Living by Faith: It's Time for a Faith Checkup

Have you ever stopped to consider the foundation of your spiritual life? Not just your church attendance or your knowledge of Scripture, but the actual faith that sustains you day by day? There's a powerful truth woven throughout the Bible that appears not once, not twice, but three times—and when God repeats something three times, there's no room for discussion: "The just shall live by faith."

This declaration appears in Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, and Galatians 3:11. When Scripture emphasizes something with such repetition, we need to pay attention. It's not just a suggestion or a nice spiritual concept—it's the very heartbeat of how we're meant to live as believers.

Before we can understand living by faith, we need to grasp what it means to be "just." In biblical terms, being justified means looking as though you never sinned. It's the complete work of redemption through Christ that wipes away our past and gives us a fresh start. We all came to Christ with a history, with baggage, with failures—but justification means God sees us through the lens of Jesus' perfection.

The challenge isn't just receiving this gift of justification; it's living it out. Many people don't want to change their past patterns. They don't want to renew their minds. But here's a truth worth remembering: You have to renew your mind and be kind. We are called to love God and love others—even the unlovable.

There's something significant about the number 120 in Scripture. When the Azusa Street Revival celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2016, many took note. But here's what we can't miss: 2026 marks 120 years since that outpouring of the Holy Spirit. And 120 is no random number—it's the number of faithful believers who stayed in the upper room waiting for the promise of the Father.

History tells us that 500 people initially went to that upper room, but only 120 remained. The difference? Stick-to-itiveness. Faithfulness. Perseverance. Everyone can claim to be a Christian, but are you surrendered totally to Jesus Christ? There's a vast difference between true Christians and mere churchgoers.

One of the most powerful concepts in understanding faith is what we might call "faith based on knowledge"—not just intellectual knowledge, but experiential knowledge of God's faithfulness. It's remembering what God has already done and using that as a foundation for believing what He will do.

Think about it this way: If God provided for you when you only had enough for bubble gum, then you can trust Him when you need a Snickers bar. If He opened one door, He can open another. If He canceled one debt, He can cancel more. Faith based on knowledge means building on the testimony of God's past faithfulness in your life.

This is exactly what sustained Abraham. He received a promise from God that he would have a son, and for 25 years—quarter of a century—he stood on that promise. Year after year, as both he and Sarah grew older and the natural circumstances became increasingly impossible, Abraham refused to look at their bodies. He looked at God instead.

You cannot find anywhere that God ever failed. Nowhere.

Here's a revelation that might surprise you: The devil isn't after your faith. Every person has been given a measure of faith by God. What the enemy is really after is your crazy faith—the kind of faith that believes for healing when doctors say it's impossible, the kind that declares you're debt-free when bills are piling up, the kind that claims the house when you don't have a dollar in your pocket.

That's the faith that terrifies the kingdom of darkness. That's the faith that moves mountains.

Faith isn't passive. It's not sitting around hoping things will work out. Faith takes action. When God told Abraham to leave his country and his kindred, Abraham obeyed and went out "not knowing where he was going." That's faith in motion.

Consider what faith looks like practically:

Faith is consistent. It doesn't waver with circumstances. It stands firm day after day, not just in moments of inspiration.

Faith is real. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that "faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for."

Faith is now. Not someday, not eventually, but in this present moment. The moment you believe is the moment your joy becomes full—not when you receive what you're believing for, but when you believe.

Here's a practical question that demands an honest answer: What is your faith project right now? What are you believing God for? Can you name it specifically?
Every believer should have a faith project—something that requires you to trust God beyond your natural abilities. It might be financial breakthrough, physical healing, restoration of a relationship, or provision for a specific need. But you need to be able to name it.

Once you've named it, ask yourself: What action do I need to take? Faith without works is dead. If you're believing for a car, go look at the car. Find out the information. Understand what you're believing for. But—and this is crucial—don't get the $700 car when you can only afford $300. Get what you can afford now while continuing to believe for what you ultimately want. That's wisdom working alongside faith.

The universe was created by the power of God's words. He spoke, and the invisible realm gave birth to all that is seen. If we're made in His image, our words carry creative power too.
What are you speaking over your life? Are you speaking faith-filled words, or are you complaining, murmuring, and worrying? Remember this: Worry is a sin. It's the opposite of faith. It says, "I don't trust God to handle this."
Feed your faith and starve your doubt. How? By speaking the Word. By declaring truth over your circumstances. Speak to the mountain, and the mountain will be moved. Don't pray to the mountain—command it to move in Jesus' name.

God isn't looking for the flashy or the famous. He's looking for the faithful ones. On that final day, the greatest commendation won't be "well done, great and powerful servant," but "well done, good and faithful servant."

All the titles, all the accomplishments, all the impressive achievements mean nothing if we haven't been faithful. God delights in day-after-day faithfulness more than spectacular one-time sacrifices. He values obedience over burnt offerings.

Here's the sobering truth from Hebrews 11:6: Without faith living within us, it would be impossible to please God. Not difficult. Not challenging. Impossible.

We come to God in faith knowing that He is real and that He rewards the faith of those who patiently seek Him. This means your spiritual life cannot be built on feelings, circumstances, or even logical reasoning alone. It must be built on faith—trust in the character and promises of God.

The just shall live by faith. Not by sight. Not by feelings. Not by circumstances. By faith.

This is your invitation to a faith checkup. How is your faith today? Is it growing or stagnant? Are you building on past testimonies of God's faithfulness, or have you forgotten what He's already done? Are you speaking faith or doubt? Are you taking faith-filled action or waiting passively?

God has given you a measure of faith. The question is: What are you doing with it? Are you feeding it with the Word? Are you exercising it through obedience? Are you stretching it with impossible-seeming faith projects?

Remember Abraham, who believed for 25 years before seeing the promise. Remember the 120 who stayed in the upper room when 500 started. Remember that God has never failed—not once, not ever.

It's time to live as the just—justified, made righteous, and full of faith. It's time to stop checking boxes and start surrendering completely. It's time to move from merely believing in God to having the faith of God operating in your life.

Only believe. That's the call. That's the challenge. That's the pathway to seeing the impossible become possible.

Your faith checkup starts now.