Give Your Faith a Target

GROUP DEVOTION - SEPTEMBER 25, 2010

Today´s Passage: Heb. 11:1-12

希 伯 來 書 11:1 信 就 是 所 望 之 事 的 實 底 ， 是 未 見 之 事 的 確 據 。

"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see" (Hebrews 11:1, NLT)

Today´s Word:
So many people today are depressed and discouraged because they only focus on their present circumstances. They´re constantly dwelling on their problems, what they don´t have, and what´s wrong with them. They don´t realize it, but they´re allowing the enemy to steal their hope. This negative frame of mind is what keeps people from moving forward in life.

Understand today that faith is confidence and assurance about the things we hope for according to the promises of God. Like an arrow, your faith points to the target of hope. If you don´t have hope, that arrow of faith will just drop to the ground. It won´t accomplish anything. But, when you keep your hopes up, when you keep expecting and keep believing, it´s as if that target gets larger and larger—easier to hit!

Choose today to live with an attitude of expectancy. Get your hopes up! Start by taking captive any negative thoughts you may have one at a time. As you focus on God´s goodness and faithfulness, you´ll feel that hope inside you growing. You´ll give your faith a target, and you´ll move confidently into the blessings and peace the Lord has in store for you!



Prayer:
Father in heaven, today I surrender every thought to You. I choose to release my cares and concerns so I can focus on Your goodness in my life. Thank You for the gift of faith to see the impossible become possible as I continue to place my hope and confidence in You. In Jesus´ Name, Amen.

Meditation:
What major problems in life are you faced with now? Is your faith pointing to the target of hope, or the target of disappointment? What top-3 negative thoughts should you put to jail, one at a time?

(Adapted from Joel Osteen Ministry Devotion Series; Cantonese version available in video.)