uncommon faith.
Good day!
Last week on Dancing on the Ashes we discussed entering the new year with new faith. We talked about setting a new goal for this year : Dreaming dreams that go beyond ourselves!
Well, this week I want to add on to that. How do we dream dreams that go beyond ourselves? We have to develop an Uncommon Faith, of course.
When you were a child, did you ever aspire to grow up and be average? Did you dream of just getting by and living a so-so life? I sure hope not. When God created us, we weren’t created to pursue ordinary—we were created to be extraordinary! But to live a life with boldness and confidence to believe for the extraordinary, we need one thing—an uncommon faith.
The promises of God, when you put them all together, are the recipe for an extraordinary life—far beyond what anyone in the world would ever hope for or imagine. He has them all stored up for us, and He’s already given us the key to obtain them—faith. But not just an average faith. It’s the kind of faith that believes it and pursues it.
The problem we face here is that you can’t simply live an extraordinary life if you aren’t even expecting it. Average faith says, “I hope I can make my monthly payments.” An uncommon faith says, “God, I believe the whole thing will be paid off!”
Joel Osteen defines it this way: “An uncommon faith is radical faith and radical faith gets radical results.”
If you want to see God amaze you with His goodness, then it’s time to go one step further than average faith and come over into an uncommon faith. We know faith pleases God, so the more developed your faith, the more pleasing it is to Him.
Isaiah 54:4 MSG says,
4 Don’t be afraid—you’re not going to be embarrassed.
Don’t hold back—you’re not going to come up short.
If you feel like you have been stuck in average faith for a while, or hey, maybe even your whole life, then it is certainly time to make a change. If we want to experience uncommon breakthroughs, victories, blessings, favor, joy, peace and prosperity, then it is time to develop an uncommon faith.
Here are some ways for us to develop this Uncommon Faith. Will you join me?
Receive Jesus as the Developer of your Faith.
Hebrews 12:2 AMPC says,
2 Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection].
If you want to develop an uncommon faith, this is where you start: Look away from all that will distract you and focus on Jesus.
In Isaiah 38:2, Hezekiah sets an example for us when he was sick and facing death :
2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord.
Why is this important? He turned away from the world, from people, from his own feelings, from his suffering, from his sickness, from friends and relatives. When he turned to the wall, he could only see God! And he received what he asked for!
When you’re facing a trial, a lot of things will try to get your attention and draw you away from your stand of faith. They’ll try to keep you focused on the natural. That’s why Jesus is the developer—and Author and Perfector—of our faith. He wants to help us keep our eyes on Him and not be distracted by the world. Every time we put our faith on the line by believing His Word, we can expect Him to develop our faith. Expect Him to develop your faith every time you put your faith on the line. When you stand for healing, you’re exercising your faith. Trust Him to bring your faith to maturity.
The word finisher in the Greek means “one who raises the level of faith to its perfection by setting the highest example of faith.” That’s Jesus. Look to Him.
2. Make the Word of God the Final Word.
Proverbs 4:20-22 TPT says,
20 Listen carefully, my dear child, to everything that I teach you,
and pay attention to all that I have to say.
21 Fill your thoughts with my words
until they penetrate deep into your spirit.
22 Then, as you unwrap my words,
they will impart true life and radiant health
into the very core of your being.
It’s easy to run to the world when a problem arises. When you feel a symptom in your body, for example, the first thing you might think of is to run to the doctor or jump onto WebMD and research it until we believe that we are going to die in 12 days. But that isn’t God’s way. Now, yes, there is a time and place for medical care.. That’s not what I am talking about. What I am saying though is that we cannot believe EVERYTHING that is spoken over us.
When you’re facing a situation in your health, your finances, a relationship or a work situation, you need to ask yourself one thing: “What does God’s Word say about my situation?” Then we must believe that He has the Final Word.
To give the Word of God first place means you go to the Word on any situation or circumstance you’re facing and find out what God says about it first—before friends, family, and especially the internet. It means His Word is the last word in any situation.
When you train toward developing an uncommon faith, you don’t operate like the world. You don’t even operate like most Christians. That’s how you become uncommon. The stronger you build your faith, the more able you are to face anything and subdue it. You read the Scriptures, you stand on them, and you refuse to move.
Next week we will dive down even deeper into how we can develop an uncommon faith. I hope you will join me.
I pray you were encouraged by this. This is the year for big dreams. It’s the year for a total transformation. It’s the year for complete renewal of our minds, hearts and faith. It’s the year for Uncommon Faith!
Join us next week for the continuation of the study of Uncommon Faith.