Remember the woman with the bleeding disorder who just wanted to reach out and touch the hem of Jesus' robe? She had spent everything she had over the course of many years, going to doctor after doctor, trying to find a cure. Imagine how weak and tired and pale she was. Yet, she was determined to get to the Messiah. She knew only He could heal her.
Jesus' response was, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole (Mark 5:34). It was faith that brought her the miracle only Jesus could perform. The woman's mindset was not that of "I'm gonna be healed because I say I will." She was convinced that only Jesus could heal her. It was genuine faith that brought her to the feet of the Master. She believed and then saw a miracle in her life.
Right after Pharaoh finally let God's people go, he had a change of heart and decided to go after them. Moses knew that believing is seeing. He was convinced that only God could rescue them. And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day (Exodus 14:13).
Put simply, the message the Lord gave the people through His servant Moses was, "Don't be afraid. Believe and you will see what your God will do for you." That same encouragement can be applied to any situation or circumstance you and I face in our lives.
Personally, I've never ascribed to "name it and claim it" or, as one pastor I know says, "blab it and grab it" theology. There are those who say we should declare our own destiny, speaking what we want into our lives. This post is about living by faith, not on presumption. Let's take a look at 1 John 5:14-15 for a moment...
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
The key here is to ask according to His will. Obviously, it is not God's will for us all to live in a mansion or drive a Ferrari. But, God has promised to meet all our needs (Philippians 4:19). Asking Him to provide food for our family or to help us meet the bills or to have enough left over each week to be a blessing to others - these things are all in accordance with His will. (Bear in mind that He usually requires some work on our part to get us there.)
James 1:6 is written in the context of asking God for wisdom, but the principle found there can be applied to asking God for anything we need. We are told:
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering...Check out that verse in the ESV:
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting...
God has made exceeding great and precious promises to us (1 Peter 1:4). Being convinced that He will do what He says He will do is the life of faith. It is believing and seeing. Remember Thomas? Thomas was an "I have to see it to believe it" kind of guy. He was not willing to believe Jesus had done what He said He would do until he saw the risen Savior for himself.
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed (John 20:29).
1 John 5:4 says, For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Hebrews 11:6 tells us believing is seeing. Take a look...
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Did you see that? Faith first, then reward. Believing then seeing.
Want victory in your life? Need God's provision in some area? Don't know which way to go? Don't be afraid. Ask God. Believe and you will see what your God will do for you.
Believing is seeing.
{Daily Selah} is a mini-devotional, a pause to ponder about the Lord and how He wants us to live.
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