Have Faith

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"Have Faith" By Diane Webb

Ephesians 6: 16—"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked".

Picture yourself holding a very large shield. As people throw darts at you, the things bounce right off the shield. The worst ones are dissolved upon contact. Imagine this shield's size is in direct proportion to your faith. As your faith grows so does your shield and your ability to deflect what others say or do to you. Ephesians 6: 16 calls faith your shield and says you can overcome the darts of the wicked using this shield. Faith is your shield of protection—your defense. As long as you have faith in God, what others say or do does not have the power to harm you. You can have faith God will take care of any problem you may be experiencing. You have the ability to strengthen your shield by increasing your faith. Each time your shield stops a dart, you will grow in your faith as well. How do we increase our faith? How many times have you been told to "have faith" or "step out on faith"? Faith is based on a belief in someone or something. Faith is a belief in something that cannot be proven by traditional methods. Believing the sun will rise every morning is not really a demonstration of faith. Believing God will provide for you when you honor your commitment to tithe, even on thin months, demonstrates faith. Taking that job the Holy Spirit is leading you to take in spite of it being less salary shows faith. Faith is not going to be found in your head—by thinking things through. Faith lives in the heart—where the Holy Spirit resides. Many times it will not appear logical, practical, or wise to move based on faith. This is why it is so important. Faith demonstrates your total belief in God, and in what His word tells you. Living a life based on this belief is faith. Faith cannot be explained, proven, validated, or justified through scientific means. If it could be then it would not really be faith. Faith is when you believe something and make decisions based on that belief even though it cannot necessarily be explained why. Have you ever prayed a prayer and immediately began making plans for the prayer not to be answered? In other words you get a back-up plan in place "just in case". Is that faith? Sometimes the very words of our prayers indicate disbelief the prayer will be answered. What is this telling God when you pray? Always prayer with confidence your prayer will be answered according to God's will. Pray like you really believe God hears and answers prayers. Avoid the tendency to add, "But if you don't" to your prayers. People may let you down but your heavenly Father never will. Faith is a very powerful thing in the hands of a Christian. Faith is your defense against the onslaught of Satan and it is also the source of your strength and own power to fight back. With faith, you are able to trust God to be God and do that which only God can do. Faith allows you to believe in miracles and when you believe in miracles guess what? You receive miracles. God can open up the floodgates of blessings for you and your family. All you have to do is live by faith. Believe in God, believe in what God can do, and believe he loves you enough to move in your life. You are special to him and are just as worthy of miracles in your life as anyone else. Your faith can prompt miracles the same as it did for Moses, Abraham, and Jacob.

Lord, have mercy on me and increase my faith. God, I want to trust you in everything; I truly believe your word. I pray today Lord, for a chance to demonstrate my faith in you. I want to show you, Lord, I can and will make decisions based on my faith in you. In Jesus' name I pray today, Amen.