Faith and God's Calming Presence

1. 60

   DeaneMcposted 15 years ago

   Faith is not born at the negotiating table where we barter our gifts in exchange for God's goodness. Faith is not an award given to the most learned and knowledgeable. It is not a prize given to the most disciplined. It's not a title given to the most religious.
   Faith is a desperate dive out a sinking boat of human effort and a prayer that God will pull us out of the water. Faith is the evidence of things hoped for but not yet seen.
   For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God-not by our works, so that any man can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
   The supreme force in salvation is God's grace. Not our works. Not our talents. Not our feelings. Not how much money we have. Not our strength.
   Salvation is God's sudden, calming presence during the stormy trials and test of our lives.
   Salvation is believing God sent His only Son to earth in the flesh, believing that Jesus lived, died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins, and believing that three days later Jesus rose from the dead. This we believe by faith.
   The peace of God is one thing-experiencing Jesus' presence in our lives has a calming effect. However, we cannot have the peace of God until, through Jesus, until and unless we have experienced peace with God. Faith comes first.
   Faith is the opposite of fear. Fear of loneliness. Fear of a wasted life. Fear of death. Fear of failure. And this could go on and on...
   Faith is when you see God on the mountain and you are in the valley and you know you are to weak to make that climb.
   
                                                      Friends With God
   Through Christ's sacrifice, our past is pardoned and our future secure. And since we have been made right with God by our faith, we have peace with God. ( Romans 5:1)
   God is no longer a foe but our friend.

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2. 60

   DeaneMcposted 15 years ago

   
   
   Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
   
   Hebrews 11:6 Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

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