The Faith Muscle

Who’s working out their faith muscle? If you were like me, then you may believe that faith is either something that you have or don't and while that is true there is more to it than that. Faith is the biggest muscle in the human spirit and it’s the driving force behind everything else; it forgives your past and guides your future. Just like anything else… If you don’t use it, you will lose it.

So, what is faith?

Faith is choosing and believing in God’s dream for your life. Even Jesus couldn’t do anything if people didn’t choose faith because His miracles required faith. Faith is being willing to risk failure. You don’t need faith if you can see what you’re going after. This is how most of us go through life - we are secretly control freaks, not wanting to risk losing our safety (or at least what we think is safe) to follow what God has planned for us.

Faith is realizing that everything you do in this life is tied to faith. Everything you see around you was once dreamed of. Faith is believing that God will bless you, but here is the catch—you have to actually believe that God will bless you. If I said, "Here is your gift, pointing to it," but you had your eyes closed, you would have no idea what I was trying to give you and what I was pointing at.

Faith is never giving up! It’s knowing that through faith, perseverance, and patience, I will inherit the promises of God. Sometimes you just have to outlast the Devil — he will get tired.

Hebrews 11:6 promises that our faith will be rewarded.

There are many sides to faith, but let’s highlight 7…

1. Faith is believing when I do not see it as stated in Hebrews 11:1. Faith is visualizing the future and believing before I see it & IT could take years. I pray for the IT. I stand on the IT. Teach yourself to see God everywhere! There has never been any great accomplishment in history without faith. Faith is speaking IT into existence and turning dreams into reality. Faith comes from HEARING the Word of God and You SPEAKING ALOUD because your heart only believes your mouth. Much like a baby hears and repeats words aloud to learn and develop their beliefs.

2. Faith is giving when I don’t have anything to give, according to Hebrews 11:4. God uses finances to test us. Abel made it into the hall of fame because he gave — give and it’ll turn things around for you. God can only multiply what you give him: faith, love, prayers, resources, etc. It’s how we give (attitude) that matters the most, and we need to give in faith and in great joy (hilariously). It’s rooted in believing that God will actually take care of you. God has made more promises about giving than anything else (reason or revelation). Reason doesn’t require faith and revelation is asking God how he wants to give through me. Faith is giving above what we think we can give. 2 Corinthians 8:2 says they gave more than they could afford because of their great joy so the best time to tithe is when your business is in the tank, in the toilet. God says you give to Me and I’ll give to you, and we’ll see who wins. Giving should happen every Sunday because if God doesn’t have your finances, then He definitely doesn’t have your heart. Wherever you put your treasure is where your heart will go.

3. Faith is obeying when you don’t understand as read in Hebrews 11:7. The human race is here today because Noah obeyed without question in Hebrews 11:8. Abraham obeyed without question at 75 years young (when the live to hundreds of years old). Obedience always involves taking a great risk and faith is obedience when you don’t understand it. Don’t try to understand it. Just obey God because He knows best.

4. Declaring it in order to experience it as seen in Hebrews 11:22. What you say and what you experience are directly connected. Joseph spoke it into existence over the course of 400 years. Your mouth is a conduit of God’s Will. You are made in the image of God, which means the way you create things is through speaking. You can dream it, you can think it, but until you speak it into existence, it doesn’t matter (Hebrews 11:3). Don't get me wrong, you aren't an all-powerful magician now, but God will do some amazing things if you let him.

   1. The whole Bible makes a connection between your mouth and what God is able to do in your life. Life and death are in the power of the tongue. In order to be a man or woman of God, we must change the way we talk. A person of faith cannot be a gossip, a pessimist, or a slanderer. We must guard our tongue and speak life! God speaks of future events with as much certainty as though they have already passed. Faith has to be declared, spoken, and believed. Let the Holy Spirit speak it through me & speak it in advance (Romans 10:10).

5. Faith is persevering when we don’t feel like it (Hebrews 11:27) The word Hupomone in Greek is what is used for faith. It translates to, "seeing the invisible". If you look at the problem you will always become distressed so look at God and you’ll be at rest. Live by your commitments, not by your feelings. Godliness requires training and self discipline. Moses is a perfect example of faith in perseverance.

6. Faith is thanking God before I receive it (Hebrews 11:30). Joshua and the battle of Jericho show that faith isn’t thinking God can do something or hoping he can, but THANKING God before I see anything done. Don’t beg God, but thank Him (Mark 11:24).

7. Faith is trusting if I don’t get "it". Real Faith is developed in the valleys (Hebrews 11). The devil is after my faith. God will either take your problem or give you the strength to go through them. You will be rewarded for your faith in Heaven.