GOD TAKES DELIGHT IN YOUR FAITH

FRIDAY 19 AUGUST 2022

God takes great delight in the born again Christian who continues to live by faithful trust in Him. Let's find out more in the referenced Scripture below.

Reference: Hebrews 10:38-39 New International Version (NIV) "But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back. But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved."

As Christians, we must develop a fixed awareness that we are called to live or walk by faith, not by sensory perception. In fact, this is what our salvation and new life in Christ is all about. Since we have come to receive Christ by faith, our walk with God must be sustained by the eyes of faith, which implies that the sight for our Christian journey is spiritual and very much characterized by proper insight into supernatural realities and their understanding.

God says, "I am pleased with the man who will not give in to temporary trial or contrary circumstances or become distracted by the challenges and cares of this world, but rather will maintain his faith, come what may." Why? This is because without faith, its impossible to please God, according to Hebrews 11:6. The (NLT) reads: "And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him." Once you understand that your faith pleases or gets God's undivided attention, it becomes important to you to nurture and build it, however blessed or challenging your faith journey encounters may be.

The latter verse says, "But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved", meaning that it shall turn out well in your favour - in the end, if you hold on to that faith. Also it's important to notice that the Scripture is talking about two different set of people: Those who shrink back and are disappointed or destroyed and those who maintain their faith till the end and are saved. There is no middle ground. The former are those who, no matter their most hardy trial, are able to vigorously contend with it by yielding to the counsel of God in His Word and functioning by faith - accordingly. In times of evil or in turbulent period - even when they are taken unawares, they remain strong in faith. The great patriarch, Abraham, had a rewarding testimony because of his faith in God's promise. The Bible says, "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform" (Romans 4:20-21 KJV). In other words, he refused to be moved by his contradicting circumstance, but remained true to God's word concerning his life through unwavering faith.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 tells us why we must never shrink back or lose heart: "Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." Someone might ask, "How can I fix my gaze on things that cannot be seen, since they can't really be seen?" Now you must understand that every promise or word from God which is yet to manifest in your life is considered as "unseen reality". Therefore, the right combination of mind-generated imagery and spiritual perception that reflect the picture you behold concerning God's word or promise is of paramount importance. Obviously, that is the way to look at things unseen.

Beloved, if you look closely enough into God's promise or specific word concerning you and blend with the accurate interpretation or representation, you will start seeing in it in pictures in your imaginary realm and if you have built your faith with the Word to a stabilized degree, the description of your expectations will continually be mirrored and manifested on the tablet of your heart. Now all you have to do is to fix your eyes on that description, keep granting verbal expression to it, and refuse to be moved by any seen and contrary news in the natural realm. Got it? That way, you'll never shrink back until your expectations are rewarded by God to become your reality. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Habakkuk 2:4; Hebrews 3:12; Romans 1:17; Hebrews 4:2,6; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 11:1.

Exuberant Declaration: I have an infinite reverence for faith and inspiration that come by hearing the Word and putting it to work in my life. Hence, I walk by faith, not by sensory perception, and I always experience the transforming power of loving contemplation of the Word, which has become mighty in my life, in pulling down every stronghold of contrary circumstance and lying vanities beyond all acumen of human reasoning. Through the supreme power and governing rule of the Holy Spirit over my desired expectations, my life is beautified with the experience of divine rewards because of my strong faith in God's Word. Blessed be God!