And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak - 2 Corinthians 4:13 (NKJV)

Some few weeks ago, I happened to be apart of an online church service that a cousin of mine invited me to. I joined the meeting a little late, but upon my joining, the Pastor emphasized on the importance of our faith and how it's connected to what we say. 

It's one thing to think of something. It's another to believe it and to speak it. A lot of times, what the bible promises seems a little far-fetched for us believers. Each time I study my bible, I believe what the word of God says about me and what the word says about my situation. 

The scripture above tells us to believe then speak. Speak life to that thing that you believe in. How does Faith come to life? What stirs up the faith of God within our spirit? 

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. - Romans 10:17 (NKJV)

Each time you become a little doubtful and even anxious about something, ask yourself what you have been listening to. What you pay attention to has the greatest influence upon your life. Most of us will easily listen to our friends more than we would the spirit of God. I am not against having friends. It's very important to have friends. Friends that can help us build our faith in God. We all need somebody that we can talk to or vent out to. The best people are those who have a very strong spiritual foundation. 

Then he added, "Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given[]—and you will receive even more. - Mark 4:24 (NLT)

The bible encourages us to pay close attention to what we hear. What we listen to affects us. We might not think that it does, but it really has an effect to a certain degree. When you sow in righteousness, you reap righteousness. The bible says, God is not mocked. What you reap, is what you sow. What are you sowing today? Are you sowing seeds of faith? Or  sowing seeds of fear? The opposite of faith, is fear. 

When you are afraid, you cannot do anything. When you are afraid, you cannot move. Sometimes God speaks to us to do things that are not exactly easy to accomplish, and yet, He expects us to have faith in what He requires of us. God has more faith in us than we do in ourselves. 

Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. - Romans 4:20 (NLT)

One day God tells Abraham to leave His country to a place God hadn't yet revealed to Him. Can you imagine the conversation Abraham must have had with his wife, just to convince her to leave? To start with, he didn't know where he was going. The man heard a word, and he acted upon it. 

Another remarkable thing Abraham did, was when he didn't withhold his only son from God. Let's take a look at the scriptures in Genesis. 

Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you." - Genesis 22:2 (NLT)

God asks Abraham to do one thing. He asks him to sacrifice his only son. He then asks Abraham to go to a mountain that would later be shown to him. That's faith again. Abraham said nothing, He never complained. He never murmured. He submitted. 

Stay here with the donkey," Abraham told the servants. "The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back." - Genesis 22:5 (NLT)

The more that we obey God in faith, the  more we have faith in His ability to save us. Abraham waited for so long to have this child Isaac. He waited many years in faith. The circumstances under which the child was born in were truly miraculous. Stirred up with much faith.  Sarah was barren. And the two brought forth a child! 

You notice that Abraham leaves his servants behind and continues ahead. He then says, "we will come back to you." How could Abraham have known that he'd come back with his child? I honestly think he had faith. Obviously, he was just obeying God. Did you know that obeying God is an act of faith? Faith is obedience. And obedience, is faith in God. 

Don't stop praying because you have not yet received the things that you asked for. God hears your prayers and He wants us to have faith in Him. In times when life knocks us down, we'd need to cling on to the faith that God deposits within our spirit.  

Father, help us to obey you in faith. We thank you. We love you. Teach us to have faith in you. Even faith just as little as a mustard seed. This we ask, in Jesus' mighty name. We pray. Amen.