Faith

Helen Keller was quoted in saying:  “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.  Nothing can be done without hope and confidence”.  This is even more important when it comes to God working in our lives, and working through us for the benefit of other’s lives.  It is then very appropriate that we start our devotions with asking God to fill us with his Holy Spirit of Faith. 

The Importance of Faith:

Let us focus on why this characteristic of God’s Spirit is so important.   One first needs faith to even believe in God.  If we were confronted by a thought or message, and the first thought that followed, was..."that doesn't sound right"...chances are it would be thrown in the mental trash can discarded.  But if the thought makes sense, or sheds light on a topic, we would be more likely to give it consideration, or even accept it as truth. 

 This is faith in action within our mind.  This is how God works within us too.  He designed our minds to work with this type of intensity, scrutiny, curiosity.   Consider Mary when she was told she would bear the Son of God, and her doubt of that revelation (Luke 1:29).  But Mary chose to believe the angel, and look what came of it.  Paul encourages the reader in Romans 14:5: "One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth ever day alike.  Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind". 

Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8  "for ye are saved by grace through faith and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God".  

Paul also wrote in Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him:  for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him".

 

It was because we chose to believe that grace was able to bring us to the saving knowledge of Christ.  Without faith, this would be impossible.  It is faith that gives us the impetus of experiencing all things in God.  As the writer of Hebrews states:

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.  Hebrews 11:1-3

If we are to take the author of Hebrews at his words, that faith is the “substance” of our hopes, and faith is the vehicle for the most important acts of spiritual work in our lives, then we should pray to be filled with faith.  We should pray that those around us would be given an opportunity to practice their faith, maybe by witnessing the faith we work out in our lives. It is therefore appropriate we meditate on faith as our springboard to understand how His Holy Spirit works in us.  

The Practical application of Faith:

As we pray for ourselves and others to be filled with faith we should be aware that the Holy Spirit of faith is a mighty weapon against doubt fear and depression.  We can use this Spiritual characteristic to battle some of the toughest issues in our minds.  As the man that approached Jesus for help, he cried, "I believe, help me in my unbelief" (Mark 9:24)  If we can have that mindset, it would be a tremendous leap forward in battling the evil spirits of doubt, fear and depression.  Even though evil spirits such as these are strong in minds of man, God's Holy Spirit is stronger. The following are scriptures for your consideration while we focus on faith this week.  May you be filled with the Spirit of faith.
      
Matthew 23:23          1 Corinthians 12:7-11
Romans 1:16,17        Hebrews 11:1,6
Romans 5:1,2            2 Timothy 1:11
Ephesians 6:16