Author: Allison Powell
Published: February 8, 2006
Tool: [ email ]
“What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. God gave his approval through ancient biblical people because of their faith.”
Often we mock and laugh at dreamers whom possess ‘confident assurance’ and speak about things not seen. After Faith walkers succeed, we admire them, worship them, and call them ‘she-heroes’ and ‘superheroes.’ “Look up in the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, NO it’s SUPERMAN!” Superheroes do things that only our mind’s eye imaginations can see. We want to be like our personal super heroes. Faith is belief with confidence that something envisioned in your mind’s eye will happen.
Christians logically make sense of many things with some measure of confident assurance in God. By faith, we believe something better happens in our lives through the confession of Jesus Christ’s salvation message. By faith, we are optimistic to awake every morning, and observe the passing of time through holidays such as New Year’s Day. Each new year ushers in hope and joy for some; and pain and sorrow for others.
We WILL BE ‘better’ this year in our lives, our attitudes, our pursuits, and our zest for God! Each passing year offers a measure of faith that generates hope in humanity and our own personal improvement.
Unfortunately for some, futile efforts, failures, disappointments annual holidays, special days, and observances remind our weary minds of unmet hopes and dreams. Some people inwardly confess their lack of faith to the Lord: “I’m too much of a sinner to be around you.” The weary-minded stop sincere attempts to obey God. Some visionaries take their eyes off the one who is invisible. The powerful allow their weakness to overcome their strength instead of confessing the words “let the weak say I am strong.” Life’s strongholds cause some to loose focus, forget God’s benefits, and run slower in the race towards fulfilling personal goals, purpose, and God’s destiny. Consider all Jesus endured when sinful people did such terrible things to him. But Jesus did succeed. NOTHING beats a failure, but an attempt at success.
DON’T get weary; DON’T give up, just TRY AGAIN!
In the Holy Bible, Peter reminds us by faith to believe in God’s word even after a failed effort. After preaching in Peter’s boat, Jesus asked Peter to go deeper and cast his net in the sea to catch fish. Peter had already worked hard from an unsuccessful attempt to catch fish the night before. Don’t you hate to do something a second time especially after you failed to see results from your initial efforts? It seems more difficult to re-study for a test you already failed the first time. Usually you must study harder, go deeper in your attempts to understand the important content, and pass the test. Jesus asked Peter to go deeper a second time to achieve a different result.
Despite Peter’s failure the night before, he was moved to obey the request of Jesus by HIS word. We ought to be moved to believe the word of God as spoken to us -- despite our own efforts, failures, and disappointments. The word of God is a lamp for out feet, a light for our path in every decision we make. Many bible heroes acted on faith and allowed God’s spoken word to direct their actions. “Word is Bond,” a rapper once made this phrase popular in culture. The phrase means to have confidence that my word is truth and I will do or say what I promised. A bible passage instructs one “In the beginning was the word of God.” God’s word was bond for Peter because he obeyed Jesus in faith. Peter trusted with confidence (in faith) that when Jesus said “go deeper and cast his net in the sea to catch fish” than something would happen. Is God’s word bond for you?
It is impossible to please God without faith. Other bible heroes such as Enoch, Abraham & Sarah, Gideon, and Samuel overthrew kingdoms, ruled with injustice, and received what God promised them. These people obeyed and pleased God through their measure of faith. Peter and these heroes heard the word of instruction from God, and acted on it. The Lord will reward each of us when we act out our faith to trust and obey God’s word.
What is God’s spoken word to you about this year? Are you being called to follow Jesus? Do you hear the voices too? Will you respond and apply your faith to obey God’s instruction even if you have to try something you’ve done before?
By faith, Peter…
- *Trusted Jesus and the words Jesus spoke to him
- *Cast the net a second time, after an unsuccessful attempt in catching fish
- *Received a great multitude of fish as a reward for his obedience
- *Received so much abundance, that there was ample fish for many including Peter and his friends
- *Received a promise not to fear because Peter would become a fisher of men
- *Left everything and followed Jesus
What will you do this year?
Recite and embrace this prayer promise again and again for this year especially if you aren’t feeling “super in your faith” about the circumstances before you:
Dear Lord
Encourage me to try again.
Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.
I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise again:
I will obey your wonderful laws.
I have suffered much, O Lord, restore my life again, just as you promised.
Lord, accept my grateful thanks
And teach me your laws.
My life constantly hangs in the balance,
but I will not stop obeying your law.
The wicked have set their traps for me along your path,
But I will not turn from your commandments.
Your decrees are my treasure; they are truly my hearts delight.
I am determined to keep your principles even forever, to the very end.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
For further reading: The holy bible New Living Translation Luke chapter 5 verses 1-11, Hebrews chapters 11 & 12, John chapter 1 verse 1-2, and Psalms chapter 119 verses 89-112.
