A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (May 18, 2018)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible (Hebrews 11:1-3).
Many people are confused about the things of God. They worry and fret about creation, death, eternal life, heaven, and hell. And it’s not uncommon for me to get letters asking these two questions: “How can I understand God and the Bible? How can I know what to believe?”
The answer I always give is “Just believe what God says, by faith.” In other words, accept the Holy Bible as the Word of God, read it and believe it. Then, base all your decisions and all your trust on what God’s Word says. That’s called “walking by faith” (2 Corinthians 5:7).Walking by faith is not always easy. The reason is because many people have become accustomed to walking by sight. Here’s what I mean. When we pray and ask God to meet a need in our lives that is clearly promised in His Word, we must believe that God has already met that need. We must believe that God’s Word is true and that He has actually done what He said He would do.
Jesus said in Mark 11:24, “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”
Jesus did not say that we are to believe that we have received when we see results. He said that we are to believe that we have received what we have petitioned when we pray. That’s praying in faith. We pray, then we believe God so much, we trust His promises so strongly, that we trust that He has already accomplished our request. From that point on, once we have prayed in faith, we thank Him for meeting our need.
One time, a man told me he couldn’t thank God for meeting his needs, because his needs had not been met. I asked him if he had prayed and asked God to meet his needs. He said “Yes, I know that God will meet my needs, but I won’t really believe it until I see it.”
Waiting to believe when you receive is not faith. Faith believes God regardless of the way things look. As Christians, we are to walk by faith and not by sight. If the circumstances say one thing and God’s Word says another, we must believe God. God does not lie. You can always depend on Him. He will never let you down. He will always do what He said He would do. And according to His own words, we will receive from Him when we believe Him.
In James 1, the Bible tells us that when we pray, we must believe that God will answer our petitions.
“Let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts 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 1:6,7).
According to this passage, when we pray, if we don’t believe, we won’t receive. The world says, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” The Word says, “I’ll see it when I believe it.” Remember, Jesus told us in Mark 11:24, “Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”
