My desire is that my simple thoughts will speak to your spirit and be helpful in some unique way.

Monday, June 25, 2012

What is Faith?

I will come out and say I have had an extraordinarily difficult week which is why there has been gap in my blog entries.  My personal studies have been interesting since my appointment last week.  It did not go as I had hoped.  Actually, it was the most disappointing doctor's appointment I have ever had.  On the upside God still had some great lessons for me in my pain.  I still knew He had told me to go and know it was part of my journey...and I found out I am VERY deficient in Vitamin D.  Huh, who knew?!  Anyway, on to my study.

People toss around the word "faith" very often, but what really is it?  Our faith is only as good as what we have faith in.  Faith in ourselves or other people is flawed at it's core because we and others are flawed at the core. 

Hebrews 11:1)  Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

If you are anything like me this verse makes no sense.  It's okay to admit that.  I believe the Bible was written in a way that it requires more of us than simply reading it.  We are to study it in detail.  I have a fantastic Bible commentary by Warren Wiersbe.  Here are some things I learned by reading the entry for the above verse.  Biblical faith is not a "hope so" or being superstitious.  Genuine faith obeys God in spite of circumstances and consequences.  It adheres to God's hand when everyone and everything is trying to rip your hand out of His.  You see, my appointment was awful yet I KNOW God is using all things for my good because I love Him and have been called according to His purpose.  I have faith that God will take my heartbreak and turn it for good.  Granted I'm tired of waiting, but I know it will happen.  When I have faith it is God's assurance to me that what He has promised will come true.  The word confidence used in the verse can be translated to support.  Of course faith isn't faith if we can see it.

Here are more of my thoughts on the topic.  Genuine faith admits when it has no strength left to believe.  Let me tell you, given how my appointment went last Tuesday I really contemplated quitting my quest for health.  In times of great frustration I have wondered if this condition is not my lot in life.  There remains an intense fire within me though that refuses to accept that.  I believe it is the Holy Spirit's way of edging me on.  Genuine faith knows God cannot be manipulated by hours spent reading the Bible, the memorization of verses, praying fancy prayers, or talking in a religious manner.  It believes God is "I Am," God loves them and is able.  He will work and is working on our problems.  It believes His timing is perfect.  He never provides too late...or too early for that matter.

Genuine faith has faith in God and His promises and not in itself.  I think many people, myself included at times, have faith in faith.  It isn't the belief in faith that heals them, sets them free from bondage, or repairs broken hearts.  Remember our faith is only as good as the subject.  The dictionary says that faith is the confidence or trust in a person or thing especially without logical proof.  In my case there really isn't anything that says I am getting better or will get better yet I know God is working it out to my benefit.  Now the key for me is trusting what He thinks is for my benefit really is.  Often the person we are to have faith in is forgotten about.  To have faith in faith means to have faith in ourselves and what we can do or in others and what they can do.  Trusting myself or other people in essence is unbelief.  It takes the reins out of God's hands.  Trusting in God is belief.

I firmly believe that when someones life gets really bad their true faith is exposed.  I know that has been true in my own life.  Anyone can say all the right things when life is smooth or on auto-pilot.  Picture the scene...a woman is laying in a portable hospital bed in her oldest daughter's old bedroom.  She is swollen because of high doses of medication and her hair is gone.  Her chest is rising and falling with sounds of fluid in her lungs.  The nurse calls this the "death rattle."  Her leg is burned because a week ago she dumped hot chocolate all over.  She is naked under the blanket because "that is how I came in and it's how I'm goin' out."  In the midst of her misery she utters "Christ...now."  I believe with all my heart that she could see Him.  I believe she was mostly home at that point.  That is genuine faith because on the surface it looked like this woman who followed God nearly 40 nears was being ruthlessly betrayed by this man.  I remember my mom being too sick to get out of her bed and right on her nightstand was that worn Bible I have mentioned in other entries.  I inspire to have that substance inside me.

Genuine faith recognizes who God is.  It bows before His power, holiness, will, and ability.  "If I only do XYZ He will do this for me," we think.  It doesn't work that way.  Faith, again, is having trust and confidence in God.  It is critical to spend time with the Person (or the object) we are supposed to be trusting and confiding in.  The only way to do that is to study Scripture.  That is how we get to know Him and I want to know Him in a close way.  He knows my heart.  He knows my intentions and why I am spending time with Him.  There have been times when I have thought if I prayed a certain way with certain words my miracle would come.  When I have that attitude my faith is greatly damaged when my miracle does not come.

Genuine faith is not phony, but rather authentic.  It speaks out loud the promises of God yet is real when doubt comes. 

Mark 9:24)  Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

This comment is in response to a questioned posed by Jesus Himself.  The boy in reference is possessed by an evil spirit that is trying to kill him.  Here we have a desperate father looking for deliverance for his boy.  I think this father had genuine faith because he knew when he was struggling and was honest with Jesus.  Sometimes God gives us something tangible to help us overcome unbelief, but most of the time He does not.  He knows our hearts anyway so let's just be honest and tell Him when we don't believe Him.  They key is to not have pride, but rather an authentic desire to believe His promises.

Our focus cannot be on faith and what it can provide (think of all the people who were healed in the Bible), but needs to be on the One who can heal. 

Matthew 9:20-22)  Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the edge of His cloak.  She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”  Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” He said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

This woman's faith was active, bold, and courageous.  12 years!  Many sources say she had a menstrual disorder.  In those days a menstruating woman was deemed "unclean."  Talk about  labeling someone!  Because of her condition she more than likely had no friends, was deserted by her family, could earn no money, and lived a life of complete solitude.  To say she was desperate would be a grave understatement.  She suffered for 12 years yet she kept on.  She sought Jesus.  Who knows how many times her hopes were dashed.  She spent all her money on treatment.  She got up that morning and decided she was going to go for it.  To me that is another act of genuine faith.  No matter how many times its knocked down it gets back up and reaches out to touch the hem of His cloak. 



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