Callous Faith

“Therefore I say to you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you will receive it, and it will be so for you.” Mark 11:24

In the passage that contains the above verse Jesus is telling his disciples to pray in genuine faith and expectancy. Believing prayer has power with God. In his book, How to Develop a Powerful Prayer Life, Dr. Gregory R. Frizzell makes this statement: “Remember that faith must be a “choice” and more than a mere “feeling”.

We see a lot of “faith” around these days. It’s found on T-shirts and home décor in many forms. Sometimes the word is imprinted on spiral notebooks and towels, to jewelry items. All good and fine if in fact it is used to show others we have faith, but it seems to be such a buzz-word right now. This is what I consider callous usage of the word, faith.

Many times, we may have to make that choice to remain faithful to Christ. When presented with temptations, the choice for faith has to be an intentional one.

How is it that we can remain faithful to Christ in this world? According to www.dailyshepursues.com there are four (4) ways for us to do this. Let’s take a look at each one.

· Remember His faithfulness - Remembering the Lord’s past faithfulness can encourage us to be faithful to Him in return. It gives us confidence in the fulfillment of His future promises. When God is faithful to us, it is an appropriate response to want to be faithful right back.

· Know What God Says About You - Remember that the opinions of others are nowhere near as important as God’s thoughts towards you. Easier said than done right? But God says that you are loved: so much so that Christ died for you (Romans 5:8). You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). You are chosen (1 Peter 2:9). You are part of God’s family (1 John 3:1).

· Put Faith in God Over Things - We often focus more on things than we focus on God. This is not saying you shouldn’t buy new clothes and you’re not allowed to care about fashion trends, but these things are always changing, whereas our God, He is never changing (James 1:17). We should be putting our focus and our hope on God more than on material things.

· Be in Community With Other Believers - We need other Christians around us who can encourage us in our faith (See Hebrews 10:24-25). It is important to have friends who care about your relationship with God and are willing to be honest with you. These friends can help point you to the Word and help you study the Bible. They can hold you accountable in staying faithful to God. They can remind you that although you live in a secular world, you are not alone. You have people who care and want to see you grow closer to God.

In closing would you whisper this short prayer with me today?

Dear Lord, no matter what trials await us tomorrow, may we never forget the blessings you have shown us. Help me cling to you as my anchor. Help me remember your steadfast love and faithfulness for me in all things. In Jesus' Name, Amen.