Simple Faith by Pete BriscoeSample

What Is Faith?

Faith is not trying to believe something regardless of the evidence; faith is daring something regardless of the consequences. —Sherwood Eddy

It may help us understand what faith is by “breaking down” who we are. This will help us avoid being taken captive through deception, as Paul warns.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. (Colossians 2:8)

Our spiritual anatomy consists of a body, soul, and spirit. The soul includes our mind, emotions, and will. The spirit is our true inner being—where we have fullness of life in Christ.

So we receive life in the spirit, we experience life in the soul, and we express life in the body. Unfortunately, we also have flesh—the desire to do things in our own strength and skill.

What, then, is faith? It’s a decision of the will to act on what the mind believes is true. The mind reads something in Scripture, and in our spirit, the Holy Spirit says, “Yes, that’s true!” As we acknowledge the truth—and choose to step out into it—that step is known as faith.

Father, thank You for forming me and forging me into a special creation by Your mighty hand. You have given me the capacity to have faith, and I want to have faith in the proper way: In Your son Jesus Christ. Teach my will to act on what is true, as revealed by the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures. Amen.