Have you had enough of faith formulas? There are seven steps to this and seven steps to that…. Now, I’m not saying that these are all bad. However, in trying times, people need to hear what is real. And they are truly wanting to hear from God! How about you? Are you ready for a faith that is fool-proof and effective? Are you ready to be a victor in the scheme of life, rather than just a recipient of its circumstances?

As simple as it may sound, God’s detailed design for operating faith has been laid out for us in the Bible. And it all begins with the love of God—not just your love for others—but your knowing that God loves you. Productive faith hinges upon this.

For some people, it took having to endure hard times for them to become receptive to God and His ways. Yet to truly operate in faith, one must be submitted to God and His Word. A submitted person is a humble person. It takes genuine humility to have faith in God. When you submit yourself to God, this means you depend upon Him, His ability and power, and not your own.

Also, true humility means preferring and obeying God’s will over what you may personally think, feel, or desire. It is only when a man enters into this type of humility that he can successfully operate in faith. Your genuine humility allows your faith to work, and you can now trust God’s ability to bring to pass what you desire. When God finds such a man or woman, He, in turn, provides more grace. “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6).

Now grace, although it is free, can only be accessed through faith. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). In like manner, everything that has been provided for us by the finished works of Christ can only be possessed by faith. Consequently, we must constantly be developing in faith, so that we may access all that God has appropriated for us through grace.

In addition, faith will only work when the will of God is known. This opens the door for the will of God to be operative in your life, and it now becomes a mission for Him to perform it. When you know the will of God, you will submit to the will of God.

The time is over for working hard at working hard. Often, this type of effort ends up crumbling at the end. It is time to trust God!

I am excited about God’s power never failing us. I am excited about knowing that God loves me every day. When you begin to believe God loves you, your faith will work. Faith works by love. Faith works by how much I believe God loves me.

David in the Bible is a good example (1 Samuel 17). Do you know that his name means “beloved?” It was so easy for David to fearlessly slay a ten-foot giant, because he knew he was God’s beloved. When you begin to believe that God loves you, even if the tempter does shows up, temptation won’t work, because you are God’s beloved.

God’s love for us is expressed through His grace. Say to yourself, “God loves me. Therefore, my bills will be paid.” “God loves me. Therefore, I am healed.” “God loves me. Therefore, I can get my prayers answered.” The source of effective faith is knowing that God loves you!

Author's Bio: 

Creflo Dollar is the founder and senior pastor of World Changers Church International (WCCI) in College Park, Georgia, which serves nearly 30,000 members; World Changers Church-New York, which hosts over 6,000 worshippers each week; and a host of satellite churches, located in Los Angeles, California; Indianapolis, Indiana; Washington, D.C.; Cincinnati, Ohio; Cleveland, Ohio; Dallas and Houston, Texas; and Carrollton, Norcross, Macon, and Marietta, Georgia. As mandated by God, Creflo Dollar’s goal is to establish 500 satellite churches around the world. With 30 years in ministry, Creflo Dollar is committed to bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to people all over the world, literally changing the world one person at a time.