Faith Begins With a Decision

Have You Decided What You’re Believing For?

When you're facing a serious challenge—especially a health crisis—it's easy to fall into a wait-and-see mindset.

Let's see what the next test says.

Let's see whether this treatment works.

Let's see how my body responds.

Let's see what happens.

But there is a problem with living in “wait and see.” It puts your circumstances in charge of determining your future. It takes you out of the driver’s seat.

At some point, faith requires a decision.

When I was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given only months to live, I had plenty of circumstances telling me what my future was supposed to look like. The doctor said..., the stats indicated... Other people thought...

But eventually, I had to decide what I believed. Faith begins with a decision.

Would I simply wait to see what happened? Or would I find out what God said, come into agreement with Him, and begin walking toward that outcome in faith?

There is a tremendous difference between those two positions.

Victims Wait. Overcomers Decide.

A victim mentality says, “I hope things get better.”

An overcomer says, “I know what I believe, and I am walking by faith until I see it.”

That doesn't mean we get to arbitrarily decide anything we want and expect God to make it happen. Faith isn't about convincing God to agree with us. He's not a genie in a bottle that we can command. 

Biblical faith begins by discovering what God has said and bringing ourselves into agreement with Him.

A lot of people pray for healing when they get sick. Most people hope they’ll be healed. That all sounds good and it even sounds humble and godly. But God says: It is impossible to please Him without faith. Impossible. That’s an absolute.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”— Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

So, if we’re looking for something from God, we won’t receive it without belief and faith. And those require a decision. What do you believe, and why do you believe it? Finally, what are you going to do about it?

When it comes to healing, I found God's Word filled with His promises regarding healing, restoration, life, and wholeness. Once I became convinced of that truth, I made a decision: I was going to live and not die. Period.

That decision changed how I approached everything that followed.

A Decision Must Be Followed by Faith

Making the decision is only the beginning.

There will be days when circumstances appear to contradict what you believe. Symptoms may persist. Reports may be discouraging. Fear may knock loudly at the door.

That's where the fight of faith begins.

Paul told Timothy:

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life...”—1 Timothy 6:12 NKJV

Faith isn't passive. It keeps walking. It continues fighting. It keeps its focus on the promise before the result is visible.

Once you've settled on what you believe God has promised, you begin bringing your thoughts, words, choices, and actions into agreement with that truth. Regardless of circumstances, reports, or symptoms.

You’re now operating in the spiritual dimension, which is more powerful that the dimension you can see and feel. You don't deny what is happening in the natural. You simply refuse to allow what you presently see to have the final word.

What Have You Decided?

Maybe today you're facing cancer, another health challenge, a broken relationship, financial difficulty, or a situation that looks impossible.

Ask yourself:

Have I actually decided what I'm believing for?

Or am I still waiting for circumstances to tell me what is possible?

Find out what God's Word says about your situation. Spend time with Him and your Bible until His truth becomes more real to you than the fear surrounding you. Then make your decision. And once you've made it, don't stop believing, speaking, and walking according to the choice you’ve made.

You will have to fight the fight of faith for a while. You will have to keep believing when nothing appears to be changing. But don't surrender your decision simply because the victory isn't visible yet.

Faith sees the destination before the natural eyes can see the evidence.

Decide what you believe. Agree with God. Then walk by faith—one step at a time—until what you're believing becomes what you can finally see. That's the way faith works.

 Standing in faith with you,

Paula Black