Faith’s Confidence – The Presidential Prayer Team

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. – Hebrews 11:1

Someone might say “I have faith things will turn out well.” Or “keep the faith!” But on further examination, you realize they have no basis for believing things will turn out well. They have faith in faith, which has no substance. Biblical faith is directed toward God, Jesus as Savior, and His written word.As recorded in Matthew 7:7, Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you,” and then you have faith to ask and receive. He also stated, “For God so love the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). So you can have confidence that death is not the end for you. You have conviction and assurance because of your faith in God and His Word, not a reliance upon faith itself.

Faith is something to be taken seriously. In some translations of today’s verse, the word “assurance” is translated as “substance.” When Jesus healed people, like with the woman with the issue of blood, He said, “Your faith has made you well.” She had reached out and touched Jesus and was healed (Matthew 9:20-22). Believers are to place their faith in God and act on that faith.

In today’s prayer time, meditate on the promises of God. Remember to pray for the nation, trusting the Lord will answer your prayers. Ask Him to show you how to act on that faith. It may be a simple act of giving to the needy or voting for an official with a Biblical worldview.

Today’s Verse: Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: James 2:14-26

¹⁴What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? ¹⁵If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, ¹⁶and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? ¹⁷So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

¹⁸But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ¹⁹You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! ²⁰Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? ²¹Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? ²²You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; ²³and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. ²⁴You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. ²⁵And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? ²⁶For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.