Divine Definitions: (1) Reliably adhering to responsibility; true to allegiance; the constant performance of duties; conscientious; (2) Can be counted on to keep promises; credible; honest; (3) Ever-willing to give service; fidelity; loyalty; (4) True to His word; principled; (5) Worthy of being believed; (6) Dedicated to the plan, devoted to His people; (7) Sincere.
Comment: God is not foolish. He will not give us what we want simply because we ask for it. He has our best interests in mind. He is willing to listen and respond to our will – if it is coincident with His, all-wise, will. Even if our prayer is foolish, the sincerity behind the prayer is valuable and that will be rewarded.
FAITHFULNESS
Human Definitions: (1) constant in the performance of services; conscientious; (2) exhibiting true fidelity; loyal; true to allegiances; principled; (3) firmly adhering to responsibilities; honest; (4) can be counted on to keep promises; credible
Synonyms: consistent, incorruptible; trustworthy
Quotes:
• Instead of ruling us by miracles, He has infused in us certain qualities that enable us to accomplish the divine purposes by ourselves – faith, loyalty, courage, tolerance. — Thomas Bertram Costain (1885-1965) The Silver Chalice
• Faith is nothing more than the conscious choice of the God within. — Mahatma Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948) Indian lawyer & peacemaker
• A belief is not merely an idea that the mind possesses; it is an idea that possesses the mind. — Robert Oxton Bolton (1572-1631) English preacher
Prayer: My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following Your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact please You. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this You will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore, I will trust You always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for You are ever with me and You will never leave me to face my perils alone. — Thomas Merton (1915-1968) American monk and philosopher
Comments:
• Faith is the natural state of acceptance of a child’s mind. From this point of openness the child subsequently encounters conflict and begins to change innocent faith into sophisticated faith – the growth of self-identity and a personalized set of coping mechanisms.
• Faith in the survival of supreme values is the core of personal survival. If you have faith, and therefore bring supreme values into your being, you and they will thrive. Faith tells you, since you cannot be separated from real values, that you will survive with them.
Question: Is a positive quality worth owning? Only after you believe it is will you attempt to incorporate it into your being. You are staking your existence on an assumed fact. That is faith.