What is Faith?

Introduction

Growing up, I believed that to have faith, I had to be a powerful man of God—an image that seemed almost saintly. I thought being holy, fasting for hours, and living without sin were prerequisites to truly holding faith.

But I’ve learned that faith is much more than that.

What Does Faith Mean?

Faith is being absolutely resolute that you have received God's promises before you see them. Imagine your dad telling you, "You’ll get a gift when I return from work." As a child, you believe without a shadow of a doubt that his promise will come true—why? Because your daddy said so. No matter what anyone else says, you hold onto that promise like a dog with a bone. But there's a catch: It’s a promise from someone you trust.

(In another post, I’ll share my experience on the intriguing topic of "Forgiving God." Don’t judge the title just yet!) 😊

The Human Condition

As humans, it's natural for us to believe only what we see with our physical eyes. For instance, if a friend says they have $1 million, I might ask to see some evidence—an alert, a receipt, anything! But faith flips that perspective on its head.

Understanding Faith

Faith means believing in something without needing to see it first. It’s a conviction based on a promise, knowing it is real—even if the evidence isn’t visible yet.

“Faith grasps the unrealities of hope and brings them into the realm of reality.” Faith calls forth things that are not as though they already exist. Like the child waiting for their gift—she truly believes it is hers because Daddy said so, and she knows that Daddy cannot lie.

What’s Next?

In upcoming posts, I will delve into several essential topics, including:

• Do You Have Faith?

• How to Grow Your Faith

• Examples of Faith in Action

• How to Receive by Faith

• Hindrances to Faith from My Experience

These principles will teach you how to lay hold of God’s promises—lessons I learned from Scripture and my own life experiences.

Conclusion

Now, “Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” – Hebrews 11:1

Stay tuned for the next installment, where we will explore more about strengthening and understanding your faith journey!

Call to Action

🌟 Have thoughts or experiences regarding faith? Share your insights in the comments below!

Selah!

My Testimony on Forgiveness

I spent so long feeling overwhelmed by guilt, anger, and a persistent sense of unforgiveness due to various life experiences. My mistakes felt insurmountable, leaving me trapped in a cycle of regret.

A Life-Changing Breakthrough

The biggest breakthrough in my emotional healing journey occurred when I participated in a program called the Freedom Session (check out their program here). For the first time, I was guided through the process of forgiveness based on scriptural teachings that truly resonated with my heart.

In the past, I had only been taught that struggling to forgive made me a terrible sinner, leading me to think, "I cannot be a Christian if I cannot forgive." This belief condemned me and made me feel unworthy before God.

The Power of Forgiveness

Much to my surprise, forgiveness became my turning point. The profound moment arrived when I realized that receiving God’s forgiveness was key to forgiving myself. This revelation opened my heart, allowing me to extend forgiveness to those who had caused me deep hurt.

I have never felt so free. The burden of unforgiveness lifted, and as I moved forward, I understood that this journey is a continuous process. Living in this real world, we encounter people daily, and conflicts will still arise. However, I now possess the tools to navigate this complex struggle that many believers face. As long as we are still living, this will be continuous in the journey of life. However, knowing that there is no guilt is freeing.

Note however, that forgiveness and reconciliation are two separate issues that we face. In this post, I am only focusing on forgiveness.

Transformation and Trust

These breakthroughs have profoundly transformed my relationship with God. The guilty voice that tormented me is gone, along with the unforgiveness that ravaged my soul. Previously, Satan used these feelings to block my spiritual growth.

The truth that penetrated my spirit, which I cling to like a dog holding a bone, is that Jesus has already paid my debt. The penalty I owed has been settled!

Now, nothing stands between me and God. I approach Him with confidence as His own child. I can cast aside negative thoughts and declare to Satan: "It’s all been paid for; I bear it no more!"

The Joy of Freedom

The exhilaration of experiencing light flooding into the darkness is indescribable! This understanding also plays a crucial role in prayers being answered, as mentioned in Mark 11:24-25:

"Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses."

The inclusion of "and" in this verse demonstrates the interconnectedness of faith and forgiveness.

A Commitment to Share

I promised God I would share my journey with the world, so others can experience the same freedom I have found. I will leave you with what Jesus said regarding His assignment in Luke 4:18:"He sent me to heal the brokenhearted…”

He didn’t only come for salvation, He also wants to heal your broken heart too—if you will just let Him.

Recommended Listening

🎵 Listen to “Here is My Heart” – a beautiful reminder of surrender and healing.

Call to Action:

🌟 Have you experienced a similar journey of forgiveness? Share your thoughts in the comments below or reach out—I’d love to hear from you!