There are many definitions given for faith, but I like the definition which I learned from one of my teachers in bible school few years ago. Saying “Forsaking All I Trust Him”. When we read the Word of God we see great men and women who lived by faith. In the 11th chapter of Hebrews our ancestors who kept their faith never wavered even in the point of death.
Beginning from our father Abraham who hearkened to the voice of God, and moved from his comfort zone to fulfill God’s promises in his lifetime. A man who lived with everything he was asked to go to a land not knowing his destiny. What are the dangers, who are its inhabitants, for what reason was he asked to leave his father’s household and go? To raise up a generation from his seed, and to make a new nation. (Gen 12:1-4) This journey was not easy there were battle he had to face (Gen 14), there were temptations that he had to overcome (Gen 16, 20). He had to face famine, he had to intercede and intervene on behalf of his nephew. (Gen 18:16-33, 20:1-18). He was blamed and had to take hasty decisions (Gen 21:8-14).He was severely tested in his faith (Gen 22:1-19). Yet, he kept his faith alive, and today we still speak of his faith.
In the New Testament, a hero I admire so much is Paul. He too was taken from his comfort zone and had to go through many hardships to complete his destiny. God called him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-9). He faced death threats (Ac 9:23-25, 23:11-22). Was not accepted by the disciples (Ac 9:26-30). He faced persecutions (Ac 13:42-52, 14:19-20, 18:1-17, 19:21-41). He was put in prison (Ac 16:16-24, 21:26-36). He faced the Sanhedrin and the high priest (Ac 22:30-23:1-35, 24:10-26:1-23). He was falsely accused (Ac 24). He faced a shipwreck (Ac 27). However he ended his life saying “I have kept my faith” and that faith is still alive.
Today we admire these men and talk about them because they set us an example.
How did these men keep their faith alive?
In our walk of faith do we keep our faith day by day alive or are we walking in our feelings and emotions, one day on a mountain top and the next in a deep valley? Are we letting people, situations, sickness, fear, death, and lack dictate terms to us? Are we letting the enemy whisper doubt, negativism, hopelessness, discouragement and despair to us?
To keep your faith alive you should read the word of God daily, meditate his goodness all the time, remember how He brought you through the dark tunnels in the past, trust Him at the present moment, praise Him in the most difficult hour, prophesy about your future. Teach what you know to others, get around people who will pray for you, encourage you. Don’t talk about your problems, talk to the problems, rejoice always. Live a life that will be a blessing to others where people will admire you, have the mind of Christ, see things like God see things in your life. Find Scriptures for the situation and speak it loud constantly. And when people see your life they will say “I want to be like her/him”. The more you get closer to God the more your faith arises and becomes alive in you. So forsake all and trust in Him every moment in your life.
