Title: Keeping It Real/ Topic: Faith

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 6; 2 Chronicles 7; Psalm 135; Romans 4

Scripture: Romans 4:17-21
17 As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.
18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

Observation: What a great example of real faith Abraham is to us. He believed God while still acknowledging the fact that God's promise to him was absolutely impossible from a human standpoint. He “faced the facts” of his situation, yet was fully persuaded that God had the power to override the facts and perform his promise through a miracle.

Application: I have heard many teachings from great Christian teachers of faith who say that we must ignore what reality looks like and just keep proclaiming what we want by faith until we receive it. But Abraham, the “father of faith” didn't do this. Oh, he certainly did cling to the promises of God and believe for miracles, but he did not deny the reality he lived with. We don't have to either. Acknowledging what is true in our situation is not demonstrating a lack of faith. No, we keep it real by facing our realities but then also believing that God isn't bound by our reality. He has all power to work beyond our reality to bring about the miraculous. So, I can face my reality and yet still pray and believe God will do a miracle that is utterly impossible without his power. I do not need to deny the facts in order to see God fulfill his promises to me.

Prayer: Father, sometimes seeing what my reality is can make it difficult to believe that it will ever change, yet I know you are not limited in any way by what is --- you are a God who calls things that are not as though they already were. May I do the same! In your Name, may I see your promises as already existing without having to deny what is. I want to have the faith of my father Abraham.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.