Welcome to "Quaint Words!"
These posts will contain thoughts, poems, and prayers from old books that I have found at antique stores, flea markets, and garage sales (with an occasional treasure from a bookstore).
I love the rhythm and sound of the older English language, and am blessed by other believers who have gone before me!
"Because God is not visibly present to the eye, it is difficult to feel that a transaction with Him is real. I suppose that if, when we made our acts of consecration, we could actually see Him present with us, we should feel it to be a very real thing...What we need, therefore, is to see that God's presence is a certain fact always, and that every act of our soul is done before Him, and that a word spoken in prayer is as really spoken to Him as if our eyes could see Him and our hands could touch Him. Then we shall cease to have such vague conceptions of our relations with Him, and shall feel the binding force of every word we say in His presence.
I know some will say here, "Ah, yes; but if he would only speak to me...I would have no trouble then in believing it." No, of course you would not; but then where would be the room for faith? Sight is not faith, and hearing is not faith, neither is feeling faith; but believing when we can neither see, hear, nor feel, is faith; and everywhere the Bible tells us our salvation is to be by faith. Therefore we must believe before we feel, and often against our feelings, if we would honor God by our faith."
(From "The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life" by Hannah Whitall Smith, c. 1888)
"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
For we live by faith, not by sight."
(Hebrews 11:1, NLT / Romans 8:24, 2 Corinthians 4:18, 2 Corinthians 5:7, NIV)
*What helps you know that God is real?
BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"
Beautiful! Powerful words.....Faith without seeing for salvation....we embrace this Biblical truth for healing too...and forgiveness also. Knowing that we know that we know....Thanks Sharon. Needed to be reminded of this today.
ReplyDeleteI probably have that very section underlined in my well worn copy of H.W.Smith's book! I have picked that book up so many times through the years. She GOT it, and she lived out the truth in her life. It is definitely a classic for me too.
ReplyDelete"it is difficult to feel that a transaction with Him is real" this caught my eye, Sharon. When I think of transaction, I think something that involves money; totally different to look at it as an interaction with God :)
ReplyDeletebetty
Nature....being out on the trails or mountains.....it's where I feel His presence the strongest. Happy Weekend Sharon...hope it's a great one for you.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful words...and yet some saw Him and spoke to Him face to face and still didn't believe.
ReplyDeleteMay you see Him in all you do this weekend. Faith!..blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe
Hi Sharon! My head was bobbing while reading your post. We must have faith, and we only get it with the grace from God.
ReplyDeleteThere's a saying too that says "To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible." For those who have to see, nothing I say will make a difference. We all live by faith and not by sight, as you pointed out. Some think that's a strange way to live! But to us? It's the only way.
Great to see you today!
Ceil
I know you are 100% correct in what you say. I just wish sometime I could touch the hem of his robe. You know what I mean?
ReplyDeleteSharon...I agree with Ceil's comment. This is so beautiful. There is no real way to explain faith to anyone without them experiencing it themselves. We can try...that's all we can do...a friend I had who is now deceased asked me this very question..."How do I know God is there, etc., etc..." All I could tell her was I knew that I knew that I knew and it was because I chose to have faith....it can't be proven, you must chose to believe. Unfortunately, when she died, I don't know that she ever chose to believe...it was so sad. Thank you for this great post!
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