FAITH SIMPLY MEANS ...
HAVING UNWAVERING CONFIDENCE IN GOD
(By: Norm Rasmussen)
God has clearly told us that if we WAVER in our confidence in Him, we won't be getting much or anything at all from Him that we ask Him for.
Can it be made any more clear?
If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
But let him ask in faith (unwavering confidence) - which means no doubting (wavering in our confidence) - for he who doubts (wavers in confidence) is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. (James 1:5-7)
We're talking a lot more than just "wisdom" above, dear reader. A LOT more.
CRUCIAL: Faith is NOT a feeling. It never was - it never will be. Satan will try to deceive you into believing that it is. Faith is a DECISION! It is a decision on our part to honor and obey God's Word, pure and simple! God's Word stands above all else created (Of course wisely understood - wisely applied). God's Word is to be honored and obeyed above all else if we truly want to please God! "Heaven and earth will all pass away, but My words will never pass away," God decreed. (Matthew 24:35) Jesus, who is GOD, made that very stunning - sobering - unshakeable - forever will stand ... declaration.
That's WHY God's Word is NOT negotiable, not debatable - to those seeking to be wise in God's eyes. It is to be HONORED above all things thought of, written and spoken and subsequently OBEYED! Jesus, who again also happens to be GOD (along with the Father and the Holy Spirit) and let us never forget it - had this to say, which is His Word:
Have (unwavering) confidence in God.
For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this (his/her) mountain, 'Be removed and cast into the sea,' and does not waver (in confidence) in his heart, but (confidently) trusts (believes; has unwavering confidence, confident assurance at all costs in GOD ... not simply because THEY speak it. It's GOD'S power that moves the mountain(s) - not ours, because we have none) that those things he says will come to pass, he will have whatever he says.
(And the conclusion of the matter?): 'Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe (with unwavering confidence) that you receive them, and you will have them.' (Mark 11:22-24)
JUST AS CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT: God is not a 'genie in a bottle' who just automatically grants us everything we would like Him to give us, which is why we must wisely pour Mark 11:22-24, each time we apply it, FIRST through God's 'wisdom sifter' of James 4:2-3:
You do not have because you do not ask.
You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your (selfish) pleasures.
SUMMARY: The person who seeks the wisdom of God on every matter before applying, executing - Mark 11:22-24 will be able to testify far more often on just how exciting and thrilling these verses ARE than the person who doesn't (Praying the 'Prayer of faith', in other words; not just for healing that is spoken of in James 5:14-16 - but in ALL things we ask God for).
Dear Reader - are you at peace with God? If not, you can be. Do you know what awaits you when you die? You can have the assurance from God that heaven will be your home, if you would like to be certain. You can even have that assurance RIGHT NOW! Either Jesus Christ died for your sins, or He didn't (He did!). Are you prepared to stand before God on the Judgment Day and tell Him that you didn't need the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross to have your sins forgiven and get in right-standing with God? We plead with you...please don't make such a tragic mistake.
To get to know God, to be at peace with God, to have your sins forgiven, to make certain heaven will be your home for eternity, to make certain that you are in right-standing with God right now ... please click here to help you understand the importance of being reconciled to God. What you do about being reconciled to God will determine where you will spend eternity, precious one. Your decision to be reconciled to God is the most important decision you'll ever make in this life, because in Christ, it is impossible to put a value on the worth of your soul in light of eternity.
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Remember: All that we do in this life comes back to our God-given purpose which is to serve and glorify God. The money and assets we accumulate, the fame and power we've attained or seek to attain - all of the things of this nature will one day pass away, but those lives of others we impact for Jesus Christ will last for eternity, and we will be rewarded for the part we helped play by impacting those lives ... for eternity. (Matthew 6:19-20 is our assurance)