Faith Is

Date: February 9, 2023

I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional.

B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Word and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study and savor
S - Summarize and Share

You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?

Bible Scripture Verse – Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Listen for God’s Voice

Heavenly Father, Grant me the courage to live my life with boldness and confidence, knowing that my faith in you is the foundation for all that I do. Give me the grace to trust in your promises and to walk in obedience to your will, even when I cannot see the path before me.

Thank you for your love and guidance, and for the gift of faith that you have given to me. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Explore History – Who wrote it, when and to what audience? Key people in the story?

Hebrews 11 was most likely written by the apostle Paul between the years 65-80 AD, towards the end of the first century. The purpose of the book was to encourage and strengthen the faith of Jewish Christians who were facing persecution and temptation to abandon their faith.

Our scripture today is emphasizing the importance of faith in the lives of the readers. He was encouraging the readers to hold onto their faith even when they cannot see the results of their beliefs. He was reminding them that faith is not just a vague feeling, but it is the confident expectation and conviction of things that they cannot see with their physical eyes.

Study and Savor – Key Words

"Faith" - This refers to trust or belief in something or someone, despite not having concrete evidence or proof. In this verse, faith is directed towards God and the things that are promised by Him.

"Assurance" - This means confidence or certainty. Faith is described as the assurance of things hoped for, indicating that a person of faith has a firm belief in the things they hope for, despite not having seen them.

"Things hoped for" - This refers to the promises and blessings that God has promised to those who have faith in Him including salvation, eternal life, and other spiritual blessings.

"Conviction" - This means a strong belief about something. In this verse, faith is described as the conviction of things not seen, indicating that a person of faith has a deep, unwavering belief in things that are not visible to the physical eye.

Summarize and Share

This verse reminds us that faith is not just a feeling or emotion, but it is a firm belief in something that we cannot see with our physical eyes. This is important for us today because it challenges us to trust in the unseen, to believe in things that may not make sense to us in the moment.

We need to have faith in God's plan for our lives, even when things seem uncertain or difficult. When we face challenges, it's easy to doubt and question, but if we have faith that God is in control, we can trust that everything will work out for our good.

So, let's put this into action! Choose to have faith in God, even when things are hard. Trust in his plan for your life and know that everything is happening for a reason. Pray for guidance and strength, and lean on your faith when you need it the most. Remember, faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.