Faith is a central theme in the Bible, and its significance cannot be overstated. It is the foundation of our relationship with God and plays a transformative role in the lives of believers. Throughout the scriptures, faith is portrayed as a vital aspect of our spiritual journey, guiding us through trials, inspiring us to persevere, and enabling us to experience the fullness of God's love and blessings. In this blog, we will explore the biblical understanding of faith, its essence, and its practical implications for our lives.
Defining Faith
In the Bible, faith is often described as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). It goes beyond mere belief, encompassing trust, reliance, and unwavering confidence in God's promises and character. Faith is not blind, but rather, it is grounded in the reliability of God's Word and His faithfulness throughout history.
The Foundation of Faith: God's Word
Faith is intrinsically tied to God's Word. Romans 10:17 states, "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." As we engage with the Scriptures, our faith is strengthened as we encounter God's promises, His love, and the testimonies of those who walked by faith before us. The Bible serves as a guidebook for living a life rooted in faith, and it illuminates the path of righteousness.
Examples of Faith
Throughout the Bible, we find numerous examples of individuals who exemplified great faith. From Abraham, who trusted God's promise of a son in his old age (Genesis 15:6), to Moses, who led the Israelites out of Egypt despite overwhelming odds (Hebrews 11:24-28), these stories demonstrate that faith is not without challenges, but it sustains us through them. We also learn from the life of Jesus, who displayed unwavering faith in His Father's plan, even in the face of crucifixion (Hebrews 12:2).
The Relationship Between Faith and Works
James 2:14 reminds us that faith without works is dead. While we are not saved by our works, true faith is always accompanied by actions that align with God's will. When we truly believe, our lives should reflect that belief through acts of love, compassion, and obedience. Our actions become a natural outpouring of the faith in our hearts.
Nurturing Faith
Faith is not static; it can grow and develop over time. To nurture our faith, we must cultivate a close relationship with God through prayer, worship, and fellowship with other believers. Surrounding ourselves with a community of faith can encourage and strengthen us in times of doubt or hardship.
Overcoming Doubt
Doubt is a normal aspect of faith, but it should not lead to despair. In Mark 9:24, a father cried out to Jesus, "I believe; help my unbelief!" This honest confession reveals that we can approach God with our doubts and uncertainties, seeking His guidance and assurance. Through prayer, reflection, and seeking wisdom, our faith can be fortified.
Conclusion
Faith is the cornerstone of our Christian journey. It enables us to embrace the promises of God and face life's challenges with hope and courage. By immersing ourselves in God's Word, learning from the examples of faithful men and women, and actively living out our faith, we can experience the transformative power of faith in our lives. As we walk in faith, we find comfort in knowing that we are never alone, for our faithful God walks with us every step of the way.
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Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
The Word of God is the Word we have been taught to guide us and live by. What about the word of man? We trust God’s Word; do we trust man’s word? Should we trust man’s word? Why not trust man’s word?
We live in a time where our word is to be our bond, but that bond has been broken by many on many occasions. It is the goal to work toward living as close as we can to mirroring Jesus and His ways. Yet we can not keep our word. From the simplest task of telling someone you will be there at 10:00 AM and you do not arrive until 10:15 AM without communicating you are running late. There are times when conditions exist that may prevent you from keeping your word but let’s be honest, it has gone way beyond that. We are not putting our best foot forward when it comes to keeping our word. It does not matter who the person is that we need to keep our word with, but what matters is your integrity, your spirit, your soul and your dedication to being Christ-Like.
Today take a moment and think about how we can all be better in keeping our word. God is an awesome example. How about you become an awesome example. What is simple is much.
For the word of the Lord is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.
Psalm 33:4 | NIV
Can you be faithful in all you do?
Can you keep your word?
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What three wonderful characteristics to possess. Serenity a calmness, a peacefulness, Courage, the ability to stand up against anything and Wisdom, knowledge beyond measure. The Serenity Prayer is a wonderful prayer that exemplifies what God speaks to us repeatedly through His Word and through the Holy Spirit.
Take a moment today and take a breath. FOCUS on these three words and how you can ensure they are a part of your daily life. Our FOCUS will allow us to have these characteristics and more daily to confront whatever may come before us.
Please if you have a moment look at this article for further reading on the Serenity Prayer. I thought it was an abbreviated and excellent look.
https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/serenity-prayer-applying-3-truths-from-the-bible.html
F.O.C.U.S. (Be Faithful, Obedient, Christ-like, Unwavering and Steadfast) Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Become a walking billboard for Christ
www.focusiapparel.com
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FOCUS I APPAREL (FIA) is a ministry/business that seeks to minister to the world through inspirational apparel.
No matter where we are in our lives or who we are, there will always be an urgent need for us to direct our FOCUS toward our relationship with God.
FOCUS was created to help you (and me!) do just that.
Come Walk With Me
One of my biggest challenges is giving in to distractions. That is why I have gravitated towards FOCUS. I needed something to keep me motivated, something to keep me inspired, and something to keep me FOCUSed on God’s Word and my ever-growing relationship with God. I created this tool to aid me on my spiritual journey and want to share it with you.
FIA provides another way for us to remember God’s Word and purpose for our life. FOCUS is an acronym to remind us that when we are FOCUSed, we are Faithful, Obedient, Christ-Like, Unwavering, and Steadfast.
OUR PRAYER
I pray that as I embark on this quest to committing my life to God, that you join, with me wholeheartedly. I pray that if you decide to journey with me, that you are honest and patient with yourself. I pray that just as much as you commit to God, you make these commitments to yourself.
Amen.
]]>I'm glad about it,
(I'm glad), I'm glad about it,
(I'm so glad), I'm glad about it).
,
I'm glad about it,
I'm so glad to be here.
(You know I've got my health and strength and I'm glad),
I'm glad about it,
(I'm so glad), I'm glad about it
(I'm so glad), I'm glad about it.
,
I'm glad about it,
I'm so glad to be here.
I'm so glad.
I'm so glad to be here.
Today, another day, another day’s journey and yes, I am glad. Are you? You woke up this morning and may not have found what your flesh wants but you woke up. Did you thank God? Did you get to your knees and praise Him, or did you take the day for granted? How do you think you woke up this morning? Is it you? Who makes it possible for us to rise each day? Rejoice in the Lord always, Philippians 4:4 especially when you rise in the morning. I hope you have a different perspective tomorrow morning.
]]>The surprises can be good and bad. I believe that we must prepare ourselves as much as possible for any and everything, i.e. surprises. I have been working on the FOCUS (Faithful, Obedient, Christ-like, Unwavering, Steadfast) concept for many years and do not know if I will ever master it. Probably not. But what I do know is that I will continue this life journey trying my best to be FOCUSed.
]]>Recognizing the journey for me is recognizing the path that God has for my life. This journey is not an easy one for any of us. We all have our good days and our bad days. I am on the path to continue my contribution to the world. I am embarking on a great adventure which I feel in my heart is lead by God.
A couple of years ago I came up with this idea of FOCUS. The FOCUS was just for me. It was for me to stop and take a look and breath a little and recognize God in all I do. I continue to struggle with my FOCUS and this is why I am still on the path.
We all become so busy in our daily lives that we forget to FOCUS on what is most important, and what is most important is GOD. He is the reason you were able to get up this morning, He is the reason you were able to talk, see, listen, walk and the list goes on. So why don’t we get up praising Him every day?
As I sat in church this past Sunday I was able to answer that question. It is because we take Him for granted. I came to the realization that my “greatest sin” and I repeat my “greatest sin” is taking my God, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for granted. This needs to stop and stop fast. Therefore, I start my journey of FOCUS. FOCUSing on the things I should. Walk with me and let’s see where this path will take us. I am pretty confident of the answer. It will take us straight into the arms of God Almighty. Will you go with me?
REPOSTED March 12, 2017
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