Mark 11:22-24, Hebrews 11:6, Psalm 121:1, Exodus 17:15, John 14:6

Glyn Barrett reflects on the difference between 'faith in' God and 'faith for' things.

Glyn Barrett

'"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."' Mark 11:22-24

One of the questions I often get asked is "What do you have faith for?" It's a great question. Usually the person asking it has read Hebrews 11:6 "...without faith it's impossible to please God!" It's a question designed to stir you up for something more, to not settle down, to step out and believe!" Even though we should have faith for the next step in this adventure called life, it's far better to ask "who do you have faith in?".

The word faith used in Mark 11 speaks of a conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things. You can have faith for healing, marital restoration, a new car or job, the KPI's at work and you should have faith in those areas. But to simply have faith for, robs us of the true focus for faith. Faith is the currency of heaven, but to simply use it to gain a better standard of living is using it for the "lowest common denominator". Faith for should always come after faith in. When you make God the one whom you have faith in, you are drawn closer to Him in your heart.... and somehow the faith for comes easy because your focus is not 'for' it is 'in'.

Faith often seems mysterious, surreal, ethereal and complicated. But once you realise that faith is primarily not for something but in someone, it makes it more achievable!

Jesus is not saying, "Have faith in your powerful words, holy living and ability to command a deep voice when speaking to the mountain!" He simply says, "Have faith in God".

Most of us reading this devotion will have a mountain in the way of something we would like to achieve, or feel God calling us to do. If you have fallen into the trap of 'faith for' living, then that mountain can at times become your sole focus. And if you are not careful you can begin to obsess over that mountain until it blocks your view of God.

Faith to see the mountain moved starts by having 'faith in' God. He is the mountain mover, not you. He is the one who can remove any obstacle, not faith itself! Maybe today, a good way to refocus your attention, will be to take your eyes off the mountain and place them on God. Or as the Psalmist says, "I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from, my help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth". Psalm 121:1

It's almost too simple to have faith in God. When you are up against the mountain, there is often a strong desire within us to fix the situation. But when you choose to have faith in God, you are acknowledging his desire and ability to fight for you.

In Exodus 17:15, God is known as Jehovah Nissi, The Lord our Banner. Centuries ago, soldiers would march into battle behind a banner/flag. The banner would show the enemy in whose name and under whose authority they were fighting the battle. The name Jehovah Nissi is one step more than this though. This name for God is your acknowledgement that he will fight battles for you. So when Jesus says, "Have faith in God!" He is acknowledging the Jehovah Nissi who will do the mountain moving on your behalf.

To have faith in God means that you need to tender your resignation. Your resignation should read like this, "I resign as CEO of the universe!" This is tough because it means we recognise that some things are out of our control. But it is good to know that anything out of our control is never out of God's control!

I wonder in what area of your life you need to tender your resignation?

One of my favourite authors, Oswald Chambers said "Faith never knows where it is being led, but it knows & loves the one who is leading." When you have a deep love and confidence in God, the fear of the next step and final destination is dealt with. Often the idea of taking a "faith step" in an area of business or in relationships can seem like a big deal. And even more often still, the size of the faith step can cause us to simply not take the step. We settle for average. Mediocrity becomes our norm and life becomes ... boring.

When I read the Bible, I am reminded of how adventurous God wants our lives to be. Fighting bears, slaying giants, praying for rain, believing for increase, seeking healing, enduring fiery furnaces, surviving storms and snakebites sounds anything but boring. The key to living the life of adventure is not to seek that kind of life, but learn how to love God deeply. When you love God that way, the life of adventure flows from it.

You may not know what the next step is for your life. You may not even have confidence in your own ability to get through the next season. But the great news is that you simply need to have faith in God, because it is he who will lead you; it is he who will strengthen you and get you there.

Jesus would often say "I tell you the truth!" Jesus of course could not say anything else, because he is "the Way, the Truth & the Life" (John 14:6). In a day of lies, half-truths and uncertainties, it's always reassuring to know that there is a place that truth can be found.

One of the great lies of the devil is that only a certain type of people can speak to the mountain. That only the righteous, holy and great can see it removed. But the focus of Jesus' truth is on anyone! "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain..."

Are you anyone? If you have emotional highs and lows, if you have good days and bad days, if you struggle with sin & yet have a desire to live for God, then you qualify as anyone.

There is no need to conjure up some form of hyper-faith. Simply have faith in God! Have faith that the God who called you and saved you, is also the God who will get you through today's activity and tomorrow's adventure.