Happy New Year 2022!!

Habakkuk 2:4, “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.”

Why is “Faith” so important?

By definition, faith is complete trust or confidence in someone or something. Spiritually speaking, this someone or something is God!

Faith is so important because it is all we have to navigate through this life. It is what allows us to endure the test and trials of this life. It is our faith that allows us to endure to the end. For the Bible says, “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:13).

Hebrews 11:16, “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.”

Our faith is important because by using it we please God. This is why a measure of faith is given to everyone (Romans 12:3). This initial measure is to be added to and increased by the individual. We are instructed to grow from “faith to faith” (Romans 1:17).

Our faith is so important that the bible mentions several time (old and New Testament) that the just – or the redeemed of the Lord, the believer, the follower of Christ – shall live by faith!

• Romans 1:17 – “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

• Galatians 3:11 – “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.”

• Hebrews 10:38 – “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him.”

Now that we understand why faith, let’s look at what faith can do, and how it touches Jesus!

Luke 8:43-48 tells the story of the woman with the issue of blood. It was the desperation of her situation that spurred on her faith. Sometimes, we go through times that are so tough, where you have exhausted everything you know to use, but yet the situation persists! It is in this place this woman found herself.

Generally, when you find yourself at this point, it is only your faith that is keeping you going. This level of desperation separates you from others. Why? Because they have not been pushed to their limit, they cannot understand the extremity of your next step!

It’s all about living by YOUR faith!

This woman heard that Jesus was coming close to her location. So she decided to go to him directly. There were many people there, so she said to herself… Stop there – this is her faith speaking “if I can just touch him, I know I can be made whole.”

She put her faith in action, and did what she believed! We all must do the same!

Here is the results of her faith: “and Jesus said, Who touched me?”

Yes, there was a throng of people around (a large crowd). Yes, many people were reaching out to touch him. However, the only touch that Jesus felt or acknowledged was the touch of faith.

It was her faith that caused the healing virtue to leave him, and enter and heal her!

2022, is the time to put your faith in action, and do what you believe. Let your faith touch Jesus, and receive whatsoever you are believing him for!

If our faith is weak, how can we strengthen and increase it?

We said earlier that we all were given a measure of faith. From that initial measure we will need to increase it as we walk further with the Lord. The Bible says that, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17.

We can consider faith like a muscle. We all have them, but to make the strong and to work as they should, we must exercise them. The same with faith. To make our faith strong we must exercise it. To increase our faith, we must study the Bible, and put it into practice in our daily walk.

2022, is going to be a year of faith. It will require our faith to be strong. We are going to have to use our faith as never before! We must be in a place to endure to the end so we can be saved!

Happy New Year! This is usually time where people make resolutions for change or improvement. This year, let’s resolve to live a life that pleases and touches Jesus. By its very nature, this type of living will also over flow to those around us.

It’s time to put your faith in action – faith that touches Jesus! Go after that thing or things which are burning in your spirit. Let your faith touch Jesus!

Have a blessed day.