Keidra Hobley: 0:38

Well, welcome to another episode of The One Yes At A Time Podcast. I'm Keidra. I'm here with my friend Susan, and we today are gonna talk about saying yes to faith. How about that? How about the fact that we are here doing this episode is our Yes to faith. And Susan had to have faith in me that I could be able to do this, without her having a clue what I'm about to share. And so I do find it interesting that the Lord is so good at what he does, that he will give us real life examples of what it is he's about to use us to share with other people. I say that because, uh, recently, I've been, attending a new believers class. Hmm. Not that a new believer.

Susan Dies: 1:21

I was gonna say, you're not a new believer.

Keidra Hobley: 1:22

I've been a believer for decades, but the Lord recently told me, get back to the basics. And so when this class became available, I thought what better opportunity to get back to the basics, to even refresh myself with what the basics are. I say that to say this one particular day last week, one of the people that was in the class who really is a new believer, so innocently made the comment,"I don't even know that I know how to have faith." Hmm. I know. And that was my response. And on the inside it kind of just took me back to realize, whoa, maybe I have been so far removed from that newness of faith. I say all that to say, that the person leading the group at one point turned to me and said,"Keidra, do you have anything you wanna share with her?" And I just, my immediate response to her was, I really believe you have more faith than you realize.

Susan Dies: 2:14

Mm.

Keidra Hobley: 2:15

And I say that because when you walked in the room you took a look around. You decided where you wanted to sit. You went and you sat in the chair. You didn't inspect the chair. Mm-hmm. You didn't shake the chair to see if it was sturdy. You didn't press down on the chair to see if it would support your weight. You didn't look underneath it to see if anything was under it. You just sat down.

Susan Dies: 2:35

Mm-hmm.

Keidra Hobley: 2:35

And you fully expected the chair to do what you knew the chair was supposed to do. Hmm. That takes faith.

Susan Dies: 2:42

Right.

Keidra Hobley: 2:43

So the question is not whether or not we have faith. The question is what do we have faith in? Okay? And so in order for us to accept Christ as our savior, if we are saying we are believers, even just to do that, it takes faith. So, Susan, What was your experience? How did you get to the point where you had the faith to accept Christ?

Susan Dies: 3:06

What I have found is faith is a journey... because when I was eight years old, my sister came home from church and she knew in her heart that she wanted to receive Jesus as her savior. So my parents called my uncle to come over to our house. Our uncle was a Baptist preacher. Mm-hmm. Sometimes that hellfire and brimstone, Baptist preacher and you know, when you grow up under that... step on my toes all you want... it doesn't bother me at all. Yes. The more you step on'em the better I like it, in fact. But anyway, at that point in time, there were four of us kids so after Pennie spent that time with my Uncle Bob... talking about what it means to become a Christian and put your faith in Christ... they just kind of went down the line... and we all took our turn going back there with Uncle Bob. And I remember him asking me,"Can you think of any reason why you wouldn't wanna put your faith in Jesus? And I'm just looking at him shaking my head no.. Mm-hmm... I can't think of any reason. And so basically the faith of a child... I placed my faith in Jesus. And so from that point I knew in my heart I was saved, but then when I was 15, I made a rededication of my life. And I think a lot of people who grow up in church and take that step of faith early as a child come to that place of understanding... and a lot of times that comes when you're a teenager. You make decisions that are not in alignment with God's word, and God's will for your life. And of course, like any teenager, I made some of those same mistakes. And so at some point in time I felt like I needed to make a recommitment of my life to him. And so I did that when I was 15 and I even got rebaptized... you know, walked the aisle and did the whole nine yards... but then when I was probably in my late thirties, I came to this place where I just kind of had a crisis of faith. Mm. I was teaching ladies Bible study, but I was struggling with some things at that point in time in my life and what I wanted to be true about everything in my life... was not true. Yeah. And even though I said to the Lord all the time,"I love you. You are my everything. I want to serve you. I want to live my life for you. I want to tell people about you. I love your word." All these things. He was like,"Okay. Mm. Well, we're gonna make that true in your life." And so he began to strip some things out of my life, things that were not of him. I mean, really pruning me and.... talk about growing in your faith. Yes. That's when I really began to grow in my faith. So I gave my life to him as a child. But again, I think that faith is this journey. Mm. That's so good. That's so good. Is that what you were looking for?

