A Better Faith

Dear People Who Keep Company With God,

Faith is important! Everything the Lord has for us is accessed through faith (Hebrews 11:1). Our faith is the victory that enables us to overcome the world (1 John 5:4). Yet most of us have a struggle when it comes to faith.

Once I prayed for an infant who had a serious heart problem and in spite of my best prayers, the baby died. The thing that was so mysterious was the whole time I prayed for the child over a period of weeks I never sensed faith being released. Deep down inside I just knew she was not going to make it.

Another time, a young man was in a very serious accident and suffered life-threatening injuries. The first time I prayed for him I instantly knew he would walk out of that hospital and live a full, healthy life. And he did!

It wasn’t that I lacked faith when praying for the baby and had faith when praying for the young man. I have faith all the time, but in one instance faith was released and the other it was not. I cannot explain that, but I do want to share some thoughts about faith in general that have been very helpful to me.

1. There is a human faith that we all have. Human faith is based upon our five natural senses. Human faith can only believe what it can see, taste, hear, smell, or feel. We all have faith to sit in a chair that we can see and believe it will support our weight, but I do not know anyone who will throw their weight down on a chair they cannot see.

2. When it comes to God, we have to believe things that we cannot see with our natural eyes. This requires a different type of faith, a better faith. The Book of Hebrews has been called the book of better things as it lists about a dozen better things in the book. One of those better things is a better faith. As believers we have been given a better faith, a faith that starts and ends with God (Hebrews 11:40-12:1-2).

3. Stop trying to get more faith. Romans 12:3 tells us, “God has given each of us a measure of faith.” One of the things about faith that troubled me is the concept that we have to acquire more faith and that some people have much faith, while others have less. I think a better biblical perspective is growing strong in the faith we already have versus trying to receive more faith.

4. Acknowledge what you have. Philemon 1:6 tells us, “That the communication of your faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” Paul isn’t praying that Philemon will get something more from the Lord. He was praying that his faith would begin to work as he acknowledged what he already had. The meaning of the word acknowledge is, to admit, recognize, or report the receipt of. We already have the faith of God, and it will begin to work when we acknowledge this.

5. Know you are pleasing to God. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him.” One of the greatest revelations is of the Father’s heart of love. It has made all the difference in my life. God is already pleased with us in Christ and has given us faith so we have fulfilled the requirements of Hebrews 11:6.

Many Blessings, BW