Faith Is Based On The Word, Not Optimism

Faith Is Based On The Word,

Not “Optimism!” 

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17).

The faith that works and produces result is the one that’s based on God’s Word. Someone may say, “I’m very hopeful and confident about the future; I’m optimistic that the miracle I’m expecting will come to pass!” As beautiful as that may sound it’s not faith. You must have the Word of God as the basis for your believing and confession, for faith is based on God’s Word; it’s the response of the human spirit to the Word of God.

Faith is expressed when you act on the Word. The Apostle Paul expounded in the Book of Romans how Abraham demonstrated strong faith on the basis of what God told him in Genesis 17:5 “…for a father of many nations have I made thee.”Hence the Bible says“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God”(Romans 4:20). Abraham had God’s Word as evidence and spoke in agreement with God; that was how his faith prevailed.

Another example is the story of the Syrophenician woman in Mark 7; a remarkable example of true faith. Her young daughter had an unclean spirit, so she came and fell at the feet of the Master and beseeched Him to cast the devil out of her daughter (Mark 7:25-26). But in verse twenty seven, Jesus said to her,“Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.” Her response was “Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs”(Mark 7:28).

Commending her faith, the Lord Jesus said“For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter. And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed” (Mark 7:29-30).  Observe that she acted on what Jesus said and went home; when she got home she found her daughter healed. She didn’t act on mere optimism or impulse of what she thought would happen, but on the Master’s infallible Word.

Mere optimism is not a substitute for faith, for it doesn’t have its foundation on God’s Word. It doesn’t matter how much you anticipate or are hopeful for the best possible outcome in an endeavour it still wouldn’t work if your hope doesn’t translate to faith. True faith transcends the realms of human theories, reasonings and impulses and optimism because faith is spiritual, and only comes to you through the Word. So, for your faith to work and produce results, it’s got to be based on God’s Word.

Prayer

Dear heavenly Father,

I rejoice today at your Word that’s building my faith strong and enriching me in all things! Your Word is my life, and the light that shows me how to walk in the paths of victory, prosperity and success, from day to day,

in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY

Luke 5:5; 2 Corinthians 4:13

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING

1 Year Bible reading plan: John 18:28-19:16; 1 Chronicles 14-16

2 Year Bible reading plan: Mark 15:1-14; Deuteronomy 2