HOPE AND FAITH

I really didn't intend to blog any more about faith. But AFTER I wrote yesterday's blog, my husband and I read some fantastic stuff about faith in our evening devotions. The moment we read it, I said to myself, "If only we had read that BEFORE I wrote my blog!

I especially liked the way the author (E.W. Kenyon) described faith. He explains that "Faith is grasping the realities of hope and bringing them into the realm of reality." Then he adds what I've been trying to say: "Faith grows out of the Word of God."

He says that "Mental Assent is seeing it, admiring it, saying 'it is true, but not in my case.'"

In contrasting hope with faith, he points out that "Hope says, 'I will get it sometime.' Faith says, 'I have it now.'" That statement reminded me of Romans 4:17 where it speaks about God calling "those things which are not, as though they were." The Living Bible words it a little differently and says that God "speaks of future events with as much certainty as though they were already past." Now, THAT'S faith!!!

"Real faith in the Word says, 'If God says it is true, it is. . . If He says that God shall supply every need of mine, He will do it. If God says He is the strength of my life, He is. . . If He says that I am strong, I am. If He says that He cares for me, I know that He does.'"

The author concludes his short chapter on faith by stating that "Faith is the result of the Word dwelling in us. I don't mean the Word committed to memory. I mean the Word lived, practiced until it has become a part of ourselves. We meditate in it. We think deeply in it. We feed upon it. The Word becomes a very part of ourselves;" it "builds into us confidence and assurance."

Hope these thoughts make this subject of faith a little clearer. I was especially blessed by reading them as they simply confirmed what I have been trying to blog about!

Hey, does YOUR faith consider future events with as much certainty as though they were already past?

Just thought I'd ask!

Preacher's Kid