“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Faith is high currency in the Kingdom of Heaven. It pleases God when we trust in him. It is from faith that many have received healing and miracles. While it is in the heart of every believer to have faith, it is a muscle we need to exercise in order for it to grow and develop. So often when life gets hard, when our problems feel insurmountable, or out of our control, it is difficult to trust God. We want to take charge of our circumstances and solve things in our own strength and in our own timing. We respond to our trials with earthly wisdom. Like Jonah, we want to run and hide from the presence of the Lord when we are asked to do things we don’t prefer to do. Or like Ananias going to see Saul in Acts 9, we are afraid of what God calls us to do. When we walk in unbelief, we are choosing to have more faith in the devil than in God. Yikes! It may feel like God is distant and doesn’t see you or your circumstances, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. God wants to be invited into every area of your life, and he is more than able to rescue you from yourself, others, your circumstances, and the enemy. You can trust God with your future, with your finances, with your children, your barrenness, your marriage, your singleness, with legal battles, your health, provision, your job, your unemployment, messed up relationships, your deepest regrets–with all of it! God, in his infinite wisdom and love for us, may respond differently than we think he should, but rest assured, he loves you deeply and he is working perfectly on your behalf. As you begin to listen more intently for his voice and act upon what he says, you course correct your fleshly inclination to take over his position in the driver’s seat. Every impossible situation then becomes an opportunity to see God work in supernatural ways. His request is that we believe in him and trust him. Not only do you need faith in the Lord for yourself, you need faith on behalf of others. As a cleansing part of your fast, confess those areas where you have not trusted God, and allow him to recalibrate your faith quotient. Then, when you bring your mustard seed of faith before the Lord on behalf of those you are contending for, your faith makes you like David facing Goliath, ready and positioned to see God do the impossible!
Listening Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to help you recall the areas where you have not been trusting God. Write down what you hear.
Heavenly Father, I confess that there are areas of my life where I have not trusted you with ________________. Forgive me for my unbelief. I thank you for bringing to mind areas where I have not trusted you. Forgive me for believing I could do a better job than you, trying to do what was only meant for you. Forgive me for all the times I put more faith in the success of the devil than in you. In the name of Jesus Christ, I renounce unbelief and take back all ground I gave to the enemy through my lack of faith. Jesus, I give my unbelief, doubt, and double-mindedness to you and ask you to exchange it for faith. Your Word says that each of us are given a measure of faith. I am asking you to increase mine. Help me to trust you with every part of my life. Give me faith to trust you, not only for myself, but for the lives of those I encounter. I boldly proclaim that all things are possible in you. Holy Spirit, teach me; train me. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.
Resource: Bible Verses on Trust
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:26-28)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)
“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:6)
Worship Song:
“Never Fail” by Hillsong Young and Free