What is Faith?
Biblically speaking, according to Hebrews 11:1,
“Faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the conviction of what we do not see.”
In other words, it is a deep and confident trust in God. His Word, His character, and His promises.
This requires not just an intellectual assurance but a heart commitment that can be recognized by the fruit produced in you.
This heart commitment is a trust and dependence on God.
This trust isn’t blind but is based on the revealed truth of God and His unchanging character throughout His Word and your life.
So, how do you have and know you have faith?
By practicing it!
Obey God’s word and keep in fellowship with Him through prayer every day. Over time, spiritual fruit will be produced in you by the Holy Spirit.
Having faith is important for your life.
The Bible says,
“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”— Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)
Faith is a necessity, not an accessory.
If you’re still lost on the concept of faith, look to the perfect example set by Jesus Christ!
Jesus’s example of faith is shown throughout the Gospels in every little thing that He did.
Jesus was the embodiment of faith.
Naturally, we won’t achieve that level of faith as we are not Jesus, but we can learn from His example and apply it as best as we can in our own faith lives.
The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) is also a wonderful place in the Gospels to get instruction on living for the Kingdom.
Building on Jesus’ example will allow you to create a strong foundation of faith. I like to think of it as pillars of faith, and you need all of the pillars to have a strong, stable structure of faith.
Building a Foundation of Faith: Faith over feelings
A good first step to Faith is recognizing how, as humans, it’s in our sinful nature to “get in the way” of our own faith.
Our feelings are often the sole cause of any faith problems we may be having.
A good way to get control of your feelings is to understand God’s nature and contrast it with your own.
When I compare my sinful self to God’s perfection, it’s harder for me to keep on in my sinfulness because of the conviction I feel through the Holy Spirit.
So, if you’re in a moment of the flesh (feelings), try to remember God’s character so that you can have a perfect example of what to do or how to feel instead.
Are you getting angry? Remember how God chooses not to be angry with us and instead gives us grace and shows us mercy. (Psalm 103:8-10)
Are you being selfish? Remember how selflessly God sacrificed His Son to save you from your spiritual death.
Do you want revenge? Remember how God deals with His enemies (which were all of us until He adopted us into His kingdom).
Angry? The Bible says,
“Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”—James 1:19-20 (ESV)
Selfish? The Bible says we love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19) and we are to love others as ourselves (Mark 12:31) and count them as more significant (Philippians 2:3-4).
Vengeful? God declared that vengeance is His alone to take, and we are not to take matters into our own hands but practice forgiveness as we, too, have been forgiven. (Ephesians 4:31-32 and Romans 12:19)
A great faith builder is the daily practice of denying your flesh (conquering your feelings) and picking up your cross to follow Jesus.
Faith over feelings will get you farther than anything else in my experience.
Faith in the Little Things
Little moments make up most of our lives, and they are somehow the most overlooked, especially where faith is concerned.
Moments like…
Waking up in the morning.
[What is your mind fixed on first thing in the morning?]
Driving to work.
[Are you aware of God’s work in and around you while you drive?]
Doing the dishes.
[Did you know God is there with you even then?]
Running errands.
[Are you bustling around too much to notice God?]
Or how about moments like these…
Honking at the driver who just cut you off.
[Was that God honoring behavior?]
Not returning a smile to a stranger on the street.
[It would have only taken a second.]
Dismissing a child’s voice because you have more important things to hear.
[A child’s voice is sometimes the most important to listen to.]
Deciding to veg out on the couch instead of checking something off your to-do list.
[What does this really accomplish?]
If you want a strong, stable, mature faith, it starts with these moments.
When you think it doesn’t matter, remember, it does.
If you’re a parent, remember it’s the little moments with your kids that matter most in their overall well-being. When they come to show you one of the zillion art projects they make, every reaction you have to them counts as if it’s the first.
If you’re a spouse, remember it’s the little moments in your marriage that matter most in the overall well-being of the relationship. When your spouse comes to talk to you, to snuggle or show affection, or even just to spend a little time with you while you run errands. It all matters just as much as the first time!
When it comes to your faith, it’s your responsibility to reinforce it in the seemingly unimportant, minuscule, and even sometimes monotonous moments.
Ever heard the saying, “do what is right even when nobody is looking”
Do the same with your faith.
- When you want to react poorly, don’t. That’s a practical application of your faith.
- When you want to be lazy and procrastinate, don’t. That’s a practical application of your faith.
- When you want to judge others, don’t.
- When you want to give in to your flesh, don’t.
- When you want to lie, don’t.
- Whenever your flesh wants to dominate you in the moments you think it wouldn’t matter, don’t!
That’s the practice of everyday faith.
It doesn’t always look like big declarations or actions of the faith, like missionary work, deep Bible study, or going to church.
Sometimes, most of the time, your faith IS the little things. So, take it seriously and always be spiritually aware.
“Faith without works is dead” (James 2:14-26). This doesn’t just apply to works of charity, worship, and ministry, but the work of good character as well.
Your faith is dead if you neglect the work of it in the everyday moments of your life.
This takes practice, and it takes patience to see the habit of faith form.
Faith in Uncertainty and Waiting
Faith oftentimes will take patience, and patience comes more easily when you’re confident in God’s timing and response.
Sarah was impatient with God in receiving a child and tried to bypass Him by having children through Hagar. This ultimately and inevitably resulted in conflict and disharmony.
God often makes us wait.
