Faith is one of the most powerful forces in the universe. The Bible says that the just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17). But what does it mean to walk by faith? How does faith work to unlock the promises of God in our lives?.
What is Faith?
Many people misunderstand what biblical faith actually is. Faith is not simply positive thinking or “hoping” that God will move in a situation. Faith is more than believing – it is the action we take based on our conviction in the integrity of God’s Word.
In other words, faith has two essential parts:
Inner Conviction: This refers to a settled assurance and belief in our hearts in what God has said about a situation. We are fully convinced in the truthfulness of God’s Word.
Outer Action: This refers to the actions of obedience we take based on what we believe. We put action to our conviction through steps of obedience.
It’s the combination of steadfast belief in the heart plus actions supporting that belief that constitutes biblical faith. Without action, our “faith” is ultimately just wishful thinking. But living by faith means we move forward based on what God has said, even when we can’t yet see the outcome.
As Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) puts it:
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Biblical faith gives tangible evidence in the natural realm of what you are hoping for in the spirit realm. It is acting like the God who speaks never fails.
The Laws of Faith: Key Principles for Unlocking God’s Promises
Walking by faith and experiencing the impossible in your life starts with understanding foundational principles about how faith works. Here are key truths you must understand:
1. Base Faith on God’s Written and Spoken Word
The starting point of faith is always an encounter with the Word of God. God commits himself through His decrees, promises, and prophetic words about your life. If God did not say it, there is no point trying to “believe” something will happen.
Every dimension of increase in God’s Kingdom comes at the instance of faith – but it must be grounded on the integrity of God’s Word. The enemy only has a right to challenge what God actually said about you.
So you must discover what Scripture says concerning principles for victorious living. But you also must value what God has personally spoken into your life. Hold fast to prophetic words and allow your faith to swell at every remembrance of God’s voice. The more intimately you know the will of the Father, the more daring faith becomes.
As Jesus said in John 15:7:
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”
When God’s Word truly abides in you, faith is released for every need.
2. Meditate to Discover Your Role
After encountering God’s Word, you must meditate deeply upon what God said until revelation light enters your spirit. Meditation illuminates your understanding so that when you act, you act with confidence in your authority and partnership with God concerning that situation.
Many fail to experience the results of faith because they do not continue seeking God until the light comes as to how they are to respond. They stop short after only discovering a promise exists. But meditation reveals your unique assignment – what specific actions of obedience will partner with God’s Word so that you receive the promise.
As you meditate, the Holy Spirit makes the Word alive to you. You begin seeing how already God is working, arranging circumstances, and ordering your steps so that what He said comes to pass. This divine insight empowers conviction and emboldens your actions.
3. Step Out in Obedience
Finally, you must demonstrate your faith through actions of obedience – no matter how risky or unconventional they appear. In truth, every manifestation of faith will look like a “risk” before the evidence of breakthrough comes.
At God’s command, you simply obey and leave the outcomes to Him.
For example, when the Lord speaks to launch a business, don’t delay because you don’t have capital or experience. Begin taking steps, even if they seem small initially. Register your company, create a website detailing your products and services, open an office even if it’s your living room, etc. These actions prove to God the sincerity of your faith before visible increase comes.
The size of your beginning does not matter as much as the fact that you obeyed. The Lord respects a heart of diligent obedience more than we realize. As you act based on God’s Word, His eyes roam to and fro across the earth looking for such wholehearted partners – so that His ability backing your faith begins moving mountains in your life (2 Chronicles 16:9).
4. God’s Promises Have Conditions
One mistake believers often make is assuming that just because a promise exists in Scripture, it applies “automatically” without any action on their part. But every promise of God has a condition attached for its fulfillment.
Even a gift as great as salvation requires that we take the action of believing in Christ to receive eternal life. There is always a participatory component where we perform our small role in God’s agenda coming to pass. We work out our salvation in awe and reverence as Divine grace empowers everything we do (Philippians 2:12-13).
So don’t take a “passive” or religious approach to God’s promises where no partnership exists between His Word and your works. Where the Spirit directs, obey with excellence. Soon you’ll be rejoicing as promised blessing manifests in every sphere!
Faith Makes You Walk Like Life Owes You
Here is one of the most liberating truths about operating in biblical faith: It causes you to walk as though life itself owes you answers and breakthrough because of what God said!
Yes, this seems audacious if we only analyze things with human wisdom. But faith brings a defiant assurance that no matter how impossible situations appear, “God said it” – and that settles it with boldness and finality.
Those who live by faith get up daily with eager expectation for favor, increase, and miraculous provision because God’s integrity backs every prophetic word at the outset. They act like the outcome is “owed” to them, refusing anxiety or defeat. The confidence faith brings is almost like God handing you a check for a million dollars. You rejoice over what is to come – even before it manifests physically – all because God cannot lie.
People may mock this way of thinking, but this is precisely how giants of faith like Joshua and Caleb viewed adversity. While 10 negative spies only saw defeat facing giants and walled cities, these warriors concluded in faith: “The Lord is with us! Let’s take the land at once for we are well able to overcome!” (Numbers 13:30; 14:9). In spite of overwhelming odds, they acted with assurance of success – as though God “owed” them the inheritance.
And that defiant faith catapulted them into destiny while others perished!
Beloved, it’s time to embrace this same attitude of faith. Whatever God said concerning you, rejoice and boldly declare by faith, “It’s as good as done!” By your steadfast stand upon His Word, all that God promised rushes into visibility. The anxious wait for “spiritual things” to manifest ends as you live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
