The 40-Day Challenge : Day 1
- 21
- Jan
- 2013
“Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.” (Luke 1:1-4)
Many people set out to talk about things they’ve seen or heard without having perfect understanding of them, without carefully investigating everything from the beginning… They do not think. They simply hear and accept them as facts, without knowing the root of the situation.
“… having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first…”
Important: Most people are not interested in knowing the origin of the a ‘miracle’. All they want is the results.
This is nothing but emotion. It’s a result of an emotional faith, and not of an intelligent faith, which carefully investigates everything from the beginning.
Everything we obtain through an emotional faith is superficial! Things do not last because they’re not based upon the truth. People who live by an emotional faith do what other people do and say what other people say… Nothing new comes out of them.
“… an orderly account…”
Discipline is absolutely rational; it is opposed to emotion, as it goes against our own will. The result of discipline is the certainty of the things in which we have been instructed, which is reflected in our rational and confident way of speaking and in our firm attitudes.
The lack of assurance is the reason why many Christians are defeated: when they speak, they do so in an insecure manner, as if to fulfil an obligation; they live by a “religious” faith. They have no discipline and, as a result, they do not look at the root of their problems.
When we delve into the knowledge of the truth, and are disciplined enough to practise it, we become more confident and we see positive results in our lives.
This is something that happens inside of us, allowing us to be firm at any time and under any circumstances.
Our genuine desire to know the truth, and not just gather knowledge, allows us to be victorious every day.
It’s not something that we just talk about, but we live what we believe! This is our main focus.
Therefore, it is important to ascertain the facts and be certain of the truth about everything you hear. If you have doubts, insecurities, fear or shyness, it’s because you have lived by an emotional faith.
What have you based your life upon? Is it based upon truth and discipline, or is it hollow, empty and unstable?
Thandi
18th June 2018 at 7:11
Thank you for sharing Mrs Viv.
When our faith is intelligent we are based on what the word of God says while on the contrary the emotional faith is based on the situation that is at presence, to revive my faith I am engaging ,myself in this 40 day challenge.
Ada
17th January 2018 at 17:59
Thank you for this word, my feelings are in constant battle with the words of God and for sure I need to let Him to take over my mind.
Virginia Chuna
29th August 2014 at 6:58
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts Mrs Viviane. It was an eye opener. Emotional faith doesn’t bring any results, just something temporary but intelligent faith according to the promises of God bring about great results. It’s easy to fall into the trap of an emotional faith especially when you’ve been in the church for a long time. So to prevent that from happening we/ I need to always be on the look out to see how I’m using my faith.
Esther
26th June 2014 at 1:56
i just started this challenge today. And for what i read and understood, there are two kinds of faith. I thought i have the intelligent faith but no. I have an emotional faith that only gives attention to the circumstances that i am having everyday.
I know in myself the word of God,the truth since i am a pastor’s kid and ever since i was a child, my family are active in church. I thought participating in youth activities are enough for me to be saved but for what i learned now it is not enough. And i know that it will never be enough coz we, Christians must not feel satisfied for what we know for now. We must keep on meditating and know the word of God.
As i was saying a while ago, i have an emotional faith. I speak the word of God to the other youths. I share but not about my life experiences because i have realized that i have been shy and i know in myself that my faith is unstable. That is why i am striving to know the truth and the word of God more and more and more and more until i have no fear inside of me. And someday, i will have this intelligent faith and i can share everything to my fellow youth.
Thank you for your eye opener message:) God bless you and your family:)
catarina ( Ypi ireland )
12th June 2014 at 14:22
Very strong I learned today that i have been living emotional faith and that i cant i have to live by Intelligent faith. This post really opened my eyes.
I need to be discilplined, and base my life upon the truth.