How and why to Walk by Faith.

faith

/fāTH/

noun

  1. 1. 

complete trust or confidence in someone or something.

 

What is the root word for faith?

Faith, derived from Latin fides and Old French feid, is confidence or trust in a person, thing, or concept.



 

Why Is Living by Faith so Difficult?

 

Why do we struggle so often to live by faith? I don’t know about you, but I’d love to see mountains move as a consequence of me exercising my faith.

Jesus said, 

Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you (Matthew 17:20).

Faith isn’t the same as knowledge, but rather is the demonstration that we really do trust what we know to be true.

But if we’re honest, most of us see a disconnect between Jesus’ promise and our experience. We struggle to move “mountains,” because we struggle to live by faith.

In a related post about faith and knowledge, we defined faith as “living as if what God says is really true.” In this sense, faith isn’t the same as knowledge, but rather is the demonstration that we really do trust what we know to be true. Simply put, faith is acting on knowledge; or as Dallas Willard put it, “faith is commitment to action…based upon knowledge of God and God’s ways.”1 

In diagnosing the reason for our struggle then, we’ll look at these three elements: belief, commitment, and knowledge. It’s hard to separate them, because they really all work together, but we can still look at each in its turn.

Reason 1: A failure of belief itself

It may seem obvious, but if faith is living as if what God says is true, then the first question the struggler must ask is whether they actually do believe God to be true. So often Christians merely parrot what the faithful should believe, but never truly believe it for themselves.

Can you truly tell him you believe that he is true? Because you can’t go anywhere with God until you’re honest with him.

More than a mere mental exercise, the self-question of belief should be done before God. Can you truly tell him you believe that he is true? Honesty is the best policy here, because you can’t go anywhere with God until you’re honest with him.

Let his Spirit expose your disbelief, which itself is a step of active faith. Ironically, it takes belief to have God help you with disbelief, and so as the father of the demon-possessed boy did, we too should cry out to Jesus, I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)

 

Reason 2: A failure of commitment

Commitment is different than belief, because we can actually be committed to something we don’t believe in.

When my son was four years old, he asked me to help him build a block tower, instructing me where and how to place the supporting blocks. I knew that his engineering was unsound and would result in collapse, a fact I tried pointing out. But he was adamant, and so desiring him to learn, I committed myself to do what he asked…but I never believed that it would work.

Commitment then, to borrow from Willard again, “is simply a matter of choosing and implementing a course of action.”2

Now, while it may be possible to commit ourselves without believing, it’s not possible to believe without committing.

It may be possible to commit ourselves without believing, but it’s not possible to believe without committing.

And this is where many Christians come up short. To use Jesus’ words from Luke 14:28, they do not first “count the cost” before assenting to believe, thereby never really accepting the actions and consequence that belief may entail. Thus, the attempt is made to keep belief a mere feeling or profession, existing only in the abstract arena of thought.

But in fact, such a faith is really no faith, for as James put it “faith without deeds is dead” (2:26). This is perhaps the most important aspect of faith, because in committing ourselves to action, our faith becomes real.

And our faith can grow by degrees, since some acts of commitment require more faith than others. How vital it is, then, to enter into the school of the spiritual disciplines (e.g. prayer, study, meditation, etc.), where we practice the “easy” faith steps in private, so that we’ll be prepared for the “hard” ones when they find us in public.



Reason 3: A failure of knowledge

Finally, faith may fail for lack of knowledge. This may occur in two ways.

Not knowing what to know

First, you may not know what you should know about God. For example, you can’t trust God for your “daily bread” if you aren’t aware that he’s consciously and continually supplying your every need (Matt. 6:25 and following). This is simply a failure to be informed, and would be expected if you never read or studied your Bible.

Not knowing through experience

Second, you may not be coming to know God through experience.

Remember that the goal of your faith is to “know God” (John 17:3), and that entering new life in Christ is entering into life with him.

The goal of your faith is to “know God” (John 17:3), and entering new life in Christ is entering into life with him.

Certainly this entails tending to the interior life of the spirit, practicing life in God’s presence through prayer, meditation and worship. But in addition, it includes those living moments where we actively commit ourselves to faith steps with him. (I told you these all related together.)

It’s in those living moments where we step out in faith and act precisely because God tells us to, that we enter into a living experience with him. Because in those activities of our lives where we bring our actions into conformity with what God desires, his Holy Spirit is right there orchestrating the whole thing. This is what Paul meant by keeping “in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).

To do the will of God is nothing less than walking with God. So, as we grow in those living activities of conforming our lives to God’s will, we’re in fact growing in our knowledge by experience of what life with God is like. We’re doing life with him, and in so doing coming to know him more.

Conclusion

Do you struggle to live by faith? Are you frustrated with your “on again/off again” tendencies toward faithfulness? Do you long to see “mountains” moved, but obviously are short on mustard seeds of faith?

Take deliberate steps to move your faith away from a mere mental notion into action.

Starting with a heart of repentance, go to God and admit your failure, renewing your desire before him who is always ready to give a second chance (or third or thousandth). And begin applying your mind to becoming a careful thinker about faith, so that your faith is grounded first in a knowledge of the truth.  

Then, take some deliberate steps to move your faith away from a mere mental notion into being something you equate with action. Ask the daily question, “What does my faith do?”, for even a “mustard seed” of working faith based on truth will truly move mountains.

