Picture received in an e-mail - author unknown 1999.
FAITH
By: Frances McCrory Meservy
Faith: God’s promises and his word gives us hope. His word is substance and hope is believing God is doing something because He said He is. Feeling peace (calm confidence) is evidence of God’s presence and His will even though we can not see what he is doing. (Like the wind when we feel it blowing, we know it is blowing because we can feel it and see the results - movement in the trees, etc.)
Believing the promises in God's word is first and foremost. Past that I usually receive a picture in my head or a thought in my head or a gut feeling that verifies that the scripture (promise) is for me personally. Sometimes something will just seem to jump off the page at me. I have read a promise and not even realize it is a promise until one day when I need it and then it will just come alive for me. When it comes alive to me is when God gives me the faith to believe it and act on it.
Don't ever tell someone it is their fault that they do not have enough faith to be healed, etc. It is not their fault. Instead why don't you do something constructive like pray for God to give them the faith to be healed or whatever they need. We are to do things in accordance with the faith that God has given us.
Have you ever been doing or seeing something and have scripture just go running through your head? That is the Holy Spirit telling you something about what you are doing or seeing, etc. The scripture going through your head is giving you the faith to act in some way. He is guiding you into faith. God just spoke to you. He speaks to us in many ways. We just need to listen for his small still voice (written word, scripture in our head, picture in our head, peace, etc.).
Luke 17:5 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"
Rom 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Acts 27:22-25 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. NKJ
Rom 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."
Mat 7:24-27 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
Mat 8:7-10 Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him." The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.
Eph 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.
2 Cor 3:12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Mat 7:28-29 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Luke 4:36-37 All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!" And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.
Acts 27:33-Rom 1:12 Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. "For the last fourteen days," he said, "you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food--you haven't eaten anything. Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head." After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.
Rom 4:17-18 (as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations") in the presence of Him whom he believed; God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be."
Rom 8:24-25 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
John 3:8 "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Eph 6:11-18 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints;
Phil 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.