You Gotta Have Faith!

My Utmost For His Highest

“Without faith it is impossible to please Him…” —Hebrews 11:6

“Common sense and faith are as different from each other as the natural life is from the spiritual, and as impulsiveness is from inspiration. […] Yet faith must be tested and tried before it becomes real in your life. “We know that all things work together for good…” (Romans 8:28) so that no matter what happens, the transforming power of God’s providence transforms perfect faith into reality. Faith always works in a personal way, because the purpose of God is to see that perfect faith is made real in His children. […] Faith is a tremendously active principle that always puts Jesus Christ first. The life of faith says, “Lord, You have said it, it appears to be irrational, but I’m going to step out boldly, trusting in Your Word” (for example, see Matthew 6:33). Turning intellectual faith into our personal possession is always a fight, not just sometimes. God brings us into particular circumstances to educate our faith, because the nature of faith is to make the object of our faith very real to us. Until we know Jesus, God is merely a concept, and we can’t have faith in Him. But once we hear Jesus say, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9) we immediately have something that is real, and our faith is limitless. Faith is the entire person in the right relationship with God through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.”  CHAMBERS

Typically I read Chamber’s devotion for the day and decide what parts of it I will share. But there are days when I have a hard time leaving parts out.  This is one of those days.  (Romans 1:16-17) “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.  For in it (the Gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”” As we respond to life in faith, God is revealed to us.  (Hebrews 11:1)  “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not see.”  Living by faith is supernatural.  It defies the natural, common sense, cultural convention, the way “your daddy” did things.  It is God’s convention.  The way He intended things to be.  Total trust in Him, even when you don’t understand what is happening .. but you know God is in it.  And the only way that you can know that is if you are sensitive to the spiritual.  And the only way you can be sensitive to the spiritual is if you are doing what you need to do to strengthen the influence of the Spirit in you.  You get the idea. 

I have had a number of conversations with people who are struggling with a decision about the direction they should go in life.  They know what God is telling them, that is not the problem.  Dr. Henry Blackaby, in Experiencing God, said that knowing you have heard God’s voice is not the problem most people have.  The problem is obeying what He says.  What God tells you to do requires faith.  To not worry requires faith. To be at peace in the midst of turmoil requires faith.  To exercise faith requires a close relationship with God.  Faith is not something you can pull out of your pocket when you are in a jam.  Faith is a way of life.  If you are struggling today, troubled about something that is going on in your life, then you need to look to God … that is exercising faith.  An absolute confidence in Him .. no matter what happens .. whether the problem goes away or not.  You can be confident in the midst of it. But you gotta have FAITH!  ELGIN

“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”

“O soul are you weary and troubled?  No light in the darkness you see?  There's light for a look at the Saviour,  And life more abundant and free:
Through death into life everlasting  He passed, and we follow Him there;  Over us sin no more hath dominion  For more than conqu'rors we are!
His word shall not fail you He promised;  Believe Him and all will be well.  Then go to a world that is dying,  His perfect salvation to tell!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,  Look full in His wonderful face;  And the things of earth will grow strangely dim  In the light of His glory and grace.”

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)
Charley Elgin