A Measure of Faith

"Whether I see, or whether I don't see, it takes a measure of faith to believe", is what I have been singing lately.

"Though sometimes it seems as if He's hiding, we can be confident in Christ when we build on faith alone. With faith as our foundation, we invest everything in God." - Brother Lawrence

I've been reading Practicing the Presence (Thanks @gregsimas) as a daily devotional and this quote has been echoing throughout the last several weeks. It began in September when I was listening to a Jon Thurlow set streaming in the prayer room at IHOP-KC. I was actually meditating on the audacity of God's love, asking for revelation. It seemed I kept hitting walls, blocks in my heart, where I 'knew' in my mind all about God's love, but the heart was not processing. (I go through this about every other month)

The worship team on the IHOP-KC stream began to sing prophetically and something opened up inside of me. A singing "oracle" was released, which basically is a spontaneous "song from heaven".  The song unraveled layers that had been built up around my heart which took me on a new journey into a dance with the word "faith".

 The revelation I received can not be expressed, but a few bullets I can resolve here, hopefully, that will inspire you on your faith journey. 

1. Our hearts must become like little children. 

"but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14 

Have you ever experienced taking a newly walking baby to the beach? Remember when their bare feet first touched the sand? Or grass? You experienced it all over again through watching them. The wonder of a child exploring the world is the wonder the Lord expects us to have about discovering the Kingdom. 

We need to be on guard that we do not end up dull hearted looking at the things of God as, "ya, ya, ya, been there, done that." The more excitement and belief we hold in God to do wondrous things in our midst, the more wondrous things we will see in our midst. 
    Children are:

• weak
• humble
• always learning
• free of bitterness
• free of offense

 How many of those can you say you are "like"? Ya, we need to become more like little children, I'd say.

2. Faith comes first.

We do not get to see, then believe. God asks us to believe in what we can not see. 

"Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

Some will see, and some may never see. Seeing is not a per-requisite to faith. However, faith is a per-requisite to seeing. In Matthew 9:22, Jesus told a woman that it was her "faith" that made her well. Then in verse 29, Jesus healed two blind men "according to their faith".  [more passages on faith to believe]

Here it is, whether I see, or whether I don't see, it takes faith to believe. Just to believe there is a God, who is invisible, sitting there listening to me when I pray takes a measure of faith. 

In fact, what is more? Faith to believe for someone to be healed of disease, or that when you confess Christ as your Lord your soul is then saved from eternal damnation? That the miracle you need for a job or finances will come through, or that someone will be raised from the dead? See, its all the same faith. We all have a measure of faith, or we wouldn't be reading this devotional right now reaching for some spiritual words to unlock our hearts. 

3. Put fire on that fire.

So we have a measure of faith, like we have muscles. Some people have muscles like me, small, and flabby, but muscles none the less. They just need working out so they will be more powerful. So how do you get more faith? 

        Pray 

In Luke 17:5, the apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith, and so should we. God puts fire on our fire. After all, He is the source of all power.

        Act

A familiar verse to many, James 5:14-16, says the prayer "offered in faith" will make the sick person well. If we are not stepping out and praying for people, circumstances etc. and we are just taking this stance, "why pray, when God is just going to do what He wants anyway", then we are not doing our part- acting. We need to act to increase our faith. We need to step out when we are not "feeling it", when our faith tank is "running low". God will meet you! And as a result, your faith will increase, and your history in God will have new pillars standing. 


What are your believing God for in 2013? Are you on a personal fast to start out your new year? What are you believing God for during your fast? I want to encourage you to keep that fire burning!

- gina