True Faith in Christ

  Before we pray, let's first take a moment to listen to God's word and then we'll pray together. 

 Faith often moves before you see anything move. Before the sea splits, before the door opens, before the breakthrough shows up in your life, God usually calls you to take a step. 

 That is one of the hardest parts of walking with him because your natural mind wants proof first. 

 You want certainty first. You want the results first. 

 But faith does not wait for the evidence. 

 Faith responds to God's word even when the situation still looks the same. 

 Look at the story of Moses. 

 Israel stood trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh's army. Fear was everywhere. 

 Panic was loud. 

 Yet God did not tell Moses to stand still and hope the water would part by itself. 

 Moses had to lift his rod and stretch out his hand over the sea. That action was obedience and trust. 

 The water did not move until Moses moved. 

 God's power was ready, but the miracle met Moses at the point of obedience. 

 Many times you are in a similar place. 

 You know God can do it, but your heart still trembles because you cannot see how. 

 Still faith says, "Lord, I will obey you anyway. I will move forward anyway. I will pray anyway. I will forgive anyway. 

 I will keep doing what is right anyway.

 Faith is choosing to trust God in the middle of what is hard.  Now, think about the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years.  Her pain had lasted so long that it could have convinced her to stop hoping. Yet, she did not stop. 

 She came through the crowd hoping that if she could just touch the edge of Jesus's garment, she would be healed. 

 She did not wait until she felt strong.

 She did not wait until Jesus turned to her first. 

 She moved toward him while she was still weak. She acted while she was still unsure. 

 And Jesus honored that. In Luke 8 verse 48, he said, "Daughter,  your faith has made you well. Go in peace." 

 Her faith acted before anything changed on the outside and then healing followed. 

 This is why you cannot separate faith from action. 

 Many people say they believe, but faith is not only a statement.  Faith becomes visible through obedience and action. 

 That is why scripture warns us that faith without action is empty.  

James 2: verses 17 to 18 says, "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." But someone will say, "You have faith, I have deeds. Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 

This does not mean you earn miracles. 

 It means true faith produces movement.

 When you truly trust God, you respond to what he has said. So if you are believing God for change, ask yourself what step of obedience he has already placed in front of you. 

 Is he calling you to pray consistently again? Is he calling you to stop compromising? 

 Is he calling you to make peace with someone? 

 Is he calling you to give up a habit that is pulling you away from him? 

 Sometimes you want God to change your situation,  but God is trying to change your direction. 

 Faith is also how you came to Christ in the first place. You did not see Jesus physically, yet you believed. You trusted his promise and you surrendered your life. 

 Ephesians 2: verses 8-9 reminds you, "For by grace you have been saved through faith,  and this is not your own doing. It is the gift of God, not a result of works,  so that no one may boast. 

 Your salvation began by faith, and your daily walk is sustained by faith. 

 You keep trusting, keep following, keep obeying because you know our father is faithful. 

 This is why Hebrews 11:6 is so strong. 

 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. 

 And when faith feels difficult, remember what faith truly is. 

 Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." 

 Faith does not require you to see everything. 

 It requires you to trust the one who sees everything. The walls of Jericho show this clearly. 

 Israel did not win by strength or strategy the way people normally fight. 

 They followed God's instruction for seven days, walking, waiting, and obeying even when it looked foolish to others.

Then the walls fell. Hebrews 11:30 says, "By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for 7 days." 

Faith does not only open doors. 

Faith can bring down walls. 

Faith can break strongholds. 

Faith can shift what looks impossible. 

So if you need a breakthrough, faith comes first. 

If you need healing in your heart, faith comes first. 

If you need restoration, faith comes first. 

That does not mean you will never feel afraid. 

It means you choose to trust God above your fear. 

It means you choose to act on His word even while your emotions are still catching up. 

Today, take the step God is asking you to take. Keep seeking him. 

Keep praying. 

Keep obeying. 

Keep believing. 