Personally, I believe it’s to test us because patience is a virtue God wants us to have and keep in practice.
Patient isn’t something I’ve ever really been, so naturally, patience is a lesson God has been teaching me for years.
However, I’m a slow learner sometimes, so I still have work to do in that regard, but my patience has significantly improved since being saved.
A lesson in patience I’m currently being taught is within my weight loss journey.
God has allowed things outside of my control to knock me off course.
However, He did so with the purpose of challenging me to get back on course instead of allowing these things to permanently derail me like I’ve done in the past.
As much as I hate the process taking longer than I wanted and even planned for, I appreciate the work God’s doing in me and my life to create a better, stronger, more disciplined, and more resilient person.
Patience is perseverance.
10/10 would highly recommend 👌🏽😂
Faith in Relationships: Love applied
A few scriptures immediately come to mind when I think of Faith in relationships:
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. ’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV)
In Matthew 7:12, Jesus says, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”.
“Ephesians 4:31-32 “Let all bitterness and wrath be put away. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
As well as the definition of Love:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”— 1 Corinthians 13:4-7(NIV)
These are clear-cut instructions on how to love others. Loving others is solely dependent on God’s love, not your own, nor is it dependent on what the other person deserves.
There is a reason we are COMMANDED to love each other.
- Because it’s easy not to, as we are hardwired to be selfish and self-loving
- We are to follow Christ’s example, and Christ loved us to the point of death (something else scripture commands us to do in John 15:13 and 1 John 3:16)
When you come to know Love Himself, you’ll know how to better love others. Seek Love (aka God) in His Word and use His examples in your relationships (platonic, familial, or romantic).
I won’t go in depth on this here, as I have future posts planned for this particular topic, but the foundation of it will always be to look to God for the ultimate example.
God’s loving character and love for us are displayed all throughout scripture from Genesis to Revelation; you just have to look for it (it’s more obvious than you may realize).
Faith in Hardships and Challenges
Faith in trials isn’t easy, but it is simple.
Suffering is where we are closest to, and like Christ.
I know this is a lesson God has been teaching me. I’m glad for it because now suffering is much easier.
I used to be so puzzled by how people could experience such suffering but still be joyful and spirit-filled. Like Job, for example.
But I get it more now.
A big part of Faith is remembering it’s not entirely your responsibility. Faith is given and grown by God. So in your suffering, you can be assured that God is working on your Faith and Jesus is walking by your side!
Remember that God loves you, so whatever the reason He is allowing you to suffer, He is always coming from a place of genuine love and care for you. There is a reason for this season!
“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”— Romans 5:3-5 (NIV)
“because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”—James 1:3 (NIV)
Try not to focus so much on the suffering; it’s not your problem. Your sufferings are God’s problem. Your responsibility is your response ability.
Read that again.
Your only responsibility is your response ability.
How you respond to your suffering is what will determine how it affects/impacts you.
You can wallow in it and let it destroy you.
Or…
You can rejoice and stand still in it so you may prosper through it!
(I’ll have a post all about this particular topic because I’m very passionate about it, but for now, just this snippet)
You don’t have to push through the pain and suffering; God doesn’t command us to do that.
God promised He will handle what we cannot. Your only job is to persevere in faith and hope.
When this clicks, suffering becomes joyful.
So, keep hold of your faith and pray for it to click. 😉
To Sum it All Up
All you really need to know to practically apply your faith is that your faith is never on vacation.
You are a Christian ALL the time. Not some of the time.
Your faith doesn’t have to be perfect, but it should always be on. You should be representing Christ and His Church to the best of your ability in every little moment of Every. Single. Day.
Even when you’re alone. Even when it’s easy not to. Even when it’s difficult. Even when you think it doesn’t matter.
It always does.
Faith may not take perfection, but it certainly takes perseverance and consistency.
I encourage you to practice the spiritual awareness of your faith every day. Ask yourself:
“Where can I use more faith and less flesh?”
Then actively practice applying faith in those areas.
If you don’t know how, look to God’s Word for instruction.
Here are some scriptures to start you off:
- Romans 12
- John 15:1-11
- Galatians 5:16-25
- Ephesians 6:10-18
- Joshua 1:8
- Psalm 1
- Philippians 4:6-9
- Psalms 37 & 46
- Matthew 6:19-34 & Luke 16:10-13
- Colossians 3:17 & 23-24
- 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
- all of Proverbs
- Philippians 2:1-5
- Ephesians 4:1-3 & 25-32
- 1 Corinthians 13
- Micah 6:8
- 1 John 3:18
And plenty more (it’s ok to google it 😉). I know I’ve left out some good ones, so be sure to look some up for yourself!
Final thought: You don’t have to be perfect; you just need to be willing. God wants your heart ❤️
“Yet not my will but yours be done” — Luke 22:42 (NIV)
Prayer
Lord,
Thank You for being the Author and Perfector of my faith!
I humbly ask that You continue to grow and mature my faith until it’s unwavering and deeply rooted in confidence in You.
Please continue to refine and rebuild me into a stronger reflection of Your Son.
Don’t let me fall prey to my flesh in the day-to-day life when it’s easy to forget to take after Christ.
Help me to die daily, minute by minute, and pick up my cross to follow You! Help me to fill up on Your holy and righteous Spirit giving thanks for my daily portion.
Thank You for giving me power over my flesh and sin, and thank You for your redeeming grace.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
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