What is FAITH?

What is Faith? (Thoughts by Kristi)

"By faith Abraham... obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." (Hebrews 11:8)

What role does faith play in your life? Is it something you hold on to in your heart for only those things you can't quite explain? Or have you experienced the faith that opens a door into another world?

Early in the Gospel of Matthew, we read, "the kingdom of heaven is near." Matthew records over 30 comments about this invisible kingdom that came to us through Christ. In the midst of our tangible world of observable stuff, faith opens our eyes to this new reality. In the book of Hebrews, we read that faith "is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

Hebrews goes on to say, "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."

Do we see faith as a convenient catch-all for the quirks of life that lack an immediate explanation? Or are we experiencing the reward of earnestly seeking "the God who is there" . That means taking the reality of God's existence into every corner of our lives. It means trusting in a good and sovereign God despite our circumstances and bringing Him glory by believing when we do not see.

For me, I am exercising my Faith muscle every day! This past year has been a journey without a road map of what is in front of me, yet when I look BACK at the road behind me I see a glimpse of where He is taking me... I see the changes in my life and KNOW that I would have not chosen these roads for myself.

Now.. looking back, I see parts of my old self laying on the roadside, I am happy to have shed them to start to become the person that the Lord wants me to be. Maybe for me, I have had to cast off all the old 'stuff' ... At what point in my life did my own self sufficient ways cloud my trust and faith in God?

How does faith affect your life? Do you think and live differently because of the certainty of things you cannot see? Or, DO YOU LIMIT GOD'S Power in YOUR LIFE because you do NOT have FAITH that HE WILL GUIDE YOU and MEET YOUR NEEDS? Are you AFRAID, to "let go and LET GOD?" Afraid to stop having so much faith in yourself, your decisions and your abilities?... Do you step forward in faith - on the road unseen... in the direction of the Son?

Let me leave you with this thought from "Streams in the Desert - August 23"...

"Genuine faith also looks up and sails, by using God's great Son. It never travels by seeing the shoreline, earthly lighthouses, or paths along the way. And the steps of faith often lead to total uncertainty or even darkness and disaster, but the Lord will open the way and often makes the darkest of midnight hours as bright as the dawning of the day."

Let us move forth today, not knowing or seeing, but trusting." (from Days of Heaven upon Earth)

Too many of us want to see our way through a new endeavor before we will even start. Imagine if we could see our way from beginning to end. How would we ever develop our Christian gifts? Faith, Hope, and Love cannot be picked from trees, like ripe apples. Remember, after the words "In the beginning" (Gen. 1:1) comes the word "God." it is our first step of faith that turns the key in the lock of His powerhouse. It is true that God helps those who help themselves, but He also helps those who are helpless. so no matter your circumstance, you can depend on Him every time.

Waiting on God brings us to the end our journey much faster than our feet.

Many an opportunity is lost while we deliberate after He has said "MOVE".