One of the biggest misconceptions about faith is that it is blind. We often hear the expression "blind faith". The truth however is that in reality, faith is not blind. In fact without sight, faith is nonexistent. If you do not see your future, you will be trapped in your present. If you cannot describe where you are going then you will be defined by where you are. I was with a group of people recently and they were talking about moving to the next level. I then asked them to define their next level and there were as many descriptions as there were people. In fact most of them had difficulty explaining the next level to me. If you cannot accurately describe your "next level" your present level will be your only reality.

Why is the ability to see so important? If I came to talk to you about a red BMW what happens in your mind? You will not see the letters R-E-D-B-M-W. You will actually see a picture of a red BMW. The words we hear turn to pictures in our mind. If you cannot see it, you cannot execute it. If someone were to give you an instruction in a language that you do not understand, you will not be able to execute it. Your problem is not that you were not listening. Neither was it that you did not hear. The problem was that you did not see. The words could not be translated into pictures. The human mind processes pictures and not letters and as such any letters or words that cannot be translated into pictures by the mind cannot be executed. Faith needs an accurate picture of the destination in order to proceed with the journey. If you are not able to describe where you are going – if you cannot see it in your mind (as a picture) you will never get there.

Faith is not hope. You cannot hope yourself into success. Hope is not a strategy. Hope carries with it a suggestion of uncertainty. Faith on the other hand is certain. So many people die hoping. So many people fail hoping that they will succeed. The difference between hope and faith is knowledge. Just imagine you are a kite. Hope is a kite with no rope and no one controlling it. It is at the mercy of the wind that is beyond anyone’s control. Faith conversely is being a kite and knowing that there is a rope that connects you to a strong person who can control you and keep you in order. It becomes very foolish for the person without the rope to try to do what the person with the rope is doing. However, this is what a lot of people do. They have based their lives on hope. When hopes are dashed, it makes the heart sick. Faith is not going for an exam without reading. It is going for the exam fully prepared and then expecting the questions to be in your favor. Faith is not going for an interview without researching and preparing. In fact it is the very opposite. It is going fully prepared and expecting that all the people on the interview panel will just prefer you to everyone else. Faith is not the replacement for preparation. It is the expectation that circumstances will favor preparation...

........... to be continued next week.

Read the Force of Faith - Part Two