Key scripture – “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:5-6).

How is your faith quotient? On a scale of 1 to 10 where would you rank yourself? Everyday, I marvel at the faith most of us exercise without even thinking about it.

We drive our cars 60-70 miles per hour with an oncoming car doing the same with only a white line and six to eight feet separating us. We place our faith that all those cars will not cross into our lane. We fly on airplanes that take us over oceans, trusting the pilots with our very lives. We ride on thrilling amusement rides that take us several stories into the air and travel fifty to seventy miles per hour down a winding slope. We trust the operators of that ride with our own mortality.

There is a great irony in the fact that we can place our faith in those things but cannot place our faith in the hands of our Creator.

We can see what God thinks about our lack of faith when we look at what happened to one of his priests named Zechariah when he questioned God’s angelic messenger about his wife becoming pregnant with John the Baptist.

“Zechariah asked the angel, ‘How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.’ The angel answered, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time'” (Luke 1:8-20).

Zechariah was struck mute for nine months until the birth of John the Baptist because of his unbelief.

Like Zechariah, what consequences have you suffered in your life from a lack of faith? What blessings have you missed in your life because of your lack of faith? Jesus is always looking for faith in Christians, because the only way to please God is faith.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6).

Is there an area in your life where you have not been able to trust God? Why would you even hesitate to give it to God? Why not repent of your unbelief and place that area of your life totally in His hands today.

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, I believe, but I need You to help me in the areas of my life where I still harbour unbelief. I want to obey Your commandments in every area of my life. I do not want to be in charge anymore; I give my relationships, my work, my family, my finances, my personal life, and my free time all to You. Forgive me for not having faith and trusting You enough to do this before today. I surrender it all to You. I am hear to serve You and glorify You. Father, “let me throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let me run with perseverance the race marked out for me, fixing my eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-3). In the Name of Jesus, the perfect pioneer and perfecter of our faith, I pray, Amen.

 Laura Ingle