Faith is the ability to believe in something that is a concept, but you may not be able to se it or touch it, ect. I have faith, when making a telephone call that this process will result in a positive experience. I cannot actually see the wires, ect. signaling the one that I have phoned, but I still believe that it will happen successfully. I also have faith that when I sit down in a chair, it will not collapse or fall apart. This faith is based upon the many successes that I have had and trust in the worthiness of my steadfast belief.
I believe that faith is the basis of my ability to live life to its fullest. As Dennis Kenny states, “there could very well be a God or divine presence shepherding our fate.” His idea of “fate” though, indicates that we have the free will to follow God and believe that His presence alone will lead us in the positive way that we should travel. This use of “fate and faith” is almost synonymous terms in this example. These words take on similarities when used in the concept of divine leadership and the person willing to walk on that divine path.
Fate or fatalism could be described with the word commonly used today: whatever. (Resignation1 of 5) I have no real power over what direction my life takes me. What will be, will be, and acceptance is my only option. Feeling overwhelmed is another indication of having to accept fate. (Resignation or Hope 2 of 5) Intelligence or strength in order to face life’s ongoing challenges cannot aid in dealing with or mending what life deals your way.
As a Christian and believer in Jesus Christ, I believe in Christ by faith. The New Living Bible states in Luke 8:50, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” This was
stated by Christ when forgiving the sins of a women. While the Pharisees believed that only God could forgive sin, they were shocked to see a man named Jesus regarding himself as powerful as God. All through the bible, there are passages where Jesus healed the sick and hurting, but never once saying your works have healed you. No, he always said that the faith of that certain person had truly healed and made them new. They did not have the knowledge that Jesus Christ and God were of the same. Only the act of faith, both by the women who was forgiven, and to day by all who trust Christ to take away there sins, can explain the fervent belief of forgiveness.
Another thing that I believe about faith is this; “faith allows us to be flexible.” Flexibility is the foundation of hope, while rigidity is the cornerstone of despair. (Kenny?) Living by fate gives little hope to our lives. We may be easily discovered, and we may create our own failures because we believe in the inevitability of our experience in life. When we have faith, we are not mere robots, but are living beings that hunger for life, and are eager to taste each new day.
Living by faith also indicates that we are given goals in our life by God. He is directing and continually teaching us. We really matter to God! We believe that things can be different, and that our lives can be changed and bettered through the understanding of faith. When praying in faith, we are working with God to determine our future. The words in the bible are not just everyday words. Though these words may look the same, they are life changing, and powerful. Keeping this in mind, it helps me to live my life to the extreme. Just how God intended it to be, exciting!
Faith has even entered the medical arena. Studies have determined the importance of religion, and specifically prayer; a part of faith. Sacred scriptures, believed to be the board of God, have also added a new dimension of hope, peace, and strength in oncology patients. It is proven that secular hospitals need to incorporate an interfaith approach, when meeting patient’s needs. This would be uplifting, and allow interaction between patients facing similar difficulties. Those who have faith, rather than just accepting cancer as their “fate,” have more positive attitudes and help the patient’s families as they go through the various cycles of hospitalizations, and painful treatments that there loved ones must face.
Even though the bible mentions the word;” predestination,” which means fate, it does not imply that we are to be lazy or unfulfilled, failures or worthless beings. It has nothing to do with negative labels in our lives, but rather refers to us setting goals as given to us by God. By setting our goals ahead of time, we then are able to strive towards meeting those goals, and even exceed them. This is how God intended life to be.
