February 7, 2010

Dear Friend,

Faith, one of the attributes of God, is what I am always working for and often feel I fall short of achieving. Some days I feel that I have faith. and some days I feel I am really lacking in Godly faith. I often wonder how many of you also experience that same feeling. Then I realize that faith is not a feeling; it is an assurance that God is there, He is faithful, He is always there and He is listening. Some of us may feel our prayers never get past the ceilings of our rooms. He is answering; although, we may not realize it. “No” is an answer. “Wait” is an answer. But “Yes” is the answer we want. We may assume that if we don’t get that “yes” answer that any answer but yes is a rejection of our prayer. It takes faith to realize that God is there no matter how He answers our prayers. Silence may mean that what we are praying for is not in accordance with His will. How fervently we pray for desires may not be from deep within our hearts. It may be outside influences, it may be we are praying for something that would not be good for us, and it just may be that God is testing our patience. When we ask for patience, He may sometime put us through a test of patience in order to develop that patience. “ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” James 1:3.

As I said above, faith is not a feeling it is a deeply rooted belief that God exists, has called us as a special people, will never forsake us and will always do what is best for us Spiritually. Satan and our human nature will always be working against that belief. We will fail on occasion and must realize that is a part of being physical in nature and that a battle is going on in our minds. As we journey to the kingdom, our faith sometimes wanes, and we need more of that Holy Spirit to sustain us until the end of our journey. God tells us what we should do when that occurs. “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" Luke 11:13. Please look at these scriptures––not just glance over them. They are vital to developing that God-like character that is necessary to move forward. Get out your Bibles; read them for yourselves. Study them and take them to heart. Ask for the faith that is a freely given gift of God which is given upon a simple, heartfelt request.

You must also remember that keeping the Commandments is showing God the love He desires for creating us in His image and calling us as His children. He tells us in Acts 5:32 that He gives His Spirit to those who obey Him, or in other words, to those who return to Him the love He has given us through His Spirit. Faith to develop patience and all the other attributes of God’s Spirit come by being faithful to God and believing what He says in the definition of true faith of the children of Father Abraham. “He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness."  Rom 4:20-22. Never forget it is not your righteousness or faith––it is the Holy Spirit in you which God gives us. That is why Jesus Christ died for us all. Are you fully assured?

In the service of Christ,
Ronald W. Laughland

Pastor