Bible Studies

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Hebrews 11:1&6 – “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see… and without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

Thesaurus Fun:

Faith – trust, confidence, reliance, assurance, conviction
Certain – convinced, positive, confident, firm, definite, assured

Being Certain of what We Do Not See

Faith is believing without seeing, without having, but it is not a tentative, wavering kind of belief nor some wistful kind of hope. It is not based on feelings or circumstances but on the unshakeable character and Word of God. It is a confidence and certainty that is deliberately decided and tenaciously clung to. It is not always free of doubt, but it is not swayed by doubt. It stands and perseveres through everything. Like so many other things (love, joy, peace, and hope), faith is stronger and more determined than we give it credit for. It is a decision, something to be held on to, not something to ebb and flow like our emotions tend to do.

This is the kind of faith that pleases God – to believe that He exists even though we have not seen Him (and despite how many people try to explain Him away) and to believe that He will do what He has said. Not a simple “intellectual” faith in these things but the kind of determined faith that spurs us on to action. As Scripture says, “Faith without works is dead (James 2:17&26)”, or one might say it this way, “Faith that does nothing is worthless and empty.” For if we truly believe that He is and that He will respond to us, then we will genuinely seek Him and obey Him. We must stand on the promise of His Word in spite of the winds of doubt and the thundering of fear and the driving rain of our circumstances. No one ever said that faith was easy – if it were easy, it would be false and would never stand up to the storms of this life. Just as with love, peace, joy, or hope, faith is only true when it has come through trials and adversity. For only by testing something can its true measure be found.

Point to Ponder

Do you have a faith that has come through trials and testing and stands stronger than ever? Or has your faith crumbled under the weight of suffering or been eroded by the storms and circumstances of life? You can still have faith that will not be moved and moves mountains. It is a decision you can make right now.

Let us pray, “Father, we come before You thankful that You give second chances. We admit that our faith does not always stand the face of all that comes against us, but right now, by Your grace, we have decided that we will indeed cling to faith in You. We know that what You have said will come to pass (Isaiah 55:11), that You are faithful and true (Revelation 3:14&19:11) and that because of You, no weapon formed against us shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17). So when doubts and circumstances come against us, remind us of this decision we have made and help us to stand firm on the truths of Your Word. We ask these things according to You will, for our good and for Your glory. In the mighty and precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen!”

See these songs: I place it all in You, Starting Right Now

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