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What is Faith?

This is an area that many Christians misunderstand.  I used to believe that faith was simply making the decision to step out of my comfort zone by taking a giant leap or step into the unknown.  In other words, I thought that I had to somehow believe that God would somehow bring a better outcome to my situation. However, when I began to study what the Bible said about faith I found nothing to support this thinking.  In fact, I have not found one scripture that relates to or even implies taking a step, stepping out or taking a blind leap of faith.  Many truly believe they are stepping out in faith, when in fact they are only stepping out in their own human strength. This is because real faith isn’t a hope in the unknown but is a deep knowing in your spirit based on God's Word.

Faith bridges the gaps!

When we face certain situations in life it may feel like we are standing on the edge of a cliff with a great chasm between us and the other side (our destination).  That does not mean that we have to muster up some faith to blindly take a giant leap to get to the other side.  We simply need revelation of God’s Word.  Why?  Because God’s Word bridges the gap! The Word becomes a bridge; a firm foundation that we walk on to cross over to the other side.  We walk by faith according to what the Word says by taking one step at a time and by keeping our trust and focus on God. Isn’t that simple?  Therefore, faith is not like stepping out off a cliff and trying to believe that God will catch us. Faith is a tangible substance and when it is based on God’s Word, it grounds us.
In order to seek God for the Word to bridge the gaps in our life we need to know that we can trust Him.  If we don’t know God's nature and character, we will not be able to trust His Word.  God wants us to be safe and secure for He is our stronghold, refuge, fortress and He will not let us fall.  He will also never leave or forsake us. God does not want to withhold from us.  He wants us to discover the bridges to join the gaps in our life.  We therefore need to be vigilant in the renewal of our minds, resist fear, doubts and be able to trust that God has our answer in His Word. Fear and doubt will not enable you to see the foundation and bridge in God’s Word.  Fear positions us in our situation back on the edge of the cliff. Faith however, positions us on the other side! Romans 1:17 tells us that God wants us to progress and go from faith to faith.  We therefore need to be careful that we do not go from faith to fear, from faith to discouragement, from faith to anxiety but continue to walk and live from faith to faith.

Name it and claim it?

This doctrine has been formed from a faith principle that has been misunderstood.  Many ‘name it and claim it’ without having God’s Word revealed to them on the matter.  We cannot just name and claim something without any spiritual understanding. We must have faith and believe what we want to receive.  This comes by having our faith grounded in God's Word, not stepping out and hoping for the best. 
For this reason, if you want to believe for something specific like conceiving at a certain time, then you need to have a personal revelation. It cannot be a blind action, step, hope or feeling. Otherwise, you will be stepping out in your own strength.

Faith is a firm foundation

Heb. 11:1(KJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Substance means: that which has actual existence, confidence, firm trust, and assurance

Evidence means: proof, conviction, title deed, receipt

Faith based on God’s Word as our foundation will keep us firm and steady.  Therefore, when the Word says that we are not barren, that we will not miscarry, that we are fruitful and that we are healed, then it is our evidence and proof that we have those things.  Real faith therefore is not blind but has substance!  Hope, presumption or assumption is not faith because they have no substance.  Hope ‘hopes’, presumption ‘presumes’, and assumption ‘assumes’.  However, faith inherits what you believe. Human hope says ‘I will or I might receive’ whereas faith says ‘I have received!’  Faith believes that what we have asked for has already been received.  Remember, faith is not mere mental assent (agreement in the mind) or just saying the right thing. Faith is a spiritual force that one possesses. In other words, when you have faith you know that what you believe is already yours.  You don’t try to believe or try to have faith because you either have it (believe it) or you don’t.
God calls you and I to live and walk by faith, not to force ourselves to step out and try to believe for something without personal or spiritual understanding.  God's Word says that we shall live by faith (Gal 3:11, and walk by faith 2 Cor 5:7).

When the Bible says to live and walk by faith, it is describing a principle we know and understand in the natural, one which we can then apply to the spiritual realm. How do you walk? You place one foot in front of the other, and move ahead one step at a time.  Similarly, you learn to live and walk by faith by acting on what you believe and taking one step at a time.
To conclude this message on faith remember that faith enables you to believe for the outcome you desire.  It is what you have until your answer arrives.  When your faith has come and grown from the Word of God and from your relationship with Him it will be strong and steady.  This will enable you to continue to walk by the Word and not by your feelings, emotions or what your circumstances dictate to you.  It will draw your answer to you and it will be just a matter of time and you will walk in and possess what is yours!