A leap of faith!

                                                Faith is being completely confident of what we hope for. Faith is believing that you receive, even before you do. Faith is believing that there is nothing too hard for the Lord. Faith is believing that God exists and rewards anyone who earnestly seek Him( Heb 11:6). Without faith it is impossible to please God(Heb 11:6). God wants us to have a child like faith. He wants us to put our absolute trust in Him. He wants us to take a giant leap of faith. There are several incidents from the bible where many have enjoyed the fruit of their faith. 

                                               She had been subjected to bleeding for 12 years. She spent all the money she had on pills and hospitals. She consulted numerous doctors. She was considered unclean. She once stood tall but now, frail. Her strength diminished day by day. Her lamp was about to be snuffed out. Her hopes of leading nothing more than just an ordinary life seemed to fade. Doctors could only feel sorry for her. They tried their best but she got worse every day. She had heard of Jesus. He restored sight. He made the deaf hear, the mute speak and even demons fled at His words!! "Surely, He could save me", she thought, "But, how will I step out? What if someone sees me? People look at me with disgust! I'm untouchable!" She was pushed to the edge of her life. She was standing between two mountains. A mountain of pain and a mountain of pure joy. There was a valley too deep in between. A valley of doubt, fear, shame and disappointment. Yet, this woman took a giant leap of faith. She was relentless. "If only I touch the hem of His garment, I will be healed", she said to herself. She gathered the little strength she had. She was afraid that someone might see her. She stepped out of her house. There was a huge crowd gathered around Jesus. How could she escape someone's eye? She got to her knees and she crawled. Like a crippled. She struggled yet persistent until she caught a glimpse of Jesus. She couldn't see His face. But, she could reach his cloak. This was the only hope she had. She knew that this was it. She knew that tomorrow will be a better day. She believed with all her heart, that she would be set free. She put all her trust in Jesus. She touched the edge of His cloak. The hem of His garment. At once, she realized she had never been so strong before. Tears of joy ran down her cheeks. She knew right away that her bleeding stopped. She was healed. She was restored. She had taken a leap of faith and landed on a mountain of joy. 

                                            Mark 9:23 says, ".. Everything is possible for one who believes" The world may say believe in yourself and you can do it. Faith in God does not mean that you believe in Him, 90% and believe in your own strength, 10%. No!! Phillipians 4:13, says" I can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens me". I'd like to interpret it this way. " I can do nothing without Christ who strengthens me!" Therefore put all your trust and hope in Jesus. That only He can help you overcome your battles. 

                                           Finally, John 20:29 says," Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." All those promises you received from God, your situations may tell you it's impossible. But God says, "Everything is possible for the one who believes!" Take a giant leap of faith today.

For Good.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28(NIV)

When you love God with all your heart, all your mind, all your strength, then right from the smallest thing as silly as not waking up because your alarm did not go off, to the most painful and bitter experience in your life, has all happened together for your own good! There is a higher calling! A greater purpose! Remember, Jesus went through excruciating pain for you and me. It was you and I who deserved to be on that cross. He loves us and considers us too precious to be bought by silver or gold. That is the reason He bought us by shedding His own blood down to the last drop. That is how much He loves us.
                                         Often we ask,''Why has God let this happen to me?'' We may not have wronged anyone intentionally. We may have a good heart and be at peace with everyone around us. Yet, we get wounded. We get hurt. Life hits us hard. Let me remind you something. As long as Jesus was on earth, He went about doing good. Made the blind, see. Deaf, hear. Dumb, speak. Lame,walk. Dead, live. He restored healing. He set the captives free. He preached and lived a life of love. Yet, men spat on His face. He was humiliated. He was given a crown of thorns. He went through a death that even the greatest sinner was spared of. You and I would've been on that cross. Instead,it was Jesus. The sinless lamb of God!
                                         Through all of this He was not angry with God. He never complained. But thanks be to God, that because of the death of Jesus and the power of His resurrection you and I eluded our spot on the cross. Through Jesus, we have become more than conquerors, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession. Whatever that has happened to you so far in your life, is going to work out for your own good at the end. You may not see it now. But there is a God above who is putting all the fine pieces of the puzzle together. You are being sculpted into a beautiful masterpiece! Your life is scripted by the Author of our Salvation!