Active FaithSample

You can know on the inside when your faith is active. An assurance will rise up on the inside where you know - that you know. There is something on the inside that says, “The Word works!” An expectancy will begin to grow. You may feel led to take action, but it won’t be anything you come up with in your own mind. Active faith will stir you to action.

It would be terrible if, after years of quoting Psalm 91 every morning, I slip into a passive recital of the words. To avoid this, I make a conscious effort never to quote Psalm 91 passively, where it becomes just a ritual. God rescued me from terrible fear by giving me this powerful scripture. If I find my mind drifting or rushing through it, I start over and activate my faith to receive it anew. As important as Psalm 91 is to me, I am determined to stay active with it. It is my daily prayer. I know it is important to speak it daily, at the same time, I purposely stir it up inside of me.

Active faith always faces the situation head-on by using the Word of God. Active faith is not hard. Our part is choosing to believe the Word and actively engaging our hearts every time we speak the scripture. It is an exchange system—exchanging what we see in the natural for what we choose to believe from the Word. 2 Corinthians 4:18 says that the things we see are temporal [subject to change]; the things we don’t see are eternal. Anything we see in the natural realm is subject to change.

Years ago, we decided to build a home and, by faith, do it debt-free. While the stories and the miracles that happened are numerous, one is humorous. I had decided to save money by not buying anything I didn't absolutely have to have. So, when I ran out of vanilla, it seemed like something that could wait, that is, until the day I went to bake a cake for a church function and didn't have vanilla, an essential ingredient in this recipe. I was in the country without a car that particular day, and for a minute, I let myself have a pity party for what looked like anything but victorious living at the moment. It didn't last long, as I embarrassed myself and immediately repented. I was too embarrassed to tell anyone. By faith, we were going to build our home, and I had repeatedly seen God provide what we needed. I repented for feeling sorry for myself and thanked God for all He was doing in our lives. A few weeks later, I helped a friend move who was downsizing. As we went up the steps on one of the trips up the stairs, she turned and shoved a large men's shoebox into my hands and said, "Oh, could you use any vanilla?" That box was packed with bottles of vanilla and every other kind of flavoring imaginable. I just stood there speechless. I wondered who had told on me? But yet I hadn't told anyone. At that moment, I realized God's provision for my need, even vanilla, was abundant. It was as if the Lord was saying, "Do you think that will be enough vanilla for you?" He definitely has a sense of humor, and I could almost see him smiling. For our miraculous home story, see "Those Who Trust the Lord Shall Not Be Disappointed" podcast and book.

Do you have circumstances that aren't changing? If so, check areas where you may have grown passive. Find a promise for your situation and start believing God to intervene in this area.