Happy New Year my loves!!! I pray you all are doing well and are having an AMAZING start to 2023!! I pray that you all are healthy and safe as well. The holiday season had me in full relaxation mode, so it was a little hard to get back to writing! I am so thankful for the opportunity that God affords me to share my experiences with you all and I can’t wait to see what He does in this new year! Let’s get to it!

I was cleaning one day and a song I used to listen to all the time came to mind. The song is called “Faith Come Alive” by Tasha Page-Lockhart. I really needed that song in some of my darkest moments and I still listen when I am struggling. I made a mental note that it would be a good blog and kinda went about my day. Later in that week, I had a conversation with a friend, and I suggested praying about a particular situation. They said that they didn’t believe that they had the faith. They asked me if I ever experienced that. Listen!!! This is where ministry comes in. I think they were very surprised when I said that I do have areas where I am weak in faith. People don’t expect Christians to say that. I am a very honest about my struggles in different areas. I appreciate gospel singers and pastors that have a transparency about their issues instead of making others believe that this walk is easy and everything is rainbows and butterflies. That may be cool for recruiting new Christians, but how are you gonna explain when things go opposite of the theory that was sold to them? People are attracted to honesty and authenticity. Yes, God is a good father, however we all experience difficult moments and tests in our faith.

So, what is faith? We know that Hebrews 11:1 AMP says, “Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].” The part that says faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses is powerful. It is believing something to be true without a tangible expression of that thing. Faith is having confidence in something or someone. It means having belief, but faith also has to have action. James 2:17 AMP says, “So too, faith, if it does not have works [to back it up], is by itself dead [inoperative and ineffective].” It is not enough to just believe; we also have to do practical things. If you want a new job, you may need to put in an application. If you want to start a business, you have to do research, pinpoint your target market, and ask God for strategies to execute the plan.

I believe we all have more faith than we believe we have. Hebrews 11:6 AMP says, “But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.” It takes faith to believe in a God we cannot see. Because we believe in and seek Him, it causes Him great pleasure. Sometimes it is not that we have a lack of faith, but that we are seeking Him for the things we desire without seeking His heart about what He has for us. I explained to my friend that there are some areas that I have strong faith, I have no issues asking God about things concerning those areas. Then, there are others where I don’t even wanna bring it up! I was able to share my experiences and what I do to strengthen my faith.

Prayer and communication with God will strengthen your faith. Knowing what God says in His word about that particular situation strengthens your faith. When we keep praying for something we desire that we have yet to see, that strengthens our faith. There was something I read as I was preparing for this blog, and it stated that faith gives us staying power. I can agree. I can honestly say that because my faith in God is stronger than my unanswered prayers, I have the wisdom to keep returning to Him in all circumstances. I rest in the fact that I know that God is not a respecter of persons, that I know that He is not a man that should lie or repent, that I know that His intentions toward me are good.

So, can you identify the areas in your life where you lack faith? Let’s begin to give those areas back to God. Sometimes we pray for things and instead of leaving them to God, we want to pick it up and try to “help”. Let’s seek His heart for us concerning those areas. We can seek him for one thing, and He could have something sooooo much greater for us. My friend began to see things move as soon as they began to apply their faith and pray! We can get the same results when we surrender to His perfect will for our lives.

Father, we thank you for allowing our faith to come alive again. We thank you for the wisdom to continue to seek you even when what we see is contrary to what we believe. We are expectant of what you have for us and sure that you will exceed our expectations. Your goodness is unmatched, your mercy endures forever, and we are so thankful for your love that surrounds us daily. Help us to maintain a posture of faithfulness to you even when we get weary in our faith. We repent for not trusting in who you are and what you have said. Help us to seal your word in our hearts so that we are prepared when the enemy comes to make us doubt in the promises you have made to us. We believe but help our unbelief. We thank you, love you, and adore you. Amen!