Faith and Releasing our Faith

And without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 NKJV. Take the time to read through Hebrews 11. Yu will find so many examples of men and women who walked by faith and did exploits. Every hero recorded in Hebrews 11 is an example for us. Each of them began by believing in God. So it is the same with each of us. We decide to believe that He is. It is a decision. I think our greatest step of faith was taking Him at His Word for our salvation. The longer I walk with the Lord the more I understand the importance of “releasing” my faith as I pray and believe. Many years ago our church had the policy of “bringing” our tithes and offerings to the front. Darryl and I have been tithers and givers since we first married. As I placed our check in the offering plate that Sunday, I felt the Holy Spirit ask me–are you doing this as a result of habit? Is there any faith involved? I had to admit, not much. I knew God would bless our giving, but when I began to release my faith as I gave, it changed my expectation. It turned from passive faith to a more active faith. A greater trust that our needs would be met began to grow in a new measure. We became even easier to be generous in helping others, because we trusted that as we obeyed Him, He would keep His promises. I began to realize that I could use active faith as I prayed and believed for many things–not just finances. There is a rest that has come when this active faith combines with trust. When I focus on whom it is (God Himself) I am praying to along with releasing my faith I find peace settling in where there was turmoil. The peace that passes all situations and understanding begins to flow and what seemed impossible becomes possible. I still may not know how things are going to work out, I just have confidence that they will. My position shifts from being under the situation to being above it; after all we are the head not the tail. Courageous confidence begins to grow. Hopelessness is replaced by hope and we begin to walk the victorious walk God has promised. But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit. Jeremiah 17: 7-8. NLT. I encourage you to take one area of your life that you have been struggling to trust Him. Find some scriptures that tell you the truth about those situations and begin to release active faith into those challenges. Maybe your challenge is your children. Keep on praying, “Father, they are in Your Hands, I trust You to work in their lives.” When you read those words, did you say, Yes, Lord, I trust You. Or did you find yourselves unsure? If so, keep on asking Him to help you grow in your trust. Active faith definitely means growing in your trust in who Your God is. One of my favorite prayers is “Father, I trust You.”. Have you ever declared your trust in Him? My attitudes and perspectives (especially when things don’t go according to my natural thoughts think they should I simply say, “Father, I don’t understand, but I trust You. Please work this situation out for Your glory.” I don’t try to figure it out; I just leave it in His hands. Father, I thank you for helping us learn to release our faith and trust. I ask you to teach us how to walk in more active faith in those areas that challenges us. I thank you that you are broadening our faith into all areas of our life, In Jesus’ Name, amen.