Our Father is able and He is faithful to finish what He started in you. 

Now let us take a moment to pray together. 

🙏🏽 

Heavenly Father, I desire to grow. I do not want to stay shallow in my walk with You. 

I want to grow in faith, in understanding, and in wisdom. 

 I want my life to reflect your character. 

I want my choices to show that I belong to You. 

Please shape my mind so I think like your word teaches and shape my heart so I respond like Jesus Christ. 

Your word in Matthew 7: verses 24- 27 says, 

"Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock, and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock." But everyone who hears these sayings of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand and it fell and great was its fall. 

 Lord, I choose to build my life on You. 

 I do not want to be a person who only listens but does not obey. 

I do not want my faith to be only words. 

I want my faith to become a way of living. 

Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Rock of ages. 

When the rains of life come, when pressure rises, when unexpected trouble knocks on my door, I want to stand firm. 

Let your words sink deep into me. Help me obey you in private. Help me follow you when it is costly. 

Give me a heart that is quick to repent and quick to obey. 

Father, please forgive me for the times I have doubted you.

 Forgive me for the moments I have looked at the storm more than I looked at your promises. 

Forgive me for leaning on my own understanding and forgetting that your wisdom is higher than mine. 

Cleanse my heart and renew my mind. I do not want doubt to take root in me. 

 I want trust to grow. 

Holy Spirit, please remove what is unhealthy in my thoughts. 

Replace fear with faith. 

Replace confusion with clarity. 

Replace heaviness with peace. 

Teach me how to stand on truth when my feelings are loud. 

Teach me how to hold on to your word when life feels uncertain. 

When I feel weak, remind me of what you have spoken in 2 Corinthians 12: verses 9 and 10. My grace is sufficient for you. For my strength is made perfect in weakness. For when l am weak, then l am strong. 

Lord, I receive that truth. l admit that I am not strong on my own. 

I cannot fight every battle with human strength. 

I need your grace, your strength and your power working in me. 

Lord Jesus Christ, thank you that your grace is sufficient. 

It meets me in my need. 

It covers my mistakes. 

It lifts me when I fall. It strengthens me when I feel empty. 

 Thank you that your mercy does not run out. 

Help me not to live guilty and defeated. 

Help me live forgiven and renewed. With a heart that stays soft before you. 

Father, I also ask for wisdom. 

Your word in James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." So l ask you for wisdom, Lord. 

Wisdom for my decisions. Wisdom for my relationships. Wisdom for my work. Wisdom for my home. 

Wisdom to know what to say and when to be quiet. 

Wisdom to choose what pleases you even when there are many voices around me. 

Your word in Proverbs 2:6 says, "For the Lord gives wisdom. From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 

Father, let your wisdom guide me. Let your word train my thoughts. 

Let your truth lead me step by step. Lord, light up my path. Keep me from mistakes that come from impatience. Keep me from choices that come from pride. 

I bring my fears to you today. 

 I refuse to let fear control my life. 

I refuse to let worry steal my peace. 

I choose to place my trust in You. 

Your word in Philippians 4: verses 6 to7 reminds me,  "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

Lord, I lay my burdens down. 

Guard my heart. 

Guard my mind. 

Fill me with your peace. 

And Father, when I feel discouraged, I hold on to what you spoke in Joshua 1:9. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged.  For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. 

Thank you for being with me wherever I go. 

Thank you that I do not face life alone. 

You are the God who never loses. 

You are the God who keeps His promises. 

You are the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 

And You are still the same today. 

Lord Jesus Christ, help me not to be overwhelmed by trials. 

Help me to stand firm. 

Help me to endure with patience. 

Help me to keep a worshipful heart even in difficult seasons. 

Let my life be built on You and let my faith grow deeper day by day. 

Father, be glorified in my life forever. 

In Jesus Christ's name I pray. 

Amen. 

I pray that every blessing in this prayer is now upon you in the name of Jesus Christ. 

Thank the Lord for the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us always.