Most Precious Lord, I know the only way to truly please You is to live by faith. For if I cannot stand firm in my faith, what do I stand for? Your counsel tells me that I must remain alert (using the sensitivity of the Holy Spirit to warn me of impending attacks), stand firm (knowing You are with me) and be brave and strong (not in myself, but in Your power and might). To walk by faith and not by sight, as You have instructed, is a hard command. I see with my natural eyes all of the things going on around me and they are hard to ignore. When I take my eyes off of You, I become confused, fearful and easily deceived. So help me to look with spiritual eyes, through the lens of faith, the things that cannot be seen with my natural eyes … evil snares laid out to trap me, deceptive tactics formulated to trick me, guardian angels sent to minister to me and the Holy Spirit hovering over me to protect me. Help me understand that it is my faith that substantiates the things I hope for and prove to me that Your promises are true and that You will fulfill them.
To have prevailing faith requires that I love You with my whole heart, my whole soul and my whole mind. This You tell me is the greatest and most important of Your commands. In order to function at its best, faith must be coupled with hope and love. Hope makes possible … despite the impossibilities I face … my ability to believe in You and Your Word. Love helps me see myself as loveable and worthwhile and proves that You will act on my behalf … if I will wait patiently for Your answers to my requests. When I think of faith, hope and love, I think of a triangle … the strongest form of construction … which assures me that I will be successful if I build my life on these three foundational truths. It becomes so much easier to believe when I am being obedient and faithful to You.
The seed of faith, which You implant in every person, grows the best in the medium of Your Word. Why? Because You are Your Word and the words spoken to me are true and life-sustaining … so I know I can stand on them because, like You, they are faithful, unchanging and true. The reason I am confident that I can stand by faith, no matter how big the storm or test that I face, is because You have assured me that You will never allow me to be tested beyond what I am able to stand or You’ll provide a way of escape. If my faith fails, it’s my fault and not Yours. Teach me Your ways and strengthen me so I can keep Your commands and walk by faith. As a wise man, who listens to Your instructions, I will be prepared for whatever tests and trials I’ll face in my future. I know that as long as I cling to You and Your principles I will live by prevailing faith. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
Matthew 17:20-21 I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed … nothing will be impossible for you.