Keidra Hobley: 5:43

Hey, I wanted whatever you wanted to share, whatever you wanted to share, because we all have a story and we all have a journey to getting here. Romans 10:17 says, faith comes by hearing the word of God. So at some point... we have to hear the word of God. That's right. And that's how we come to have the faith in order to accept Christ. We had to hear the word of God. Romans 12:3 says, God has given every believer a measure of faith. So let me just assure those of you who are listening, if you have received Christ as your Savior, you already have a measure of faith.

Susan Dies: 6:18

Mm.

Keidra Hobley: 6:19

A lot of people say, I don't know if I have faith or not. I don't have enough faith. No. You have a measure. The question is, what are you doing with it?

Susan Dies: 6:25

That's right.

Keidra Hobley: 6:26

So, uh, going through, some boxes at my house here recently, I came across this set of nesting bowls. They're great. I love them. They're multiple colors. They have lids. They have these rubberized bottoms. I am so happy that I, I dug them out of these boxes. They have been there... for an undisclosed amount of time. Mm-hmm. I'll just say. It's been a really long time, but, but I bring that up to say because it, it's not that I didn't have these bowls. It's not that I didn't already pay for, like the bowls are already paid for. They're mine. They belong to me. Mm-hmm. I just didn't use them. Why? I didn't use them because they were buried underneath all these other boxes. Mm-hmm. And sometimes that's what we do with our faith. We have faith...'cause God has already told us, he's given us a measure of faith. You know, we, we have access to it. It's already been paid for. Jesus died on the cross. We've already accepted him as a savior, but we aren't accessing it. Mm-hmm. And so it's not the fact that we don't have it, it's the fact that we aren't using it. And so the question then is, if we already have it, how do we use it? Mark 11:23 instructs us to believe in our heart... and say with our mouth. In Genesis 1... Remember, what does it say when it starts out in Genesis? In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. That's right. And the earth was without form, and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep and the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Come on. Come on. And then what it said, and God said.

Susan Dies: 7:54

That's right. Whatever he spoke.. That's

Keidra Hobley: 7:56

right... was. It was, it's, he said, let there be light. And it was. And so it's the speaking of it.. He spoke it with his mouth. And so if, that's what God did, that's what we need to do. Right.

Susan Dies: 8:06

And let me just say for those who may struggle with speaking what they believe. You know, sometimes you know in your heart that you're doubting, but you wanna believe. You do believe. You know there's nothing that God cannot do. Yes. So sometimes we just need to say, Lord, help my unbelief. I know that you can, and I pray that you will... yes.

Keidra Hobley: 8:24

And we all have those times. And just because you have unbelief doesn't absolutely mean that you don't have faith. Right? That's so good. I'm glad you mentioned that. 2 Corinthians 4:13 says, I believe, therefore I do what? Speak. I speak. Yes. And so that suggests to me that faith is not silent.

Susan Dies: 8:43

Right.

Keidra Hobley: 8:44

Faith speaks. And so if we aren't saying anything, we have to question, do we really believe it? Do we really have faith in it? Sometimes we don't say it because we don't wanna be disappointed if it doesn't happen. Hmm. Right? And to me, right there, there's an indication that we don't really believe it.

Susan Dies: 9:02

You know, that's interesting that you say that because I did struggle with that earlier in my Christian walk. I didn't wanna speak it out... but really the reason I didn't wanna speak it out is I didn't want God to look bad if he didn't come through. Mm-hmm. Isn't that funny?

Keidra Hobley: 9:16

That's something...

Susan Dies: 9:17

that I was thinking, I've got to defend God. But God has his reasons for why he answers the way he answers... in the timeframe in which he answers... and it's all for our good, even if we can't see it. Yes. And even if we never see it. Yes. It makes me think about the heroes of the faith that are mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11. My favorite definition of faith is Hebrews 11:1 and it says,"Faith is the assurance.. Yes... of things hoped for.. Yes... the evidence of things not seen. And so the question is what are the things that we're hoping for? We hope in God and we hope in his promises, and we find those in His word. We hope in Christ. Mm-hmm. And we hope in forgiveness. We hope in grace and mercy. We hope that heaven is a real place where we are gonna spend eternity with God. All these different promises of things not seen... all the things that we hope for, but are not yet visible to our eyes, and yet faith allows us to see evidence of God and his promises and his presence around us in our everyday lives, even when he has not yet answered the prayers that we prayed or we haven't yet received the things that we've hoped for. So I love so much that in this definition of faith, we see the words assurance and evidence because it's not wishful thinking. Mm-hmm. That's right. And it's not based on blind faith. Yes. The evidence for God. His existence, the evidence for the fact that he is at work and he is in all things and through all things.. Yes... is so clear if you're just willing to open up your eyes and you need faith to do that. Mm-hmm. So faith is a gift that God gives us.. Yes... the moment that we choose to believe.

