Faith

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” - Hebrews 11:1 NIV

How do we have more faith?
How do we live the faith?
How do we go deeper in our faith walk?
How do we strengthen and grow our faith roots?

Author and pastor John Ortberg responds this way,”Never try to have more faith - just get to know God better. And because God is faithful, the better you know Him, the more you’ll trust Him.”

The best way to get to know God better, is to get to know Jesus, His one and only Son. The same Jesus who was born in the manger. The same Jesus who died on the cross for our sins. The same Jesus who resurrected and defeated the grave so that we might have life.

It starts with prayer.Even Jesus had to get by Himself. Get quiet. And pray. Prayer will help renew your heart, your mind, your faith. (see Matthew 14:23).

Get to know the voice of Jesus.Peter did (see Matthew 14:28-30). Our Bible heroes did. And how did they do that? By listening to Him, hanging out with him, spending time with Him (read His word, pray, dwell on Him and His word).

Keep your eyes on Jesus - Peter sank when he looked away. What is it that is keeping you from focusing? Your circumstances (the wind and the rain)? Your past? Your friends (the ones still in the boat)?

Reach out to Jesus - like Peter when he sank (Matthew 14:30-31). Like the lady who had been bleeding for 12 years (Matthew 9:19-22). Reach out to Jesus. Ask for His help. His guidance. His healing. His hope.

Worship Him - “You really are the Son of God.”

Step out of the boat - Trust in Jesus. Completely trust in God. Rely on Him. Go the distance.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths - Proverbs 3:5-6

Keep the Faith... Carpe Diem

Matthew 14:22-33

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”