By Faith – The Presidential Prayer Team

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God. – Hebrews 11:3

One of the age-old dilemmas is the seeming contradiction between faith and reason. So often it might feel as though human reason and the Christian faith are in conflict. The author of Hebrews offers encouragement for these times, reminding readers that just because something is outside of human reasoning does not necessarily make it unreasonable.

In Hebrews chapter 11, the phrase “by faith” is used nineteen times. The point of this chapter was not to enter into any kind of debate about science versus religion or seen versus unseen. Instead, the writer shows how powerful faith can be. It is by faith that we believe that God created the universe. It was by faith that great biblical leaders like Noah, Abraham, Sarah, and Moses followed God and His plan for their lives. Faith empowered the heroes of faith to conquer kingdoms, raise people from the dead, face torture, and even death all for God’s sake.

The point of faith is not to rely on the obvious choices or what is clearly seen. The power of faith lies in the fact that it transcends all human doubt, fear, and understanding to accomplish God’s perfect plan. Take time to meditate on all that faith enabled humans to accomplish in the Bible. Think about your own faith and remember how it has empowered you in your own life. Ask God to continue to strengthen your faith to face whatever He has ahead of you. Pray over the country, that its leaders and citizens would walk first by faith in God, and that it would enable them to do great things for Him.

Today’s Verse: Hebrews 11:3

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: Hebrews 11:1-3, 13-16, 39-40

11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. ²For by it the people of old received their commendation. ³By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

¹³These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. ¹⁴For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. ¹⁵If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.