S – Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. ² This is what the ancients were commended for.

Hebrews 11:1 NIV

O – Commentary:

Before presenting the list of examples, the author defines what faith is: It is acting on what God has revealed about his will and character. • The confidence of faith is based on the God who fulfills his promises. • The word translated assurance means an active certainty that what God has promised will come to pass despite our not yet seeing it.

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Heb 11:1.

A – God reveals himself to us in many ways in various demonstrations.  Faith is distilling down our observations to what we believe about his will and character – the person of God that He is.  That allows us to believe with great confidence, knowing that he will fulfill his promises. It will always stretch us out of our comfort zone because God is big and infinite.

R – Heavenly Father, you are big and infinite.  There is no lack in ability, power or presence in you.  Empower us today to grow in our faith and trust in you.  We want to know you more and have greater faith in your will and character.