“House” 10×10 Mixed Media by Patty
Faith. I thought I knew what faith is because am sure I possess it, but I have been examining “faith” and discovered some misconceptions I needed corrected. I thought faith was all about ME. (As usual, LOL)
It turns out that faith is a gift from God. Romans 12:3 says that God gives “everyone a measure of faith.” So we all start our journey in life with the ability to believe in God. It’s like we are all handed an uninflated “faith” balloon and we have the power to choose what to do with it.
Some choose to blow into the balloon by using the “measure of faith” combined with their choice to “believe.” Some put their balloon away for later. Some have their balloon snatched away by someone who says it doesn’t exist.
No matter what folks have done with their “measure of faith” balloon, it is NEVER too late to get it out and blow it up. If someone has snatched your faith away, God will give you back your ability to believe if you look up to Him and ask for it back. I can promise that!
I have been smitten by 2Peter chapter one and the cool list of things that we are to “….add to your faith.”
I can’t start the list of things to add until I understand that it is God in me that gives me the ABILITY to add the things on the list.
So “adding to my faith” is not some self-righteous stuff I work really hard at and DO FOR GOD. The list of things to “add to my faith” such as goodness and self control is just me enlarging my faith. I want my balloon to get as big as it can get! LOL
Greek Goodie
Pístis: be persuaded, come to trust; faith.
Faith is always a gift from God, and never something that can be produced by people. In short, pistis (“faith”) for the believer is “God’s divine persuasion” – and therefore distinct from human belief (confidence), yet involving it. The Lord continuously births faith in the yielded believer so they can know what He prefers, i.e. the persuasion of His will (1 Jn 5:4).
Pistis in secular antiquity referred to a guarantee (warranty). In Scripture, faith is God’s warranty, certifying that the revelation He inbirthed will come to pass.
Faith “Pistis” is also used collectively – of all the times God has revealed (given the persuasion of) His will, which includes the full revelation of Scripture (Jude 3). Indeed, God the Lord guarantees that all of this revelation will come to pass! *BibleHub
Today’s Prayer
“Lord, thank you for the faith you have given each of us. Help us grow in faith. Give folks who have lost their faith the courage to ask for it back. We ask you to make 2018 a year of unmistakable growth in faith, grace and knowledge of YOU! Amen!
“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” Joshua 24:15
I made this 10 x 10 Mixed Media Collage to represent balloons of faith. It was fun to make her “house body” from magazine images with scrapbook paper legs. The cat was an image from gift wrap. This collage is listed in my Etsy Shop WhimziVille.
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