Читать книгу Date with Destiny Devotional - Joseph W. Walker III - Страница 10

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

—Hebrews 11:1 KJV

There is nothing more essential in the life of a Christian than faith.Faith literally stretches us from where we are now to help us reach for the possibilities in our future. Understanding the importance of faith will strengthen your relationship with God and each other.

So many people I meet go through life with doubt and fear. I've seen people needlessly worry themselves over small things. When you believe God, you have to believe that He wants what's best for you. There is a statement that says: "God said it, I believe it, and that settles it." What God has said is already settled, whether we believe it or not. Our participation in what He says requires us to believe and never waiver in that belief. Every challenge that you encounter must be met with a strong faith in God.

Perhaps you are going through some struggles today and you are wondering why. The truth is that a faith that cannot be tried is a faith that cannot be trusted. You cannot receive the word you receive and that word not be tested in you. This is why it's important to remember what God has done in the past. It will give you confidence as you faceyour challenges today. Just as you file away documents for later use, you should develop what I call a faith file. Every time God does something for you, file it away in your spiritual faith file. When you are being tested again, refer to that file and know it's nothing new to God.

When Maxine (not her real name) was sixteen, she had a back surgery. The doctors told her that she would never be able to walk or stand for long periods after having the procedure. But she beat the odds, and today she walks as though it never happened. When she was twenty she was diagnosed with a rare heart condition and had triple by-pass surgery. God saw her through that. When she was thirty-two, she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. After she battled cancer for years, God miraculously healed her. Not long ago, the bank threatened to foreclose on her home. She came to service and asked the church for their prayers. As she stood before the congregation, wallowing in fear, the pastor said, "If it were anybody else, I would understand you being afraid. But God brought you through back surgery, heart surgery, and healed your cancer; and you don't think He's able to help you make a house payment?! Where is your faith?"

Where is your faith? Are you afraid, worried, nervous, anxious? We tend to develop spiritual amnesia and forget about what God has done for us in the past. Don't forget; remember faith.

LET'S PRAY Dear Heavenly Father, help us remember that You have brought us safe thus far and will see us home; in Jesus' name. Amen.