~Faith

Faith

What is faith? Well from the Bible's definition, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the certainty of things unseen." (Hebrews 11:1). To analysis this verse, we have to first figure out what substance means. There are seven definitions for Substance:

1. material: a kind of matter or material
2. tangible physical matter: physical reality that can be touched and felt
3. practical value: real or practical value or importance
There was nothing of substance in the document.

4. material wealth: wealth in the form of money and possessions
5. gist of meaning: the actual or essential meaning of something said or written
the substance of their argument

6. philosophy essence: the unchanging essence of something
7. philosophy something specific: something that is individual and caused

Encarta ® World English Dictionary ©

So Faith is the "substance" of things hoped for. It's the matter of things hoped for. The physical reality of things hoped for. The importance, essential meaning, unchanging essence and something specific, of things hoped for.

Certainty:
1. something inevitable: a conclusion or outcome that is beyond doubt
2. somebody or something certain of success: something that is certain to happen, or somebody assured of a result
3. conviction: complete confidence in the truth of something or an expected outcome

The conclusions beyond a doubt, the success that will take place, and the conviction that this will happen...of what is unseen.

Applying that to us? Faith is unrelinquishing realization that God has your life under control. Unrelinquishing how? God is your substance. And under control how? God is your certainty.

I really struggle a lot with faith, which is unfortunate really. The opposite of faith is "not trusting". A synonym I relate to "not trusting" would literally be "worry". I worry, doubt and fear about my future. A lot. And that' not trusting God.

"Without faith it is impossible to please God." (Hebrews 11:6)

So when I dont trust God then I'm not pleasing Him. Which is SUCH an insult. God created me, He knows the plans he has for me (Jeremiah 29:11). So why do I not trust him?

Because I'm impatient. Because I want what I think is best for me. Because I want to skip all the trials, the pain, the heartache, and I want to move straight on to what I think should happen.

But if I honestly think about it, would I enjoy my life more if what I wanted to happen now actually did happen now?

Probably not.

Why? Because I'm thinking in terms of what I want in the future. You see, in my mind I'm making everything turn out just the way I want it to at just the right time. The only problem is, half of the plans I have created for myself havn't even happened yet. Half of the things on my agenda havn't been accomplished. So what's the problem? Ah yes, I'm taking things to much under my control. If a specific situation were to happen that I want to happen RIGHT NOW, I have a feeling I would end up regretting it. Why? Because I have a lot to learn still.

The reason God makes us wait is to develop our perseverance.
Perseverance:
determined continuation with something: steady and continued action or belief, usually over a long period and especially despite difficulties or setbacks

Determined continuation with something...with what? With whatever is currently going on right now in your life. On a larger based outlook? Determined continuation with God: trusting that, no matter what, He has everything under control. Cause he does.

He has just the right paths set out for me, just the right agenda's, just the right plans to help me succeed. You see, God thinks in terms of the future. In looks in terms of the future. C.S. Lewis once described it like this: imagine drawing a long, straight line on a table. Now imagine that you are God and you are looking down at the future. God see's the future as a whole-this includes the path-and he can see the end of the line and the beginning of the line.
He know's whats going to happen. This doesn't mean he's a puppeter controlling us on a string. No, it's the exact opposite. We have free will. That's why we have the choice to choose how we want to approach our future. And since God can see it all, he of course wants to direct us and guide us gently along. If you want your future to go according to his plan than follow his guideing hand. Yeah, there will be many bumps along the way, but those bumps are what help us grow in HIM. The parable about having faith as strong as a muster seed and you can move mountains? Those are your mountains in life...and if you have faith in God-faith that he will take care of you-you can move those mountains. What does it mean by moving? By standing firm and not letting worriment and the mess of your future in your mind get to you. It's important to trust God. It's important to believe that he has everything under control. When we don't then we it is impossible to please him...

How do I have faith like a musterseed?

God showed me something a few weeks ago-a guideline to follow. This guideline isn't always easy, in fact I still struggle a lot, but it's helped me SO much.

Whenever you start to worry, immediately give that situation-whatever you are worrying about-to God and REFUSE to dwell on it. Now I don't mean situations that you have to think about, like that big test you need to study for or how you're going to change the oil in your car. But things that make you focus on your future and start taking things into your own hands: like whom you will marry, date, what if you don't get a job, what if you can't have kids, what if a tsunami comes and threatens where you live? Things like that. I'm not saying you shouldn't prepare for those things, but once all the preparation is done then sit back, relax, and let God take over from there.
It also really helps to praise God and thank him for things. For example on my way home from youth group/babysitting/school/whatever I love to just use the whole time to thank God. I can think of so many things I'm grateful for and sometimes I even take a longer route just so that way I can have more time with Him. When you develop a grateful attitude it makes you joyful, and "the joy of the Lord is your strength." Really think about what God's joy is...really think about how much he loves us (Ephesians 3:14-21). Talk to God and share your problems with Him as if he's right there. I know that may sound cheesey or unnrealistic, but in reality God is with you all the time loving you immensely. Think about all that.