Keidra Hobley: 11:01

That's so good.

Susan Dies: 11:03

Mm.

Keidra Hobley: 11:03

We're getting excited over here. You can't see us, but we're excited! I like the fact that you said, open up your eyes... because to me that's very interesting...'cause something I often tell people is close your eyes so you can see. Cause if we walk by faith and not by sight, sometimes we're using our natural eyes... looking for evidence.. Right... when we need to close our eyes so we can see the evidence.

Susan Dies: 11:26

That's so good. But I was thinking that when we open our eyes and just looking out at the beauty all around you. Yes. And you're looking at nature. Yes. And you look at the cycle of our seasons. Mm-hmm. In the winter things look dead, and in the spring they come right back to life. Yes. I mean, everything is a picture of God and the reality of life everlasting. Yes. Everything that looks dead is not really dead.. Come on... if God is in it. That's so good. So that's good. I think also of Ephesians 2:8 that tells us that the gift of faith.. Mm-hmm... is to those who believe. It says,"For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith.. Yes... and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God... talking about faith.. Mm-hmm... that it's not by works." Like we can't conjure it up. We can't make faith happen. As humans, we simply have to choose to believe God's message.. Mm-hmm... to us about Jesus... and then he gives us the faith to help us walk that out. Yes. To live it... the faith to wake up every day and choose to apply his word to our lives and then trust him to fulfill those promises until our faith becomes sight.. That's so good... because God is not a genie. Mm-hmm. He doesn't just give us everything we ask for.. Yeah... just because we ask for it. He gives us the things that are in alignment.. Come on... with his word, and the things that are in alignment with his will for us... and sometimes that's not what we might think it is. Yeah. His ways are higher than our ways. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. His ways are better. He's good. He's righteous. He's just in everything he does. That's so good. And so by faith.. Yes... sometimes we just have to trust.

Keidra Hobley: 13:05

That's it. That's it. And we have to trust like what? Like a little child. Hmm. That's what the Bible tells us. Matthew 18:3 tells us we need to become like little children and have that childlike kind of faith. And so what does childlike faith look like to you?

Susan Dies: 13:23

Just a child coming up to their parent.. Mm-hmm... with arms lifted up. Yes. Just trusting... knowing that their parent is gonna meet their needs.. Mm-hmm... and do what's good for them... and actually even set the boundaries within which they should live, so that they can remain safe. Good. I mean, I think of all these things.

Keidra Hobley: 13:38

That's, that's so good. And that's how our heavenly father wants us to be with him. And that is how we should come to him... like a child. And you can't live for God without faith because Hebrews 11:6, says,"Without faith, it is impossible, That's right... to please God.

Susan Dies: 13:53

The rest of that verse says,"Without faith, it is impossible to please God... because those who come to him must believe that he exists.. Yes. Number one. And that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. And I, I looked up this word earnest. Earnest means effort. Yes. Intention. Yes. Purpose. Mm-hmm. And sincerely. It means when we seek him that this is the way we seek after God. To earnestly seek God is this picture of someone who is intent on finding him and having a relationship with Him. And he says that he rewards those who seek him in this way, earnestly, not for what we can get from him.. But He is the reward. Those who are seeking him. And if we seek God in this way, like the heroes of the faith who died not ever even seeing the promises fulfilled. They just lived in anticipation and trust. But like them, we're still gonna be fulfilled even if we don't get the answers to our prayers, even if we don't get the desires of our hearts, because we get God himself. Mm-hmm. And he's more than enough. And in the waiting... in the hardest parts of life when we need his presence, his goodness, his love, his mercy, his grace, all these things... more than anything else, he's there. And if he never gave us anything else.. Yeah... than what he's already given us... the faith to believe, and everything he promises us in Jesus, it's more than we deserve and is more than enough.

Keidra Hobley: 15:20

That's so good. That's so good. What about the ones who are praying for faith? What are your thoughts on that?

