What Is Faith?

REFERENCE:  Hebrews 11:6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Observation: What is faith? Theologians have been trying to answer that question for hundreds of years. Here the writer of Hebrews makes it pretty simple for us; faith is vital to our relationship with God, and it is conditioned on not just knowing that God exists, but that He is a good God who favors those who take the time and trouble to honestly seek Him. Faith is knowing that a different realm exists, a realm where a benevolent Father rules. It is a realm where we receive blessings to the extent that we are willing to believe this and act accordingly, looking and asking for that benevolent Father to act on our behalf.

Application/Confession: I want to, more and more, learn to live by faith. After all, God says: “the just shall live by faith”. I want to be counted among the just. I want to please God. I want to expect His blessing and seek Him, with all of my heart, for it. I am too easily satisfied or discouraged. I give up seeking. I give up asking when I should continue to do both with hope, faith and expectation.

PRAYER: Lord, I expect that You will act on my behalf. I know You are good. Help me to live in that faith and expectation. Forgive my times of unbelief.