 

 

 

 

 

Having faith is having trust. You have to trust with your entire being that God has your back that he will help you and take care of you. He knows what is best, but to truly embrace what he has planned for you, you have to fully trust. Our trust is not foolish, for our God is both faithful and good.

 

 

What does it mean to walk as Jesus walked?

To “walk as Jesus walked” is to live our lives in the truth of God, expressing our love for Him by obeying by keeping His commands.

 

 

 

Why do we need to have faith?

Faith isn't just a notion that some people hold onto in tough times; faith is an important element to all human life on earth. ... Faith is what helps to get us through, illuminating the pathway in times of darkness, helping to give us strength in times of weakness. Without faith, we are nothing.

 

What does God say about having faith?

 

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." ... "For by grace you have been saved through faith.

 

 

Is faith a gift from God?

To put it into my own words, saving faith is a free and unmerited gift, granted only to undeserving sinners, according to God's sovereign grace, through which we personally receive an irrevocable share in the full salvation accomplished for us by the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

What is the biblical meaning of faith?

The Bible teaches that “faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). So faith is being certain about realities we believe are true but we cannot see with our physical eyes. God's Word also says that “without faith it is impossible to please God…” (Hebrews 11:6)

 

 

What are the 3 kinds of faith?

I believe, from the Bible, there are only three kinds of faith – dead faith, demonic faith and active faith.

 

What is true faith in God?

 

Faith is the genuine belief and the sincere heart that humans should possess when they cannot see or touch something, when God's work does not align with human notions, when it is beyond human reach.

 

Why is faith important?

Faith isn't just a notion that some people hold onto in tough times; faith is an important element to all human life on earth. ... Faith is what helps to get us through, illuminating the pathway in times of darkness, helping to give us strength in times of weakness. Without faith, we are nothing

 

 

What does faith mean to you in daily life?

According to the dictionary, faith has two basic meanings: The first is complete confidence in a person or plan, etc., and the second is a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny.

 

What God says about stepping out in faith?

To step out in faith means to take a risk for God, knowing that He is going to catch you and be there with you if anything should happen. It is going above and beyond to do God's will, even if you don't know what the steps in the process are yet, or what the end result is going to be yet. What is this?

 

Do Christians ever doubt their faith?

There isn't a Christian who doesn't have doubts about his or her faith. However, many of us are too proud to admit it. A lot of Christians would have those of us who do admit we occasionally succumb to doubt that we have some spiritual problem that needs to be fixed.

 

5 Common Causes of Self-Doubt

  • Past Experience and Mistakes. ... 
  • Childhood Upbringing. ... 
  • Comparisons With Others. ... 
  • New Challenges. ... 
  • Fear of Failure / Fear of Success.

 

What causes lack of faith?

Faith, like love, is an element that bonds together relationships. And we lose faith like we lose love — for many reasons. Loss comes from misunderstandings, personality conflicts, tragic circumstances, ill treatment and our own ignorance, to name a few.

 

 

How do we walk by faith and not by sight?

 

So, walking by faith and not by sight means that we live today according to God's promises, even though we cannot see them, and not according to the temporary, arbitrary things that our eyes often focus on here on earth.

 

What does a lack of faith mean?

A lack of belief in religion or a deity. Noun. ▲ A feeling of doubt or apprehension about the outcome or consequences of something. misgiving.

 

Who overcame fear in the Bible?

Daniel's courage grew through praying three times a day even though it was against the law. His honor of God in prayer overpowered the temptation to be afraid of people. His devotion to God inspired King Darius, a foreign king, to write to all nations in their day to fear and revere God (Daniel 6:25-26 NIV).

 

Why are you afraid Do you still have no faith?

We all face storms in life: some storms are literal and physical, like the storm on the Sea of Galilee, and others are spiritual or mental or relational. We, like the disciples, need to hear again the words of Jesus: “Why are you afraid, have you still no faith?” .

 

What do you do when you lack faith?

There are many ways to help develop a trust in God, but here are a few that have helped me.

  1. Ask for guidance. It's okay to ask God for assistance. For clarity. ... 
  2. Seek community and encouragement. In times when you are struggling, it's okay to ask for help from those you love. ... 
  3. Listen. Keep your eyes on Jesus.

 

Who is the man of faith in the Bible?

The man of faith who is also called the father of faith in the Bible is Abraham

 

 

Make prayer a cornerstone of your life

Talking with God is key to a deeper faith and stronger relationship with the Lord. Yet prayer should be more than a simple “help me prayer” when you're in need or in trouble. Prayer is a lifeline to God and anchors your soul to God's promises all day long.

 

 

Exercise your faith: 3 ways to build spiritual muscles--Part 1

  1. Wait on God. It may be hard. It may seem as if nothing is happening. ... 
  2. Draw your strength from God and not on your own self-reliance. Don't take matters in your own hands. Usually while. ... 
  3. Focus exclusively on God. Not the doctor's report. Not the Dow Jone

 

ho in the Bible had strong faith?

Heroes of Faith in the Book of Hebrews

  • Abel - First Martyr in the Bible. ... 
  • Enoch - The Man Who Walked With God. ... 
  • Noah - A Righteous Man. ... 
  • Abraham - Father of the Jewish Nation. ... 
  • Sarah - Mother of the Jewish Nation. ... 
  • Isaac - Father of Esau and Jacob. ... 
  • Jacob - Father of the 12 Tribes of Israel. ... 
  • Joseph - Interpreter of Dreams.

 


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