1 Timothy 1:3-7 – “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia — remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.”  NKJV

Have you ever struggled with the matter or exercise of FAITH?  Of course, you have!  We know, without question, that God wants us to have and exercise FAITH.  He wants our exercise of faith to be simple and uncomplicated.  I contend that it is NEVER God who complicates the matter of FAITH.  “It’s Complicated” will not be an acceptable justification to Him.

FAITH is a commodity or subject more talked about in many Christian circles than virtually anything else.  There are probably as many theories about faith, it operation, and exercise as there are people.  Sadly, too often, what we hear and see is confusion and what I would call “Genuine Imitation Faith.”  The world, as we know it, is full of imitation and the best way to identify an imitation or counterfeit is to know the genuine.

My disclaimer – – I do not have all the answers and sometimes wonder if I have any, but a number of years ago the LORD began to deal with me regarding faith.  I was arrested in prayer and reading and heard in my inner being the Holy Spirit say, “Seek Genuine Unfeigned Faith.”  That led me to many hours of prayer, study, meditation and consideration of FAITH and my source and resource have been God’s Word and the Holy Spirit, my teacher, and guide.  Have I uncovered all the answers?  No, I continue to ‘see in part’ and ‘know in part’ but I am seeking and finding answers more and more all the time.  As I considered the matter of FAITH a number of questions were written down for study, examination and the hope of finding answers.

• What is faith?
• How does faith operate?
• Who has or can have faith?
• Can faith be produced by man?
• Can faith be developed and grow?
• Does faith ALWAYS get the desired results?
• Why do some seem to move more freely and easily in the realm of faith than others?

           That is not an exhaustive list but provided a basis for years of study and opened doors I had never seen before.  I found some of the answers wonderfully rewarding and some incredibly disturbing as they challenged my previous theological and doctrinal beliefs.  So, these questions and more have weighed heavily on my heart for years and one of the discoveries was:  “Truth must get into your spirit, not just your intellect.”  God is a Spirit and operates in the Spirit realm, speaking to our spirits, TRUTH!  Be assured that the devil will stop at nothing to hinder, destroy or delude our faith.  God, on the other hand, has made provision for our understanding, embracing, and exercising faith!

The devil wants to counterfeit and God desires the genuine!  I found an immediate conclusion concerning faith in Scripture.  Hebrews 11:6, “Without FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God.”  Therefore, it becomes obvious that the devil would do all he could to prevent us from receiving and walking FAITH.  He is a master deceiver and would like nothing more than to deceive us into accepting the IMITATION rather than pressing into the GENUINE.  That, in a nutshell, identifies the importance of faith in our lives.

Time will not permit me to fully elaborate on my discoveries so I will pause here and pick this up in the next devotional.  Until then, may God open new doors of understanding for you so that His Faith is shed abroad in your hearts and minds in a powerful way!  God bless you richly as you go through this day!