Tag Archive | belief

SUNDAY SPIRITUAL

Aug28

How Can I Move from A Place of Belief, to True Faith?……………..

TO KNOWING?

Since there is a difference between faith and belief, how do you go from the place of belief to the place of true faith? The answer is going to sound simple, but here it is: One step at a time, one action at a time. At some point in your journey with CHRIST you are going to have to take a step where you demonstrate your faith in Him with your actions.  Some blessings are conditional. In the Book of James 2, ‘Faith without works is dead.’

One area I struggle with is in giving. When I struggle with financial debt because I don’t know if I can make ends meet that month? I know God has said he will provide ALL my needs but how do I reconcile my bank statement with my faith? Because I know He exists. I must start by giving where I am and as I begin to see GOD provide in my life I can give more. Is that FAITH? This is not just true of giving but of everything GOD asks of me. The only way faith grows is by acting on it. It’s like a muscle that has to be used in order to build strength and endurance. My initial actions may be small, but the more consistent they are(WORK OUTS) the more my faith will grow(STRENGTHEN), and I will not just have belief but will have active, growing faith.

Let me remind you of something. God wants to move you from belief to faith and he wants your faith to grow. He desires this so that as your faith grows which leads you trust Him with bigger and bigger things. You began to trust Him with ALL things. But this is a process, and it does not happen all at once. The beautiful part is that God is gracious and will give you opportunities to demonstrate your faith. In God’s plan for your life, there are more things He has for you to do, but to get there FAITH is required. For this reason, He will graciously help you turn your belief into faith and all you have to do is ask for his help. Then you KNOW Him.

SUNDAY SPIRITUAL

Jun25

FAITH VS BELIEF

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

I’ve always believed that Faith was stronger than Belief. As I grew in the Faith, I would hear how the two are used interchangeably. Do we not know the difference? Do I?

Faith and Belief are not the same. The Biblical definition of faith – “Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). I like KJV…”Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Some Scriptures are hard for me to recite in another version. Some Scriptures seems more fluid in King James. The dictionary definition of faith – Complete trust or confidence in someone or something. Faith in its truest from is when you have confidence in God to the point that it causes you to act.

James 2:19-21 KJV

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? (ABRAHAM believed what GOD said!)

Belief on the other hand, The dictionary definition of belief – An acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists. Therefore, we can believe and not have faith.

Think About It?

WEDNESDAY WISDOM, continues . . .

Apr6

GOD through the eyes of a child

 

The following essay was written some years ago by Danny Dutton, 8 years old, who lives in Chula Vista, CA.  His assignment was to write about GOD.  It’s a little long, but so, so worth the read, a little at a time.

Continues from Wednesday. . .

Atheists are people who don’t believe in GOD.  I don’t think there are any in Chula Vista.  At least there aren’t any who come out church.

Jesus is GOD’s son, He used to do all the work, like walking on water and doing miracles and trying to teach people about GOD who didn’t want to learn.  They finally got tired of preaching to them and they crucified Him.  But He was good and kind and like Hid father and He told His father that they didn’t know what they were doing and to forgive them, and GOD said OK.  His father appreciated everything He had done and all His hard work on earth, so He did not have to go out on the road anymore.  He could stay in Heaven.  So He did.  And now He helps His father out by listening to prayers and seeing which things are important for GOD to take care and which ones he can take care of Himself without having to bother GOD.  Like a secretary, only more important of course.  You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to hear you because they’ve got it all worked out so one of them is on duty all the time.

You should always go to Sunday School because it makes GOD happy and if there’s anybody you want to make happy, it’s GOD.  Don’t skip Sunday School to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach.  That is wrong and besides the sun doesn’t come out at the beach until noon anyway.  If you don’t believe in GOD, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can’t go everywhere with you, like camp, but GOD can.  It’s good to know He’s around when you’re scared of the dark, and when you can’t swim very good and you get thrown into real deep water by the big kids.  But you shouldn’t just always think of what GOD can do for you.  I figure GOD put me here and He can take me back anytime He pleases.

And that’s why I believe in GOD.

…and YOU?