3 Principles to Activate Your Faith

Gaining an Understanding of Faith

As I begin to write this blog post, the first thing that pops into my mind is a specific statement from the movie, Forrest Gump.  The main character, Forrest Gump, for whom the movie is titled, is asked numerous times if he was stupid. Forrest’s candid and repetitive response is, ‘Stupid is as stupid does.’ This implies that a person should be judged by his actions, and not his appearance. 

In regards to faith, some of you may ask, “How do I know I got faith?”  You will know that you got faith by what you do. You can speak words of faith and feel the confidence that may arise from those life-giving words all day, every day. When others hear you speaking these words, it may give you the appearance that you “got it going on” in the faith department; but until you activate your faith, or put some action to those words, there is no visible proof that you really got faith. In other words, Faith is as faith does.

Understanding is the Key to Faith

The word of God states in Proverbs 4:7 

Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.

Understanding is defined as (1) having the power of comprehension (2) [the achievement] of [grasping] the nature, significance, or explanation of something.  

I served 14 years in the four walls of a classroom as a full-time, elementary teacher. One of my main responsibilities was to teach foundational, reading skills to my students. Over the years, I witnessed some students who could read words very fluently. To the untrained educator or those outside of reading education, these students would be deemed as some of the best readers, because they sounded so great reading aloud.

However, upon further inspection, it was discovered that some of the students who read fluently could not answer questions in reference to what they read. In other words, they were lacking in comprehension, or understanding of what they read. They were simply “calling words.” 

Any reading teacher, coach, or specialist knows that comprehension is the ultimate true measure of a reader’s ability. One’s level of comprehension is often an indicator of one’s ability to apply it to a particular situation. 

Understanding in reference to faith is the firm “why” behind the “what” that produces results from intentional action. 

#1 Understanding What Faith Is

It is a five letter word that possesses meaning beyond measure. It is the substance needed to initiate and sustain you on your spiritual journey and in your purpose. 

So, what is faith?

Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as

…the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. NKJV

The Contemporary English Version of the Bible states…

Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see. 

When I consciously started my spiritual journey at 8 years old, faith simply meant belief in God. It meant that I believed Jesus was God’s Son, openly confessed it, and believed that He died and rose from the dead, according to Romans 10:9. 

In those early years, that was enough to get me from point A to point B. However, as I began to understand that God had a purpose for my life and I accepted that purpose, the definition of faith would expand into a deeper meaning with far-reaching, life-altering experiences.

Dissecting the Meaning of Faith

To gain a better understanding of faith, it is important to dissect the word, or examine it in detail. 

The simplest and foundational meaning of faith is in reference to salvation. Ephesians 2:8 states, 

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves;
It is the gift of God.

The mention of faith here is the belief that God sent his son, Jesus, to die for us, so that we would be redeemed by the shed blood of his Son and brought back into right standing with him. There is nothing that we can do in and of ourselves that can earn us  salvation. Salvation is the free gift of God through the sacrifice of his Son. It is his grace extended to us. One simply needs to accept and receive this free gift. 

Diving Deeper into Faith

When you read further into Hebrews 11, you gain a better understanding of the depthness of faith, or the second part of it. It is the portion that helps you do what you were created to do. It enables you to walk out your purpose while you are on this earth. It causes you to come in agreement with and actively fulfill the will of God for your life.

In Hebrew, faith is emunah (em-moo-nah), which means to take firm action. Watch 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmYMn0EYgTw to gain a better and further explanation of the Hebrew word for faith.

Because I am passionate about people exercising their faith to live out their purpose, this is mainly what you will see me refer to in my blog posts. God has given me the assignment to encourage, educate, and empower people to put their faith into action in regards to their purpose and to overall, to establish and grow their relationship with God through Christ. 

#2 Understanding Why Faith is Important

In a nutshell, faith is important because it explicitly pleases God.

Hebrews 11:6 expresses,

But 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. 

Let’s break this scripture down. 

First, you have to believe that God is who He says He is. If you know and understand the nature of God, then you know He is faithful in everything He has created you for. In Jeremiah 29:11, God shares

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you…thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 

The New Living Translation (NLT) says,

For I know the plans I have for you…They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 

With this truth about God’s nature, you can trust that God’s only intentions 

toward you are good, even when it doesn’t look or feel like it. 

Furthermore, the word of God says in I Thessalonians 5:24

He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. 

What will God do to prove or demonstrate His faithfulness to you as you walk out 

His plan for your life? I encourage you to read the scriptures below.

• He will help you. Isaiah 41:10 
• He will be with you through it all. Psalm 23:4 & Hebrew 13:5
• He will guide you. Psalm 32:8
• He will provide everything you need. Philippians 4:19
• He will fight your battles for you. Deuteronomy 20:4 & Psalm 34:19

There are many, many more. These are just a few to get you focused on the goodness of God’s nature, to ensure you that He can be trusted, so you can actively walk by faith and not by sight or your feelings. 

The second part of Hebrews 11:6 focuses on God rewarding those who diligently seek Him. Faith in God requires a genuine relationship with Him. Understand that God is a relational God. He desires you to be in communion with Him. This continual communion with God will ignite, activate, and grow your faith. As a result, God wants to simply give you things. The gifts that God gives are internal and external as a result of your genuine trusting in Him with all your heart and leaning not to your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledging Him so that He may direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 

When God sees the obedience of his spiritual children believing and trusting in Him, as well as pursuing His will for thor lives, it gives Him great satisfaction. It makes Him extremely proud. When you understand this, your love for and belief in God’s word concerning His nature, motivates you to action. 

#3 Understanding the Faith that You Already Have

 Understand that as a believer, you have already been given a measure, or a portion, of faith, in accordance to the purpose that God has called you to and chosen you for. God has given you a spiritual gift or spiritual gifts (plural). He has a designated purpose for you to use that gift or those gifts to advance His kingdom, to impact the body of Christ, and to be a witness in this world. 

In Romans 12:3-8, the Apostle Paul informs us that 

3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

You might have asked God for faith or for Him to increase your faith. Well, you already have faith, a measure of faith in proportion to the gift and calling He has given you. All you have to do is use what you have. Start where you are. Do what you already know to do, and in those purposeful actions, you will find yourself on the journey of living by faith and eventually increasing your faith. Faith is like a muscle. The more you use it, work it, exercise it; the more you will build it.

Be blessed! I love you and I am praying for you.

If this post has been a blessing to you or if you would like to share any insight concerning what has been shared, please feel free to comment below. 

Sometimes in life, we go through dry seasons. It is vital that we understand how to maneuver through those dry places and not give up. Download my FREE PDF ebook 3 Keys to Stay Spiritually Hydrated During Challenging Seasons of Your Life.