Pleasing God Starts with a Focus on Faith

It is impossible to please God without investment in faith. Sometimes it can seem like it’s impossible to make it through the day without the faith to get you through. Fortunately, the Word overflows with tips for growing faith and embracing the power of faith.

Scripture Focus on Faith

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Ephesians 6:16 (KJV)

Faith is firm. It blocks all the negatives the world will shoot at you. It is a conviction, an assurance of the truthfulness of the Word, and a reliance on the promises from God. Faith is balanced on the constancy of the Truth.

There are few Christians who could be convinced that they are not going to Heaven. Most have heard the preaching about the path there, and have it locked firmly in their hearts. No amount of words, written, spoken, or otherwise formed can take that belief away.

True faith, about or of anything, has this kind of solid foundation. It’s not something you can sit back and expect to get one day (or even three times) out of the week. It requires the continuous feeding of scripture that backs up and supports the Faith you are building to stand on.

Although Faith is given when we become Christians, it must be nurtured. Find the promises of God – beyond just the basics of salvation – and put it in your eyes, your ears, and your heart. Eventually, it will be so firmly established that nothing in this world will be able to shake it.

Steps for Pleasing God

It is impossible to please God without faith.

That’s a scary statement. To know that nothing I do, think, or say is of value if I don’t start with faith.

It makes sense – faith is knowing something is true without having proof. Faith is resting on God even though the evidence is not there – yet. Faith is believing before there is something to believe in.

It doesn’t make it any easier.

There are things in my life that I have felt led to do but have avoided like the plague. Pare of the reason was my own selfishness – I didn’t want to give up doing what I WANTED to do even though I knew the things I was supposed to do would make my day much better. Part of my hesitation comes from my own fear – of what has happened in the past even if the end turned out to be a blessing.

There is no excuse for me not stepping out in faith. God has proven Himself in my lifetime and time and time again. I know He is faithful. I just have to close my eyes and choose to believe what I don’t see.

Thought for the day: With God, there is nothing that is impossible.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man, this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” – Mark 10:27

Dig Deeper

Suggested Reading: Hebrews 11

Lord, help me remember that there is nothing in my life that You will direct me to do that YOU won’t complete. Grow my faith to step out boldly in obedience to Your will.