“Now faith is the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1
We’ve heard from our pastors that it takes a dream to wake up our faith, but it takes faith to make our dreams come true. God has given us the tools of faith and hope to create the outcomes we desire. These are the tools God used to create the world we live in (Hebrews 11:3). As we focus on our freedom to reign in Christ, let’s revisit one of our fundamentals of discipleship.
Scripture tells us that faith is the substance of hope, a substance that the natural eye cannot see. The word for substance is hupostasis, the literal foundation of a building, the title deed, the assurance, and that which has actual existence. A title deed is a legal paper to the ownership of a house. Whether the owner visits that home or not is irrelevant. He is the owner, the possessor of that home. When we have faith, we are in possession of the thing we are hoping for (even though it has not manifested).
The substance comes when we are still before the Lord with His Word in our heart. There, He paints a picture in our hearts. He fills our spiritual vision with details that cement those imaginations. The vision then becomes an assurance. Our faith has direction, and God’s will is discernible from counterfeits. We know the difference between a God opportunity and an unnecessary detour. But, this is not so without the substance of faith.
We need to take the time to seek God to visualize the outcome. In his book, “The Fourth Dimension”, Dr. Yonggi Cho, the pastor of the world’s largest church, calls this “praying for assurance.” Many are confessing, working, and living the “christian” life without the substance of their vision. We see a scripture and repeat it over and over and wrongly assume we are using our faith.
Instead of decreeing first, take time to listen and to see. It is our responsibility to understand and use those tools to create the outcomes we desire to see (be it multiplication, a priestly family, financial prosperity, healing, etc.). When you take time to visualize, you receive the assurance, the title deed. So, it is vital to listen to the truth of God’s word and to visualize it with the eyes of your heart.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
Over this quarantine time, the Lord has dealt with me in getting the substance of hope, authentic faith. Many times, I’ve confessed the word and said the right things, but there was no substance behind it. The Lord challenged me to dream, to take time to visualize the promise, to walk the land (in my heart), and incubate the Vision.
I have made it a practice every day to lie down on my bed and visualize, dream, and put before me the goals God wants me to possess. I put my vision board on my computer background at home, at work, and on my phone. I am constantly looking to seed myself with the substance of hope. I encourage you to partner with the Holy Spirit and dream because as Pastor Cesar Castellanos has said, “Dreams are the language of the Spirit.” When you have the substance, you have all the evidence you need. (Jonathan Vasquez)
TODAY’S DECLARATION
“Today, I make a decision to dream again. I patiently sit still before the Lord and receive His vision for my life.”
TODAY’S BIBLE READING
- Old Testament: Ezra 4-5; Proverbs 3
- New Testament: Luke 13:22-35; 1 Timothy 2
