Faith is having complete trust or confidence in someone or something. When you sit on a chair, you have faith (or trust) that it will support you. When you get behind the wheel of a car, you have faith (or trust) that it will get you where you want to go and you have to trust the other drivers as well who are getting to where they need to go. When you eat, you are trusting your esophagus to lead food into your stomach. You trust airline pilots when you travel, you trust your financial advisor with your money, you have faith that the food you buy the store is somewhat good for you.
Everyday you are exercising faith over something or someone.
Everyday you are relying on things that are beyond your control. It is impossible to have complete control over your life. You and I certainly try hard to have control, but we are incapable of it. There are so many variables in the world that remind us of this truth. Yet, the world keeps moving forward as if there is something bigger, greater, more intelligent, that is capable of taking care of billions of people at once.
“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners”6
This verse is found in the fifth chapter of Romans, verses 1-11. This passage gives us a glimpse into what faith can do for you when you follow Jesus. What you receive from God has everything to do with Jesus Christ. What He came to accomplish in His short 33 years on earth is nothing short of amazing! Christ’s redemptive work gives you an anchor to hold on to, a firm foundation to stand on, and the closest friend you will ever have. Jesus will never leave you, nor forsake you; see Hebrews 13:5.
Jesus becomes your faith. You live, move, and breath in Him from this day forward.
Take a look from these 11 verses on why faith in God is good for you:
- Faith gives you right standing before God. Jesus removes your sinful nature and fills you with Himself. Jesus redirected your steps from heading to a very dark, isolated place to His heavenly home that is eternal when you repented of your sins.
- Because of your sins being removed by the blood of the Lamb, you have peace with God. Jesus becomes your peace.
- Jesus brings you into a wonderful place of undeserved privilege. You can stand confidently and joyfully moving forward in everlasting hope.
- You are a part of God’s glory. Who or what in this world can offer that?
- This world will dish out problems and trials (and many good distractions), but you can rejoice knowing God is with you helping you navigate through them.
- God will strengthen you by building up your endurance.
- God will develop your character.
- God will increase your confident hope of your salvation that Jesus freely gave you.
- God will give your clarity on just how much He loves you.
- The Holy Spirit will reside within you, filling you with God’s love as you lean more and more onto God.
- You are guilty because of your sin. In Christ, God sees no more condemnation.
- Friendship with God has been restored, like Adam and Eve had before the fall, for Christ saves you.
Take some time and revel over these 12 things that build up your faith in God. There is no greater way for God to show His great love for sinners, that’s you and me, than through the giving of His Son. Fervently ask God to change your heart where you become fully alive in Christ.
Look at what Paul also wants believers to understand, “Now (you) can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law (just knowing God’s Word factually, keeping it in your head and trusting your own thinking), but in the new way of living in the Spirit.” (Romans 7:6) “And true circumcision (a heart change) is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.” (Romans 2:29)
Faith in God fills you with joy over the relationship you have with the God of heaven and earth. Faith does a body, soul, and mind good!
Carol J German 