Faith

"For by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8)

Faith is believing in, trusting, and having complete confidence in God.  It is a firm conviction deep within the heart, mind, and soul that propels you towards union with God.  

Faith is a grace freely given by God to anyone who chooses to embrace it.  We can do nothing to earn faith.  It is freely given and is to be freely received.  We should not boast that we have faith, instead we should praise God and thank Him that we were open to accepting His gift of faith.  

We can do works that strengthen our faith: our belief that God loves us; our understanding that God wills for us to obey His commands; our belief in His Son, Jesus, and our dedication to following His teachings; and, our acceptance of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  And these works will help us become closer to the Lord and be His presence in the world.

God wants us to rely upon Him like small children rely upon their parents for everything they need.  He wants us to trust in Him and confidently believe that He will fulfill all His promises to us.  May we be like little children, reaching out to our loving Father for His tender embrace.  And, may we rest in the conviction that we are loved, cared for, and redeemed.

Prayer:

Thank You, Father for the gift of faith.  May it grow within me each day.   May my faith in You be reflected in my words and actions and may others be drawn to You through me.  Amen.