time, I returned to the security and comfort of home. As I stepped through the door, I felt my foot go down on dry ground and break the neck of the enemy. I had walked in faith believing for God’s protection and had experienced the supernatural support of the Lord through the waves of fear that had come over me. I do not take flight from fear; I go forth in the fear of the Lord. In this circumstance of my life, the Word became very real.

"And straightway Yeshua constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up to a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Yeshua went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Yeshua spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Yeshua. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Yeshua stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God." Matthew 14:22-33

What a blessing! God allowed me, like Peter, to walk on water. Certainly I did not walk like Peter literally on the Sea. But, in my situation it was just as real - "A Faith Opportunity." The Word became LIFE for my need and rescued me from a devastating storm.

There are many times we do not even recognize how it is He has helped us. Perhaps there are times when we may have been disappointed in God because your prayer was not answered. That very thing we ask for may have been harmful for us. Or perhaps God had better things in mind for us. The big question in faith is why are some people not healed who have faith? It is because God knows the outcome in their lives better then we do. He may have saved them from something far worse in the furture beloved. It may have even been used to bring someone else to saving grace, we do not know God's mind!!! We can know Him, and His will for our lives, but in the end we must say Father knows best and leave it to that. Remember FAITH TRUST GOD!!!

So FAITH is simply Believing in God with a captial "B" - He exists and He will make everything work for our good. FAITH is also being willing to TRUST HIM COMPLETELY as a child trusts his parents. For He is our Heavenly Father and wants what is best for us in order that we grow in HIM. FAITH is being WILLING TO GO for GOD, without the fear of man or devils.

Ask God for FAITH right now, He will give it to you beloved of God, He will! It cannot be found within ourselves, but its a free gift from Him to all those hunger and thirst and desire it more then life.

To live without FAITH in GOD, is not to have any LIGHT for the future.

Fasten your eyes on Yeshua, the Author and Perfecter of our FAITH, who for the joy set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the Right Hand of the Throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

And the Apostles said to the Lord,
"Increase our FAITH!" Luke 17:5

Let this be our prayer today as well! Shalom

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