Moving Mountains

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  Hebrews 11:1

Faith is described in many ways.  Some describe faith as trust.  Some describe faith as sustained belief in a cause, person or thing.  Some define faith as intensely holding on to a dream.  The assurance of belief standing with courage is faith.  Faith is substantial.  Faith is essential.  Faith is confidence, courage and steadfastness.  Webster defines faith as "unquestioning belief that does not require proof or evidence."  The writer of Hebrews describes faith as "the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. "  Faith is being certain of what we are hoping for.  Without hope there is nothing.  Anyone throwing his or her hopes and dreams out of the wind has lost faith.  Faith does not doubt.  Faith is not vacillating between hope and hopelessness.  Faith is dedication and decisiveness.  Faith is experiential.  The more a person experiences walking gin faith, the more faith he or she will have.  Faith builds upon faith.

Faith is one of the products of a relationship with God.  It is bipolar on one end, "we are saved by grace through faith," and on the other end, "we walk by faith and not by sigh."  We are saved by grace through faith because we could never be saved by knowledge.  That is why for my faith journey, I have discovered that "faith" is essential for effective prayer.  Jesus says, "when you pray and ask for something, believe that you have received it..." This has also translated in my life as "believe that you ARE receiving it."  Now this has been more than positive thinking or affirmations.  I have just grown to believe and trust that whatever I am praying or, within the will of God, has the power to bring our prayers to pass.  This is not Harry Potters magical hocus locus - this I believe has proven to be purely the power of who God is!

I remember my grandmother talking about "moving mountain" when I was a little girl and the faith it takes to do that.  I didn't understand that at age 11, I thought she was physically pushing a big mountain.  But I have discovered in life, there are many big mountains that need to be moved and only through faith and prayer can whatever that mountain is, can that mountain be moved.  I have also discovered that faith does not cause us to sit back and wait for the mountain to be moved by someone else; most times faith causes US to move the mountain.  Or at the very least dig through it!

Faith and prayer changes the person of faith to follow the direction and leading of Gods Spirit.  As we are in troubling and sometimes disheartening times in our faith community, our surrounding community and in our world.  Let us remember to pray as we learn to grow, love and serve all.

Love and light
Rev. Imani Dodley

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