In Need Of... Faith.

Ephesians 2:8 -- For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT OF GOD.

Studying this passage, it took me a while to figure out what part was the gift of God. Is it the grace? No... The grace is God's, He isn't giving it to us in this verse. Is it the salvation? That seems a little off for this verse, too! As much as these things are both gifts from God, I think it's the FAITH that this verse is promising to us. FAITH is a GIFT OF GOD!

I've been thinking for some time that faith is something i have to work at. Something that i have to worry about when it seems like it's running low...
But if it's a gift of God, why am i trying to create it on my own?

Faith is created by God's Spirit within us... Just the fact that we have faith is proof that we have accepted Christ and that the Holy Spirit is within us! (Hebrews 11:1 -- Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the EVIDENCE of things not seen.)

So once God gives us this gift, shouldn't we have enough?
This is like saying, "I have the "mustard seed" (Matthew 17:20), shouldn't the plant grow itself?"
Once God gives us the seed we must use it... CULTIVATE it! Water the seed and it will grow!
I recall a song I sang at camp... It's little kid philosophy and it's icky, but it works! It goes: "Black socks, they never get dirty; the longer you wear them the stronger they get..." As much as i hate to compare faith to dirty black socks, the point is there! *wink*

So I don't have to work to GET faith, i have to work to GROW faith. The faith seed is there, and it may not be as big as a mustard seed yet, and i may not have moved mountains, but i'm still learning to be the best faith farmer i can be!!!

Feelin' like face #3.