The Spiritual Fitness ManualSample

Faith Toward God - Part 2

By Richard Glickstein

1. Faith receives the answer from God before we physically see it.

Dr. David Cho began his ministry with a handful of people who were very poor. Cho slept on the floor of his apartment and had no furniture or transportation. Knowing God’s Word promised to provide, Cho began asking God for a desk, a chair, and a bicycle to get around the big city of Seoul, South Korea, for his ministry.

One day he felt that God was going to do it. He also felt that God wanted him to tell his church that he had already received the items! The church went wild. Three young men told Cho that they had to see these items. Cho brought the young men to his empty apartment. Before entering. Cho asked them how long they had been in their mother’s womb. One answered that he was growing inside his mother for nine months.  Cho explained that by faith he too was pregnant but with a desk, a chair and a bicycle!  It wasn’t too long afterwards that Cho received the actual desk, chair and bicycle.

2. Faith requires our enduring patience and not our tendency to panic! 

We need to resist the urge to take back control. It is difficult to fight against the desire to panic. During the process we will be tested by the reality we are experiencing. Our senses will tell us one thing and God’s Word will say another. Everything around us will be crying out for us to take back control. Don’t give in! Quote the word of God and remind yourself of His promises.  

This is what David did before he slew Goliath. David heard about the promise of King Saul to reward any person who would slay the giant, and he believed that God would use him to kill Israel’s enemy. But no one believed that David could succeed in a battle against a nine-foot warrior! In the face of discouragement, David’s faith was tested but he turned away and looked to others who could encourage him. Faith turns away from doubt and listens to the promises of Jesus. We might have giants facing us in our lives but God’s Word can strengthen us.

3. Victory in faith comes only one day at a time.