The Life of Faith devotional – Week 1, Part 2

Hebrews 11v6

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” Hebrews 11v6

This is one of the most astonishing statements in the Bible: “Without faith it is impossible to please God”!

Perhaps we may have hoped that since God is so full of love and grace that he should be ‘pleased’ with us all the time, no matter how we respond to Him? Well anyone who is a parent will be able to speak into this! We dearly love our kids and have an unconditional love and acceptance of them. However, we are definitely not pleased with them if they do not believe in us or listen to what we say we will do! One of the biggest things that the Lord our Father wants to convey to us is that He wants us to trust Him. He wants us to see Him and relate to Him as Father. God’s promises are trustworthy because HE is trustworthy and faithful! He is our Father.

Faith is absolutely foundational to how we relate to God. If we are full of unbelief and scepticism towards the Lord then this does not PLEASE God and it certainly will not help us. What pleases the Lord is that His children look to Him as Faithful God and Father. In other words that we know and relate to Him as He is! Having faith doesn’t mean we will never have doubts, but it does mean that we will keep going back to God and surrender ourselves to His faithfulness and promises, so that we do not get ‘stuck’ in unbelief.

Reflect: Take a few moments to pray and ask the Lord to reveal anything in you that doubts God is with you or feels abandoned. Remember He promises to reward faith in His will. Then ask God to show you why you think and respond like this. Are you carrying hurt or disappointment or much fear? Do you find it hard to trust anyone other than yourself, and why is this? Pray over this.Take it to the Lord and hear His Word again!

Ask God to come and meet you today as you are and to raise your understanding of His faithfulness to you as His child! Let Him show you where the struggle to trust originates. Why not take a moment then to accept and surrender to His truth and love….

Too often we view God through the lens’ of our disappointments or unhealed wounds. God wants us to know He is for us and keeps His word…God designed us to trust Him. He promises that He will reward the obedience of faith (Romans 1v5).

Reflect: Are you willing to repent of allowing fear, scepticism, and unbelief to rob you? (if that is the case?) Take a moment or two to pray this through and to allow the Lord to show you a Scriptural truth or promise from Him that you need to stand on in this season. Fear is a liar after all!