Dear Partners and Friends,
Faith is a spiritual force that flows through the heart or the spirit of man. The Bible clearly tells us in Romans 10:10, “For with the heart man believeth…” The action of believing is not in the mental arena. It is not in the emotional arena. Faith functions in the heart. This is vitally important to our success in the working of faith because many well-meaning Christians think they are in the process of believing. In actuality, they are hoping, wishing, needing, or wanting. None of those actions employ faith. My partner, if we want to receive from Our Heavenly Father the things He has prepared for us, we must receive them through faith. Faith makes inheriting the promise sure, secure, and guaranteed to us. The Bible says it does!
Therefore, [inheriting] the promise is the outcome of faith and depends [entirely] on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of grace (unmerited favor), to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his descendants—not only to the devotees and adherents of the Law, but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, who is [thus] the father of us all. Romans 4:16 AMP
God’s grace (His willingness to use His power and ability on our behalf even though we don’t deserve it) provides the promise. He has provided His part. Faith is our part. Faith is our response that receives. Receiving or inheriting the promise is the outcome of faith and depends entirely on faith.
Let me encourage you in this. Faith is not hard. If it seems hard to you right now, it is only because it is a new or different action. It is not hard, just different. The more you practice walking by faith, living by faith, responding in faith, the easier it will become.
My husband grew up on a ranch in West Texas. He spent many hours practicing roping. While other teenagers in the world were shooting a basketball through a hoop, Philip was throwing a rope around a bale of hay. He spent years developing muscle memory and skill in his technique. Recently, we walked through the Kansas City Royals exhibit arena. My oldest daughter, Jessica, challenged her dad to show us his skill with a rope in an exhibit they had set up there. Jessica tried first and said, “That is a lot harder than it looks!” Philip, who had not held a rope in a number of years, skillfully placed the rope in his hands in a certain position, whirled it around his head, and roped the “steer” the first time.
Just like roping was hard for Jessica because she had never done it before, faith is only difficult if it is new to you. Keep swinging your faith! Keep aiming at the target of God’s promise. It becomes easier with practice! You will become highly developed in using your faith!
Look at Abraham! At one point, he told God “What are you going to give me since I am childless?”
God said, “I have made you the father of many nations.” I am so glad Abraham did not quit. He came to a place in faith where he focused on God’s promise and did not consider his body or the deadness of Sarah’s womb. Faith motivated Abraham to control his focus. Romans 4:19 says, “And being not weak in faith, he considered not…” This means that weak faith considers circumstances! Strong faith focuses on the promise!
There is supernatural power in the promise to manifest itself in your life. That power is activated by your faith. Faith comes by hearing the Word, and hearing the Word, and hearing the Word. Continual faith requires a continual hearing.
The key to Abraham’s strong faith that guarded his attention from considering the circumstance is found in Romans 4:18, “According to that which was spoken, so shall your seed be.” Abraham kept repeating the promise God had spoken. The repetition of the promise released the power in the promise. Abraham didn’t stagger at the promise. The man who once told God, “I am childless,” became fully persuaded! You can become fully persuaded in the promise too!
“Build Your Faith” Jonesboro, Arkansas
Saturday, August 16th
10:30 am and 6:00 pm
Where: Hilton Garden Inn
2840 S Caraway, Jonesboro AR 72401
“Build Your Faith” Little Rock, Arkansas
Saturday, September 13th (Please note this date has changed since our last newsletter)
10:30 am and 6:00 pm
Where: Embassy Suites Little Rock
11301 Financial Centre Pkwy,
Little Rock, AR 72211
Michelle will be focusing on the essential elements of faith to help you sharpen your skills in applying God’s Word to your every day situations. Registration is free but seating is limited so make sure your place in this conference is reserved.
Register online: www.MichelleSteeleMinistries.com
or call our office: 913-583-1670
