Having Faith for Today

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. -Matthew 21:21

Faith is difficult sometimes. When we're in a tough spot, when things are hard - it's challenging to have faith for situations. Sometimes our problems look so big compared to God, although we know in our minds that God is bigger. That's because our knowledge hasn't translated into faith - into real belief. The Bible says that faith is the substance of things hoped for and evidence of things not seen.
 
Faith is not just saying we believe - it's having a sure conviction in our hearts that this or that thing will be accomplished. It is moving past our natural circumstances and into a supernatural dimension, where God's words resonate. Faith is belief we feel in our hearts when we have decided put our complete and total trust in God.
 
Just as we can't live on other people's faith, we can't expect to live today using yesterday's faith. Each day, situation, problem is different, with its own set of challenges. We need new faith every day, for every situation, to get through the tough spots in life. We need God's words to guide us for today. Have you ever thought about it? The Bible says God's mercies are new each day... and we need our faith to be that way too. "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." -2 Corinthians 4:16
 
If you need faith for today, I invite you to pray this prayer: "God, give me faith for _______. I believe that you are bigger than my situation, and you able to do anything!"-and believe in your heart that God is bigger. He will honor your faith - for whatever you encounter!
 
"These (trials) have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." -1 Peter 1:7

Get Up!

"Knowing their thoughts, (Pharises) Jesus said, 'Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, "Your sins are forgiven," or to say, "Get up and walk"? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins....' Then he said to the paralytic, 'Get up, take your mat and go home.' And the man got up and went home." Matthew 9:4-8

There are times in life when we feel like giving up. We don't want to try again; we stop even caring. We feel hopeless and inadequate, as if there was nothing we could do to reconcile our pain or help our circumstance. 

But, in spite of our feelings, God has a different view. Like the man who had been lying on the mat for most of his life, we don't realize the true potential of God. The reality is that we ARE forgiven. The reality is that he HAS set us free. The reality is that we don't have to live in a place of doubt, despair, discouragement, loneliness, or anything else that might try to steal away the life, love and joy that God intends for us. Like the man on the mat, we have to be awakened to the fact that He sent his Son, His only Son, not only because He loves us, but also because He believes in us to do great things!
 
Once I was feeling so broken because my roommate at the time had unexpectedly bailed, and subsequently, I lost my apartment because I couldn't afford it alone. My only option was to move in with my dad and stepmom, which, in my mind, was completely out of the question. "I'LL NEVER LIVE WITH YOU!" I shouted, later regretting what I had said. To me, "moving in" was the worst possible solution because of some negative feelings I had toward my parents. I felt so helpless. I felt so alone. I didn't understand the process of God in one of my most trying times. I plopped down on the floor when I reached their house and just cried. I couldn't even say what was the matter. Then, something happened. "GET UP!", said my stepmom, powerfully. No one had ever said that to me before. It rather shocked me into reality; but amazingly, not in a bad way. It was as though someone believed I was going to make it in spite of what was happening.
 
When you feel downtrodden, get up! Don't let the things that try to keep you down stop you. Recognize these as attacks from the enemy. Don't let him win. Let God's Spirit rise up inside of you. Let the truth and peace that you know is real bring you through to the next place, and remember how much He loves you, in spite of any circumstance you may be experiencing. He loves us so much more than we will ever know.

Taking Ground - A Time to Fight

"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses." -1 Timothy 6:12 

One morning in Sunday service I heard our pastor talk about covering and protection.  He requested that we cover them in prayer and defend them, and also that we defend and protect each other.  But then he challenged us.  He said, "Sometimes you gotta fight - 'cause that's how you take ground." 

I thought about how much this can be applied to so many different areas of our lives.  For instance, in the workplace:  We want to be promoted or we want to excel in what it is we're doing.  In order to do this, it requires we give more attention and focus that the average person. We learn new things.  We develop a "fighter" spirit within us, doing the best we can with passion, excellence, and a dedicated will.  Sometimes it's not enough to do our work well - sometimes the battle requires that we do all that is necessary to excel - come in early, stay late - and finish the project before it's due.  

Maybe it's a dream that needs fighting for.  Perhaps there is something on the inside of our heart that needs to be birthed into reality.  In order for this to happen, it calls for prayer, support, encouragement, and the dedication needed to bring the dream to pass.  Each and every time something great is born there will be resistance, such as those who doubt us or our dream, or our own uncertainty and fear.  But we must overcome this resistance if we want to see our dreams come to fruition.  

Relationships also need fighting for, and perhaps most especially.  If someone offends us, the Bible says we are to go to that person and talk with them about it. If the person listens to you, you have gained a brother (or sister!) (Matt 18:15)  Maybe we need to call someone we haven't seen in awhile to check in on them.  Perhaps we need to set healthy boundaries with those who tend to take advantage.  Or maybe we need to defend AND fight for someone who we know is doing right.  

There is a right way to fight and a wrong way to fight.  We shouldn't fight with manipulation or underhandedly using procrastination or deceit (our flesh).   We have to keep in mind that we're not fighting against people - we're fighting against the principalities of darkness in ourselves and in others.  The person isn't the issue - it's the issue that's the issue. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."  (Ephesians 6:12)

Are there things you need to fight for?  Make it a priority to fight for those things that are really important in your life today.