Post by Adesanya Ayotola (@adesanya_ayotola)

Faith: Did God Say It, or Do I Just Want It?

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” Hebrews 12:2 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 (KJV)

If Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith and faith comes by hearing the Word of God, then we need to reconsider what we often call faith. Faith begins with God, not with our desires. There is a difference between hearing what God has said and asking God to endorse what we have already decided we want.

Many times, we conceive a desire, attach God's name to it and call our determination faith. We have already chosen the destination; we simply want God to guarantee the journey but biblical faith is not persuading God to participate in our plans. It begins with hearing His Word, knowing His character and responding in trust and obedience.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7
Yet walking by faith does not mean walking by imagination. Faith is not the confidence that whatever we desire must happen; it is confidence in God, even when His will, timing, or outcome differs from our expectations. Consider Abraham. He believed in God because God spoke to him and made a promise (Genesis 15:1–6). His faith had an object and a foundation: the word God had given him.

Likewise, Jesus Himself demonstrated submission in Gethsemane: “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:42. Faith does not make God submit to our will; faith teaches us to submit our will to God.
James 4:3 warns that people sometimes ask and do not receive because they ask with wrong motives, seeking to spend what they receive on their own pleasures and Proverbs 3:5–6 instructs us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts rather than lean on our own understanding, acknowledging Him in all our ways.

Perhaps the question we should ask before declaring that we have faith for something is not merely, “Do I believe God can do it?” but also, “What has God actually said and am I willing to trust Him even if the outcome is not what I desire?”

God's ability is not in question. Our interpretation of His will is. Faith is not bringing God into our desires. It is allowing His Word to shape our desires, His truth to govern our expectations, and His will to determine our obedience. After all, Jesus is not merely the one we ask to fulfil our faith. He is its Author and Finisher.....

0 likes · 0 comments · 0 shares