HAVE FAITH IN GOD

HAVE FAITH IN GOD

Mark 11:22-24

During one of our family devotions, my eight year old daughter gave an explanation on how we should cast our burdens upon God. She said many people really do pray and cast their burdens upon God and leave it there, but some, before they leave the place of prayer, often carry off their burdens with them due to lack of faith and impatience. In her understanding of scriptures as a child, she said “God may delay in answering some prayers because He was busy attending to other people’s requests”, therefore impatient people cannot receive God’s blessings. She told us that “when we carry our burdens to God in prayer, we should “leave them there” and wait patiently for his answer”. That is exactly how to have faith in God when we pray.

God hears and answers prayers in his own way, and at his own time. God knows what his children need at every point in time and because he is not a wicked father, he meets the needs accordingly. God sees and knows your ways from the foundation of it to the end, and he knows what is best for each of his children at every given period. Nothing is hidden from him, and nothing is difficult for him as well. When it seems that our prayers are not answered, it may be that we have prayed amiss, not in accordance with his ultimate will and purpose. This sometimes could mean an outright “no” or a “wait, not yet” as his answer to our prayer. 

Faith is an important key in our relationship with God. Hebrews 11:1 says “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”Faith” [pistis] in Greek, refers to the conviction of the truth of anything in our belief in God. Conviction is a fixed form of belief which no argument, fact, or theory could change. It is an unwavering commitment that what you belief (God) will not fail. “Faith” does not believe that God can, it knows that he will.

A Christian should have faith in God in all circumstances, therefore B.B. McKinney in the words of the hymn “Have Faith in God” highlights few of such circumstances to include: “when your pathway is lonely”; “in your pain and your sorrow”; “when your prayers are unanswered”; and “though all else fail about you”. This means that in whatever situation you are going through, have faith in God, because He watches over his own and cannot fail. Therefore we can be assured that he must prevail, he will never forget, he will provide, he will not abandon. He knows your pain; he knows your despair. His heart is touched with your grief and despair and never alone is the least of His children. I believe you are in his agenda, and you are next in line for a miracle.

Jesus Christ says: “Have faith in God…Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11: 22-24). Challenges of life often seem like huge mountains, requiring only deeply rooted and active faith in God to surmount. Child of God, the mountain in your own context may be a condition that has become so overwhelming and devastating, whatever it is, have faith in God and that mountain shall soon become a platform for your elevation. I implore you to trust God’s word, cast all your cares and burdens upon him, speak with courage in your prayers, wait on the Lord, trust his words, and be patient.

If you have accepted Christ, you are his child. You are loved, accepted, and adopted as a true son or daughter.  Exercise your faith in God and encourage yourself. Your miracle is the next to be announced.

Action Task:

1.      Sing the hymn “Have faith in God” with understanding, until your faith is emboldened. 

2.      Reflect on God’s faithfulness to you and your family in the past, and list only five things for which you need to be thankful to God.

3.      Let go every bitterness and unforgiveness, and speak the word of faith over your situation.

Prayer Points:

1.       Thank God for  the love of Christ that qualifies you to be a child of God

2.      Confess that you know God watches over you, and because he does, you will not fail.

3.      Ask God to arise on your behalf and show his mighty power concerning an issue that is bordering you.

HAVE FAITH IN GOD

1.      Have faith in God when your pathway is lonely; 

He sees and knows all the way you have trod. 

Never alone are the least of His children; 

Have faith in God, have faith in God. 

Refrain:

Have faith in God, He’s on His throne; 

Have faith in God, He watches o’er His own. 

He cannot fail, He must prevail; 

Have faith in God, have faith in God.

2.      Have faith in God when your prayers are unanswered; 

Your earnest plea He will never forget. 

Wait on the Lord trust His Word and be patient; 

Have faith in God, He’ll answer yet.

3.      Have faith in God in your pain and your sorrow; 

His heart is touched with your grief and despair. 

Cast all your cares and your burdens upon Him; 

And leave them there, oh, leave them there.

4.      Have faith in God though all else fail about you; 

Have faith in God, He provides for His own. 

He cannot fail though all kingdoms shall perish; 

He rules, He reigns, upon His throne.