Susan Dies: 15:28

If somebody is praying for faith... two things. Number one, understand that you already have a measure of faith that God gave you at salvation. But the way that faith grows... is getting into his word.. Yes... saying"yes" to what he asks us to do... putting it into practice in our lives.. Yes... finding that he is faithful.. That's it... and that's how our faith grows. That's right. So it's not just, Lord, give me more faith. Mm-hmm. It requires some effort. That's right. Some seeking after him, as we just talked about... that's what I would say.

Keidra Hobley: 16:02

Uh, and you're exactly right, because there's no way around it. I see so many believers today that don't wanna get into the word to study, to show themselves approved. Like, you know, they want the benefits of being a believer, but don't want to get into the word. And so, what you said is absolutely right. Faith comes by hearing... the word of God. So if you need more faith, we need more of the word. That's that essentially what we're saying when we are asking God for more faith. And so many of us feel like we don't have faith... because what you mentioned earlier, Susan... that many of our prayers aren't getting answered. And that's why we feel like we don't have faith. Well, if what we're believing in our heart and speaking out of our mouth doesn't line up with the word of God.. Mm-hmm... it's not about a lack of faith, it's about a lack of the word. Right? And so there's no way around it... all road are gonna lead back to the word. We have to get in the word, for ourselves. And that's how you're gonna grow your faith. And so our faith grows depending on what we do with it. Okay. And so I think about plants. People who know me know I don't really do plants but for some reason in this season of my life, I have a lot of plants. Not a lot. I have five. That's a lot for me. I don't know how I got five plants, but if you don't water the plants, how can you expect the plant to produce. And so the watering of your faith with the word, is what's gonna produce the fruit in your life. That's how you're gonna grow your faith. Does that make sense?

Susan Dies: 17:27

That's right. Yeah. We have to make some effort. And that reminds me of this picture that I have. Hanging downstairs. It's a picture of Michelangelo's, the creation of Adam. Mm-hmm. And in this picture God is surrounded by angels, and he is straining... reaching out to Adam. Every muscle in his body... every fiber of his being... as he reaches out to Adam, his muscles are taut, and Adam is just reclining on the grass with his knee up, and his arm draped over his knee. And in this picture, the main detail is that there is this tiny space... because God's hand is reached out, stretched out... reaching toward Adam... Adam's hand is kinda limp. Mm-hmm. All he has to do is lift a finger, one finger.. Ooh... one finger to touch the hand of God. God is not asking.. Mm-hmm... for us to move any mountains. He wants to move the mountains for us. Mm-hmm. But we've got to make some effort. And it made me think of James 4:8 that says,"Draw near to God.." Mm-hmm. Make the effort to seek him. He's already there. Yeah. And it says,"He will draw near to you." So that's a promise for anyone who's willing to believe.

Keidra Hobley: 18:36

That's so good. That's so good. I think that's a great place to wrap this episode up because,"Draw near to God and he will draw near to us"... that is the key. That's right. So in order for us to say Yes to faith, let's just draw near to God and let him draw near to us. Lift that finger. I like that illustration. That's beautiful.

Susan Dies: 18:54

All you gotta do is lift a finger. That's it. Alright. All right.

Keidra Hobley: 18:57

Well, Susan, you wanna pray us out this time.

Susan Dies: 18:59

I will pray us out. God, thank you so much, for this day. Thank you for the promises in your word. Lord, your word is full of promises. It is absolute truth that we can count on. And so God, I pray that today the yes would be that we would start going to your word to find out what you have to say about everything in our lives, Lord, so that we can make the right decisions, the best decisions, and we can position ourselves for the outpouring of your blessings in our life. Just beginning with a life in Christ, just beginning with our salvation. But God, thank you for that faith that you give us to believe... and thank you for the journey of faith that we don't have to have it all at one time, Lord, just as we apply your word to our lives and we see that what your word says is exactly the way things go Lord, it's clear that you are faithful and Lord, you help us to be faithful And so, Lord, I just thank you for the gift of faith. Mm-hmm. I thank you that it's not something that we have to come up with on our own, but Lord it is something that we have to work at, that we have to make an effort with, so that we can grow in our faith and get stronger. And Lord, we just trust that it's by your strength and by the power of your spirit working in us and through us, that we'll be able to do that, Lord. And so we give you our yes today, and I pray all these things in the beautiful and precious and strong name of your son Jesus. Amen. Amen.