What is Faith

Hebrews 11:1 Amplified

Now faith is the assurance the confirmation (the title deed) of the things (we) hope for, being the proof of the things (we) do not see and the conviction of their reality (faith perceiving as a real fact what is not revealed to the senses).

I like what Hebrews 11:1 in the Amplified says faith is: it is the assurance of things we hope for. Faith goes much deeper than mental assent; its' a conviction deep within you of the truth of God's promises.

Mark 5:28-34. Faith is a force that has power to produce. Mark 5:34 Jesus told the woman with the issue of blood that it was her faith that made her whole. Her faith produced her desire to be made whole. Her faith had power to bring about results! She heard the good news of Jesus which faith comes by hearing. Verse 28 says she kept saying. Her faith produced what she hoped for; she believed it, she spoke it and she acted on it.

Ephesians 6:16 Amplified

Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].

Faith is a shield. To me when I think of a shield I think of an invisible barrier all around me. As the fiery darts of the enemy flies at me I see them bouncing off this invisible shield. Maybe the Star Trek shows I have seen have given me the picture of that type of shield. When the bible was written they had no concept of that type of shield. All they knew were the kind the soldiers used in battle. I believe the shield of faith is all encompassing.

Your faith is a power, it's an assurance, and it's a shield. The power, the assurance, and the shield can weaken if you are not supplying it with the right things. If you get enough hits from the enemy's darts they can weaken your shield if you aren't keeping that shield supplied with energy. Romans 10:17 tells us faith comes by hearing. Hearing is a present tense word. The Webster 1828 dictionary one of its definitions for hearing is: listening to; attending to; obeying; observing what is commanded. We need to continually listen to, attend to, and observe what God's Word says. You need to continually hear the Word over and over to keep your faith active and in the now.

Another way you can energize your faith up is by praising God.

Romans 4:20 Amplified

No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God,

Faith is also energized by love.

Galatians 5:6 Amplified

For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love.