Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith is the ‘substance’ and the ‘subject matter’ of the desired result. Faith is not what we ‘want’. Faith is God’s will for our lives. It is God’s will to bless us and for us to be healthy. It is God’s will for us to prosper and increase. In fact, God’s will and vision for our lives is much bigger and brighter than what we hope and pray for. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him (1 Corinthians 2:9). God’s will is explicit in God’s Word. “All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 28:2). The Lord God is not a mean hardhearted dictator. He is a loving Father who wants to give good gifts to His children. “Your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11b).
Hence the subject matter of our faith is not just what we want but in the nature of God. God’s plans for us are good and not evil. His plans are to give us hope and a bright future (Jeremiah 29:11). Faith must be rooted in His Word. Faith is not daydreaming and turning our dreams into petitions. God is not obligated to fulfill our fantasies and fascinations. He is only obligated to fulfill what He has promised in His Word. Hence, the ‘substance of faith’ are facts stated in the Bible and faith is just trusting God at His Word.
The Word of God is the substance of Faith:
1. Aspirations: Not all aspirations are God’s visions. Believing that God would fulfill all our aspirations would disappoint us. Not everyone is cut out to win the Olympics or climb Mt Everest but there is an astounding plan in God’s blueprint for each one of us. Take all your aspirations to the Lord in prayer. He will ignite His visions with faith and extinguish our fantasies.
2. Inspirations: Faith is birthed by inspirations. God’s voice is predominantly heard through His Word. He will plant a promise as an ignition to flame faith. Hold on to the promise. Write it, memorize it, read, confess and proclaim it. Abraham’s promise took 25 years to come to fruition. God can never lie nor will He go back on His Word. Never let a God-given inspiration die.
3. Insinuations: Faith journey will be attacked by intimidations and insinuations from the demonic ghetto. After an aspiration is ignited by God’s inspiring Word, our mind will be attacked by negative words, depressing reports and pessimistic suggestions. Don’t let the insinuations alter the ‘substance of faith’. Never lower your standards based on external evidence. God’s promise will only land us in a place that will amaze us and the world around us.
‘Faith is the substance of God’s will .
Numbers 23:19 God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind.
Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus may your nature and your promises be the foundation of my faith. Help me to trust that all your plans are good and not evil and to hold on to your promises until they are fulfilled. Amen
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