FAITH

Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

If it's not "now" it's not faith, it's hope. Hope is always pointing to the future while faith points to right now! Faith is the substance of my hope. I must get beyond "hoping" for God to do something in my life; instead, believe God will do!

Do I want God's best? The belief, "Well, I sure hope God would choose to give me His best"may not be answered. God is moved by faith/belief that He can deliver what His Word says He can deliver. I am not saved by my hope in Christ, I am saved by faith when I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart (Rom 10:9,10). The currency of heaven is faith and when I truly express faith my mouth and my heart are influenced. The result? I turn from a fruitless life toward Christ because of repentance of those dead works and I move by faith toward God.

Sometimes I pray for hope because I can't see how the situation can get better. Eventually I remember with God all things are possible. In that belief in God, hopelessness turns hopeful. As I continue to pray for what I am hopeful about I begin to believe things can happen, according to the Word, and that is when my hope turns to faith like winter to spring. When my perspective turns from hopelessness to faith because of prayer, diligence and the Word; look out, God is getting ready to unleash His possibilities.

I have used this perspective with broken marriages, financial situations, kids who've screwed up, those who have fallen hard, my own poor habits, and everything else. In the end, just when I feel hopeless, I can LET FAITH ARISE by praying for my hope staying in prayer until I have gain faith!

Go forward today, and when thinking about hopeless situations, ask for hope. But when thinking of hopeful situations add the most important ingredient of all: FAITH! "With God, all things are possible!"