Faith in God is an amazing gift. It starts the moment your heart says: I believe Jesus is God’s Son and that He came to rescue me.
That alone is an incredible truth. But I wonder how many Christians decide that’s where their faith ends, when the truth is, there’s so much more to believe for in this life!
One of the reasons this happens is because many Christians only focus on their weaknesses and mistakes, rather than focusing on who God is and what He’s doing in and around them. But John 3:17 (NIV) tells us, “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
Jesus is not only your Savior; He’s your advocate. And He wants you to start believing God for much more than a trip to heaven.
Faith Is the Answer to Every Problem You Face
The Bible says the just shall live by faith (Heb. 10:38). In other words, faith is an attitude that can become your way of life—and there is no better way I can think of to live.
Faith replaces fear and worry with peace and joy. It purifies the heart, fills us with the Holy Spirit, brings blessing and hope, receives provision, produces all kinds of positive results and quenches all the fiery darts of the enemy.
The Bible says that faith is a shield (Eph. 6:16). So when the enemy starts to fire off darts of fear and insecurity, you can get behind your shield of faith and keep going forward with God.
But here’s the thing: A shield won’t do you any good unless it’s lifted up. You need to raise up your shield by praying, saying and doing things that line up with God’s Word.
Second Peter 1:5b (AMPC) says to “employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy).” If you will exercise your faith to become more like Christ Himself, the way you think will change. The things you say will change. You will begin to live with greater love and compassion. And it will become very natural for you to encourage others in their faith.
I encourage you to put your faith into action in a practical way. Make a habit of getting up in the morning and thanking God for what He’s done in your life. Praise Him for what He’s going to do. Release your faith for what you know you need from Him that day. And ask Him to prepare you for whatever challenges may come your way.
Faith Can Transform You
Something I’ve learned in my relationship with Christ is that you cannot change yourself. It’s spending time with God that transforms you.
The apostle Paul prayed that the Holy Spirit would reveal Himself to the church in Ephesus in their “innermost being and personality”—that they would see who God had created them to be through Christ (Eph. 3:16-17).
God wants us to be firmly rooted in the love of Christ so we can take authority over our enemy. And He wants us to be so stirred up in His love that we can’t help but share it with others. I believe if every Christian were doing this today, it wouldn’t take a lot of time for the entire world to hear and believe the good news of the gospel.
Faith Leaves a Footprint for Others to Follow
Ultimately, it’s not the things we do but our faith that pleases God. He wants us to have faith for incredible things. And when we look to the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11, we see how God was able to work in their lives because they believed. Hebrews 11:13 (AMP) says that they were “guided and sustained” by their faith. And their faith still inspires us today.
Noah prepared an ark to save his family. It took many years to build it, and he was mocked every single day because where he lived, it had never rained. The Bible says that by faith, Noah “became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith” (Heb. 11:7, NIV).
By faith, Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac, believing that God would raise him from the dead (vv. 17-19).
Rahab was a prostitute but she believed that God could use her in a mighty way. And because of her faith, she and her family were saved (v. 31).
What will your great story of faith be?
First John 5:4 (NIV) says, “Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” When you choose to believe in God, amazing things can happen. So boldly ask God to reveal what His promises mean for you, and never stop believing until they are fulfilled! {eoa}
For more on this topic, order Joyce’s four-teaching CD series Facing Fear and Finding Freedom. You can also contact us to receive our free magazine, Enjoying Everyday Life, by calling (800) 727-9673 or visiting joycemeyer.org.
Joyce Meyer is a New York Times’ bestselling author and founder of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. She has authored more than 100 books, including Battlefield of the Mind and Your Battles Belong to the Lord (FaithWords). She hosts the Enjoying Everyday Life radio and TV programs, which air on hundreds of stations worldwide. For more information, visit joycemeyer.org.
