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Having Faith in God
Faith in God is absolutely fundamental to the Christian life. We in fact need to continually live by faith, doing so in all areas of our lives. The verses in this chapter give astute guidance on this critical subject.
What Faith Is
Faith involves believing in God
[Peter, to believers:] Through Christ you believe in God, who raised Christ from the dead and gave him glory. So your faith and your hope are in God. 1 Peter 1:21 NCV™
This links belief with faith (and hope). As such, it reflects that having faith in God involves believing in him. Such belief includes believing what he says.
We must also trust in God
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 NET
Trusting in God is a key part of having faith in God. Having faith in God can be defined as believing and trusting God. For we are to believe in God and what he says, and also confidently trust in him and what he says in regard to our own lives. One could say having faith means that: in our minds we are to believe and in our hearts we are to trust.
Faith is based on what we hope for
[Paul, to the Colossian believers:] When the true message, the Good News, first came to you, you heard about the hope it offers. So your faith and love are based on what you hope for, which is kept safe for you in heaven. Colossians 1:5 GNT
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 NET
The hope Christians have is not a groundless longing, but a confident assurance.
What to Have Faith For
Have faith that God will fulfill what he promises
[Paul, to men sailing on a ship with him in a bad storm:] For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve came to me 24and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul! You must stand before Caesar, and God has graciously granted you the safety of all who are sailing with you.’ 25Therefore keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be just as I have been told. Acts 27:23-25 NET
Have faith that God will care for you
Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, received promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34put out raging fires, escaped death by the sword, found strength in weakness, became powerful in battle, and routed foreign armies. Hebrews 11:33-34 ISV
Various people of God are spoken of here as having faith that God would take care of them when facing very difficult circumstances.
Have faith that God will do what you ask
[David:] Lord, in the morning you will hear me; in the morning I will present my case to you and then wait expectantly for an answer. Psalms 5:3 NET
What Not to Do
Do not be afraid
[David:] When I am afraid, I will trust you. 4I praise God for his word. I trust God, so I am not afraid. What can human beings do to me? Psalms 56:3-4 NCV™
Do not worry
Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. 7Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 GW