"Just what is faith?" he said. Don’t tell me it’s hoping for things not seen.
       I know that, but I need someone to tell me what having faith really means."
With a quick prayer to God, to ask help and remove sadness from his eye,
       came to my mind an unusual answer and a most thought provoking reply.
"The Scriptures say we walk by faith. I don’t think that is a figure of speech.
       I think it’s an absolute truth. For walking, for talking or things we reach.

For we do all those things so often, that we simply take them for granted.
       Not giving them a single thought. Just doing them, not having planned it.
That is a big secret required of faith. Though most do not understand.
       For us to accomplish things by faith requires the same sort of command.
Jesus said we could move a mountain if we had the faith of a mustard seed.
       He said faith is the fuel for heavenly power. Every blessing, miracle or deed.

He said we could say to the sycamine tree, ‘Be plucked up and planted in the sea,’
       and so it would be, if we had simple faith. Just simple faith, you and me.
In the Old Testament there are stories, some of the most amazing ever told.
       Of prophets who had incredible faith and took actions; exceptionally bold.
There is a story about Elijah who before the idolatrous priests of Baal,
       asked them to prove the strength of their god; knowing their god would fail.

Each sacrificed a young bullock on equal alters with equal amounts of wood.
       Then the priests of Baal began to shout and pray while Elijah simply stood.
As the day wore on and the priests shouted and prayed, Elijah laughingly said,
       ‘Pray louder! Maybe your god can’t hear you or maybe he’s even dead!’
Elijah told them, ‘On mine pour 4 buckets water. Then pour it 3 times more.’
       Then he continued to mock the priests and laugh as he had done before.

Finally proving their god had no power, nor was their god even real,
       Elijah called down the fire of Heaven and it consumed his alter with zeal.
Now the question is, did the Lord tell Elijah to do and say all those things?
       Or did the Lord simply back up Elijah because of the power, faith brings?
There is a story about Elisha and Naaman when Naaman came to be healed.
       The Syrian captain who sought out Elisha and for a blessing he appealed.

But Elisha would not even come out of his tent and sent his servant instead.
       ‘Tell Naaman to go wash in the Jordan seven times.’ That’s all Elisha said.
Naaman immediately became angry, saying, ‘Is this all a prophet has to say?’
       But when Naaman finally did as Elisha said, his leprosy went totally away.
Now the question is, did the Lord tell Elisha to do and say all those things?
       Or did the Lord simply back up Elisha because of the power, faith brings?

So too, the story of the brother of Jared, who went to the Lord and said,
       ‘Oh Lord, it’s so dark in those barges! Please give us light’ he plead.
And the Lord came before him and said, ‘What will though have me do?’
       ‘Oh Lord, if thou will touch these stones, they will shine through and through.’
‘Interesting! There is much evidence suggesting believers are allowed discretion
       and that the Lord will back them up in their word, their action and decision.’

‘Yes! ...Then too is the story of Moses who performed one miracle after another.
       For the blessing of the Israelite people and for the convincing of their brother.
Now, we know that Moses spoke with God, the sacred Scriptures record this.
       But there’s only a few times of face to face contact, unless the record is amiss.
There is more record of conversation but the question is how and in what way?
       Did Moses hear the speaking voice of the Lord? Loud and clear each day?

Or did the Lord’s voice come soft and low? As an impression to his heart?
       For if it was loud and clear, then there was no need for faith on his part.
So perhaps the next question is; does a believer need more faith or less?
       That certainly is an interesting question. One we each should address.
The believers said and did much. Did the Lord tell them each and every thing?
       Or did the Lord give the believers impressions that came to their inner being?

We too receive those inner impressions and we are given the discretion to ask;
       if the Lord will help us and back us up in our words, our blessings or task.
If He tells us He will, if we believe we can, it will be said of us as it was of them,
       ‘My, they were great believers, weren’t they! They were bold, courageous men.
Now the question is, did the Lord tell them to do and say all those things?
       Or did the Lord simply back them up because of the power, faith brings?"