2 Corinthians 5:6-7

So then, being always filled with good courage and confident hope, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord- for we walk by faith, not by sight (living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises).

What we see in the natural isn’t always the truth in the spiritual realm. God’s promises exist for us to lay hold of through faith. We are to walk by that faith in Jesus and the Bible to overcome and bring into existence what God has waiting for us in the spiritual realm. 

Colossians 3:17

Whatever you do (no matter what it is) in Word or deed, do everything in the name of Lord Jesus (and in dependence on Him), giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

If we want to break through the worldly barriers and succeed in our lives here on earth, we must become entirely dependent on Jesus. When we draw closer to Jesus through the Word, prayer, fellowship, and praise, we will have a stronger connection and be able to hear His voice. Our success in this life centers around Jesus and the Bible, leading us forward.

James 2:22

You see that (his) faith was working together with his works, and as a result of the works, his faith was completed (reaching its maturity when he expressed his faith through obedience).

Abraham practiced his faith in God when he offered Isaac as a sacrifice, believing in God. When we believe something is true, we will act accordingly. We have confidence that what we prayed for will manifest and keep moving forward. We don’t give up until it manifests, knowing that whatever we believe for is coming. Do not let time defeat faith. 

John 14:1

Do not let your hearts be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe (confidently) in God and trust in Him, (have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and) believe also in me.

When we continually and deeply ingrain our belief in the Word of God, it will be harder for us to be moved. We must practice our faith to see results and not be afraid in times of trouble. When we settle in our hearts that our response to every situation will be according to the Word of God, we will be stable and steadfast. 

John 20:29

Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, do you now believe? Blessed (happy, spiritually secure and favored by God) are they who did not see (Me) and yet believed (in Me).”

Faith and belief use the imagination to create a vision of God’s promises in our minds. We must see ourselves healed, prosperous, safe, happy, and successful before it comes to pass. Doubt considers everything in the negative and lacks a vision for the promise. We cannot see Jesus, yet we believe and are saved through faith. We are blessed when we believe, even though we have not seen Jesus (yet) or the promise come to pass!

Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to (walk with God and) please Him, for whoever comes (near) to God must (necessarily) believe that God exists and that He rewards those who (earnestly and diligently) seek Him.

We can have faith and still not believe that we will receive from God. If we don’t take the whole Word of God and believe what He says we can have, we will not live in the fullness of His promises. When we diligently seek God and the promise of God, we will not let distractions or doubt interfere with our receiving from God.

Romans 10:14

But how will people call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And who will they hear without a preacher (messenger)?

If we don’t believe that God answers prayer, we will not call on Him when we have doubts and disappointments and no faith to believe, because we have not heard enough of the Word. We will not trust what Jesus said to be true; we will not call on the name of the Lord. Our strength and belief in Jesus come from hearing and believing what we hear as true, reliable, and given to us by God. 

Mark 9:24

Immediately the father of the boy cried out (with a desperate cry), saying “I do believe; help (me overcome) my unbelief.”

We can have faith and still be in unbelief, especially if the circumstance is larger in our eyes than Jesus, our savior. Jesus needs us to transfer our focus back to Him and prioritize thoughts of the Word over thoughts of the circumstance. The mind will play like a ball bouncing back and forth if we doubt, and we will be double-minded. Belief comes from not having doubts that God can perform all that He has promised us in the Bible. 

John 14:12-14

I assure you and most solemnly say to you, anyone who believes in Me (as Savior) will also do the things I do; and he will do even greater things than these. And I will do whatever you ask in My name (as My representative), this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified and celebrated in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name (as My representative) I will do it. 

Jesus gave us the authority to act as His representative here on earth. When we believe that this authority has been given to us, we will speak in accordance with His example and Word. That means we are to speak against lack, sickness, depression, and whatever is plaguing our lives and command it to leave in Jesus’ name. 

Psalm 103:1-4

Bless and affectionately praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless and affectionately praise the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget any of His benefits; who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy.

We express our love to God in our affectionate praise. God has given us everything we need to overcome the world order and live in His blessings. We would still be sick in our sins, heading for destruction, without the salvation through Jesus Christ. As the redeemed, we understand and praise God for radically changing our lives for the better.