The meaning of Faith

I don't know about you, but I often feel like there are chapters in my life and those chapters have sub-chapters. So, for example, a chapter could mean my time at Wheaton College, or at Black Forest Academy and within those chapters, there are other dividing factors. I think, though, that more than location, it is more often than not seasons of my spiritual life that mark the beginning and end of chapters.

I have found myself in the last five months going through a time in which God is teaching me a whole lot about "faith". He has taught me that faith means believing in God's promises. Never in my life have God's promises personally been more important than in the last few months. It has been in times of severe darkness and uncertainty, that I have been combing through the Psalms and other Scripture, reminding my heart of God's promises, for we serve a God who IS FAITHFUL.
Just consider the history of the Israelites in the Old Testament for an example of God's faithfulness. I remember thinking in Old Testament Survey Class, "When are they ever going to learn their lesson?!!! I can't believe how patient and gracious God is. They keep on being disobedient over and over again and God keeps holding up His end of His promise!" It is in that time of trial, when there seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel that "faith" becomes the key player. We must believe in God's promises that He will come through and rescue and deliver. He has already conquered and it is a matter of waiting on and trusting in the Lord for His deliverance. Faith allows us to hope.

Last night, as I was lying in bed and getting ready to turn off the light, I read a very encouraging devotional that I would like to share with you. I hope you find it encouraging and insightful as well. Once again, it is from my Streams in the Desert devotional.

"Faith is not conjuring up, through an act of your will, a sense of certainty that something is going to happen. No, it is recognizing God's promise as an actual fact, believing it is true, rejoicing in the knowledge of that truth, and then simply resting because God said it.
Faith turns a promise into prophecy. A promise is contingent upon our cooperation, but when we exercise genuine faith in it, it becomes a prophecy. Then we can move ahead with certainty that it will come pass, because "god... does not lie."

from Days of Heaven upon Earth

I often hear people praying for more faith, but when I listen carefully to them and get to the essence of their prayer, I realize it is not more faith they are wanting at all. What they are wanting is their faith to be changed to sight.

Faith does not say, " I see this is good for me; therefore God must have sent it."Instead, faith declares, "God sent it; therefore it must be good for me."

Faith, when walking through the dark with God, only asks Him to hold his hand more tightly.


Philips Brooks

The Shepherd does not ask of thee
Faith in your faith, but only faith in Him;
And this He meant in saying, "Come to me,"
In light or darkness seek to do His will,
And leave the work of faith to Jesus still."

Thoughts??? :0)