Your Connection is Your Source

By Pastor Steve Kelly / Books /

(adapted from Connect: The Power and Necessity of God-Ordained Relationships)

Whenever you decide to travel, one of the first things you do is determine the route needed to reach your destination Read Full Report. Of course, it’s important to choose a destination before beginning your trip. If you don’t know where you’re going it may be hard to prepare for what may happen when you step out the door. For example, if an American traveled to Europe, he or she would quickly discover that their electric devices and chargers do not fit into the outlets. They would need a converter to be able to properly utilize the devices at their disposal. The Christian life is somewhat similar.

We don’t really know what tomorrow holds. No matter how well we think we have our futures planed, we don’t actually know what is going to happen. There are so many variables that it is impossible to live without faith and trust in God. Our faith is the converter that helps us plug into God. In Hebrews 11:6 it is written, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God…”

But what is faith? The dictionary defines faith as, “The theological virtue defined as secure belief in God and a trusting acceptance of God’s will.” After years of ministry experience, I believe faith can be defined in the following way:

• Faith is now.
• Faith is voice-activated.
• Faith does not doubt.
• Faith asks, believes, and receives.
• Faith forgives.

Faith is now, it is a current, active conviction. It not just based on a future expectation but it is something that we hold to in our day-to-day lives. Just like power is dependent upon the available voltage, our faith is dependent on our speech. When we speak out in faith we are not only refusing to cling to what is evil but we are replacing it with something we believe in, something of God.

Faith does not doubt. If our entire being – our emotions, words, and thoughts – are dedicated to a believe in God, there is no room for doubt. We either believe or we don’t. Faith is specific and direct, it doesn’t hesitate and when we are speaking something with our faith, it needs to be clear. Children do not ask their parents for things in a whisper, so why would we ask our Heavenly Father with quiet caution?

Lastly, faith forgives. If we hold unforgiveness in our hearts, it’s like a parent who has placed child protectors plugs in outlets. The plugs gets in the way of the source of power. It’s the same with unforgiveness and connecting to God. Unforgiveness blocks us from Him, as explained in Mark 11: 25-26, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

Whatever you’re believing for, whatever you have in your heart that you want to see come to fruition or come to pass, remember that your choices and actions play a role in your connection with our Heavenly Father. Connect to God through faith, and you’ll discover power for your relationships and for the work of advancing God’s Kingdom on this earth.