The Very Essence of FAITH

Don't forget! Today is "Turn-Around Tuesday"...Stop waiting and turn things around TODAY!

The word "faith" is described in the following way from dictionary.com - "1. confidence or trust in a person or thing, 2. belief that is not based on proof.

The Bible defines faith in the following way as described in Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Many times in the arena of "positive thinking" or "personal development" we hear things said along the lines of, "If you can BELIEVE it, you can ACHIEVE it!". I think that Napoleon Hill was actually the one that first penned that phrase and, as a result of misquoting he has been "bashed' for thinking that all you have to do is believe.

NOT SO FAST! If you actually READ what Napoleon Hill wrote on the subject in his book, "Think and Grow Rich" (you should still be able to get a free copy by going here: http://www.freetgrbook.com/SeeYourSuccess ) you will find that he stresses the fact that ACTION must accompany this belief or you'll get nowhere. That word, "ACTION", makes a big difference doesn't it?

The hard part of really believing something - and I mean REALLY believing in something - is putting that belief (or FAITH) into ACTION. You know, the "if you really BELIEVE it - then DO it!" type of thing.

For example, kids seem to have TOTAL faith or believe that their mom or dad are going to take care of them no matter what. It seems to be true especially in the area of catching them no matter where you are in connection to where THEY are at the time! On one occasion one of our sons was standing on some steps on the back of one of my brother's house. I can't remember how old he was...he was walking and jabbering and was definitely a hand-full to keep up with. I think he was on the top of three steps when I caught sight of him. I was too far away to get to him and I actually thought my brother was as well and I could tell by looking at my son that he was about to jump without any worry at all as to if either of us would be there to catch him. And, you know what? I was right. He jumped. And you know what else? I don't know HOW he was able to do it but my older brother DID actually get there in time to catch him.

No worries. No problem. SOMEONE will catch me. End of discussion.

Take another look at that second definition given from the dictionary: "belief that is not based on proof". You see, FAITH is not based on proof! That would be called FACT! FACT is based on proof. If you KNOW that there is no way in the world that you will get hurt in ANY way then there in no FAITH demonstrated by making that jump.

From the Bible definition above we see FAITH described as something that is HOPED FOR based on EVIDENCE, but evidence that is not seen at the moment.

Huh?

Do you think it is possible for you to acquire a million dollars in your lifetime? That's not really that big of a feat over the period of a lifetime but just the IDEA of a million dollars causes some to doubt that it could actually happen to them!

Here's the deal - you may not can actually SEE the proof in YOUR life that it will happen, but friend, there is EVIDENCE all around us that DOES show PROOF that it CAN happen!

Is it possible for YOU - yes YOU - to succeed at whatever this passion is that you are following in and with your life? Sometimes it likely doesn't seem like it is possible but I can almost guarantee that you have already seen the EVIDENCE in the lives of others that causes you to KNOW - to have FAITH or a strong BELIEF - that it is not only POSSIBLE but that it WILL HAPPEN in your life even if you don't have the proof of that success.

"Why not me?"

Faith is powerful. Belief is powerful. However, the Bible also makes a very strong and powerful point to go along with those thoughts. Here it is, from James 2:20 (Good News Translation) - "You fool! Do you want to be shown that faith without actions is useless?"

So, YES, believe in yourself and the possibilities but then GET UP OFF OF YOUR BUTT and put the ACTION behind that belief necessary to move you towards success!

And, as you do so, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike