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The most important thing to know about faith is fellowship with God.
God must be more to us than religion, he must be a living reality.
Why would the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray---anyone could just talk to God. Lk. 11:1-2 the word them shows it was more than one disciple asking.
consider these 5 ideas which have to be understood before praying in faith.
we have to know what God's will is. It is his word that shows what his will is. Num. 23:19
we must ask for something. James 4:2 last part.
we must act like we believe. Why bring a umbrella saying it may rain when you pray that it won't
we must talk like we believe. I hope so or maybe or if is a sure picture you are not sure. We must expect a answer.
To presume God will obey is not the issue. Why pray for something you don't think will happen, that's unbelief.
We must hold to our confession of prayer. Things can happen to cause us to change our mind. We cannot be moved by circumstances because the prayer we pray is in the hand of God who is not able to let us down.
Job would have been destroyed if he did not have hope. He didn't listen to his wife but prayed though he slay me yet will I trust him. Instead he praised God.
Many years now I have seen God answer prayers that seemed impossible. God is more wonderful every day. Miracles are a real thing for me. God bless
The steps that lead to Faith are these: -
(1) I assure myself by reasoning and argument that God has actually spoken and communicated knowledge to mankind - that He is a witness to men of truth.
(2) I prove that this knowledge is still available for use, is actually preserved somewhere in the world, is in the keeping of somebody from whom I can obtain it.
(3) I learn the contents of the message, and accept them as God's revelation, on His authority. This last mental act is the formal act of faith. The other two processes, for the carrying out of which we rely on our own intellectual acumen and activity (aided by God's grace), are preparatory, and lead up to the formal act of faith.
Suppose you receive a letter from a friend whose word you trust implicitly. A glance at the handwriting and signature assures you that the letter is actually from this friend. You thereby establish its genuineness and authenticity, and even before you read the letter or know its contents you are assured that your friend has sent you a message, and that you have his message in your hands. This corresponds to the preparatory stages (the praeambula fidei, as theologians call them), described above. Then you read the letter and learn certain facts, which you accept as true on the authority of your friend. This corresponds to the formal act of faith.
As for the OP... Faith is belief or trust. That's what the Greek word translated "faith" means. I haven't looked at the entire thread, so someone may have already given this answer.
The steps that lead to Faith are these: -
(1) I assure myself by reasoning and argument that God has actually spoken and communicated knowledge to mankind - that He is a witness to men of truth.
(2) I prove that this knowledge is still available for use, is actually preserved somewhere in the world, is in the keeping of somebody from whom I can obtain it.
(3) I learn the contents of the message, and accept them as God's revelation, on His authority. This last mental act is the formal act of faith. The other two processes, for the carrying out of which we rely on our own intellectual acumen and activity (aided by God's grace), are preparatory, and lead up to the formal act of faith.
Suppose you receive a letter from a friend whose word you trust implicitly. A glance at the handwriting and signature assures you that the letter is actually from this friend. You thereby establish its genuineness and authenticity, and even before you read the letter or know its contents you are assured that your friend has sent you a message, and that you have his message in your hands. This corresponds to the preparatory stages (the praeambula fidei, as theologians call them), described above. Then you read the letter and learn certain facts, which you accept as true on the authority of your friend. This corresponds to the formal act of faith.
source: Rev. Albert Power S.J. 1960 not available on line. from my personal files.
True faith is neither sane, nor sensible and will never be inculcated into a man-made religious system.
source: Rev. Albert Power S.J. 1960 not available on line. from my personal files.