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“Faith is confidence in what we hope for” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV).
Faith has little to do with religion or church attendance. The Greek definition of the word ‘faith’ is pistis, which means firm persuasion, conviction based on hearing and learning. Other words that help define faith are trust, confidence and believing.
And for good measure, here’s a scriptural description of faith: “The confident assurance that something we want is going to happen…the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead” (Hebrews 11:1 TLB).
The Bible also tells us, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6, NIV).
It also tells us, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17 NIV).
And the apostle James writes, “Faith…not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17, NIV).
Faith, though it may be felt, isn’t a feeling at all. The fact is, you can have faith and feel nothing, and you can feel nothing and still have faith. Nor is it related to intellectual or theological knowledge.
Your IQ and level of education have nothing to do with your capacity to exercise faith. Effective faith calls for an act of your will. It’s a choice you make to fully embrace what God says in his word.
When that happens, it creates a heart climate that motivates you to act in keeping with what you choose to believe. That’s faith in a nutshell!
By Alfred Myamekye
