Article By: Aqueelah Watson
"It seems we have become a generation of "hope" Christians, praying out of habit with no real expectation of results...."
Speaking things that are not, as though they were is only one piece of the very intricate puzzle that is faith, but when putting a puzzle together, do we stop after the perimeter has been completed? No! yet this is what we do with God in reference to our faith. As Christians we must understand that God is in the word, but the true demonstration of faith is in the action that follows, as stated in James 2:17 (NIV) "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is dead". The lack of action however, does not occur due to us not believing God, but more so our authority in him, though John 1:12 (ISV) tells us "However to all who did receive him, to them he gave 'authority' to become God's children" as well as Luke 10:19 which affirms "I have given you 'authority' to trample on snakes and Scorpions and to overcome ALL power of the enemy, nothing will harm you" Its important as Christians that we understand there are often acts of preparation that are needed before God's promises can come to fruition, and it is in that preparation we reveal to God our true level of faith. Planting a seed and refusing to water it is an act of superficial faith and void of the active belief needed for it to grow. It seems we have become a generation of "hope" Christians, praying out of habit with no real expectation of results, then getting up with the same weight we knelt down with confused as to why our progression remains stagnant and are circumstances remain bleak. Though the Lord tells us in Psalms 55:23 (ESV) "Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you, he will never permit the righteous to be moved" in this we must know that we have to do more than hope these things we must believe with all that is within us as it states in James 1:6 (KJB) "but let him ask in faith, NOTHING wavering, for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with wind and tossed" and then we must validate this belief with movement using the same fire and tenacity of Isaiah 55:11 (AMSB) which states "So will my word be which goes forth from my mouth; it shall NOT return to me empty, without accomplishing what I desire and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." God has placed all the pieces of the puzzle within us, we just have to have the willingness to put them together, being careful not to get so consumed with following the pattern on the box, that we miss out on discovering through our faithfulness and obedience the picture has been changed! When it comes to God and faith there is no in between as he tells us in Revelation 3:16 (NIV) "so because you are luke warm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit u out of my mouth." In these last days there is no time for half hearted prayers and faith without will for without this all that's left is hope. Speaking the door opened is the easy part... Having the faith to walk through it is where the challenge begins.
Article By: Aqueelah Watson
