The Life of Faith (Pt. 9) - Being Intentional About Your Faith

We’ve been journeying through our extended series on The Life of Faith, and this week we discussed being intentional about our faith. Verse by verse, we went through Hebrews 11 extracting personal insight and practical application from the lives of these great people of faith.

Abel

Abel's story reminds us that faith isn't just reactive to God’s instructions—it can be self-initiated too. Abel gave God the firstborn of his flock without being commanded, tapping into something in God that wouldn’t be revealed for generations. His faith still speaks. Like him, we’re called to act on what we understand of God’s heart, not just what we’re told. This challenges us, especially in areas like tithing and sacrifice, to be intentional and generous in faith.

Enoch

Hebrews 11:5 tells us Enoch walked so closely with God that he didn’t taste death—God simply took him. His testimony? He pleased God. If you’re struggling with intimacy with God or feeling distant, Enoch is your example. His life reminds us that faith can look like deep, quiet devotion—walking closely with God and seeking to please Him.

Noah

Hebrews 11:7 highlights Noah, who obeyed God’s warning and built an ark long before there was any sign of rain. For decades, he followed instructions that made no sense to others—facing mockery while staying faithful.

If God has ever asked you to do something that feels unreasonable, unfamiliar, or unprecedented, Noah is your guy. If you feel like you're pouring your life into something for God with no visible results, take heart—Noah reminds us that obedience often looks like faith that seems foolish until it’s fulfilled.

Abraham

Abraham is the blueprint for anyone walking through uncertainty with God. He left the familiar to follow God into the unknown, without even knowing where he was going. If you’re in a foreign land—physically, emotionally, or spiritually—Abraham is your guy.

He waited 25 years for God’s promise and still obeyed when asked to give it up. If you’ve ever had to surrender something precious—something you fasted and prayed for—Abraham’s story is yours. If you feel confused, unable to plan, or like God is moving in ways you don’t understand, you’re not alone. That’s the walk of faith—and that’s Abraham.

Sarah

Sarah represents those of us who feel weary—too tired to dream, too disappointed to believe. If you’ve grown numb to prophetic words, thinking, “I’ve heard this before,” or you feel like your season has passed, Sarah is your person.

She received strength to conceive when hope seemed gone. If you're feeling too old, too late, or too worn out to start again, let Sarah remind you: it's not over. Faith can still birth the impossible.

Isaac and Jacob

Isaac and Jacob show us the power of speaking into the future by faith. In uncertain times—especially when it comes to our children—we’re reminded to declare God’s promises over them, just as they did.

If you're anxious about your child's future or overwhelmed by the world they’re growing up in, Isaac and Jacob are your example. Faith speaks life, blessing, and destiny—even when the future looks unclear.

Joseph

Joseph shows us how faith thinks beyond this life. As he was dying, he gave instructions about his bones—believing God would fulfill His promise to Israel.

If you’ve ever wondered about your legacy or what you’ll leave behind, Joseph is your example. Faith looks ahead. It prepares, trusts God's promises, and leaves a trail of hope for others to follow—even after we're gone.

Moses

Moses embodies faith in the face of opposition, comfort, and uncertainty. If you've received a denied stamp from someone in authority, if an unfavorable decision is hanging over you—Moses is your guy. His life reminds us that no human verdict outweighs divine purpose.

He left the comfort of Egypt and the testimony of palace living to pursue a greater call. If you're struggling to let go of worldly comfort, past testimonies, or relationships that compromise your calling, Moses speaks to you. Sometimes God calls us to move beyond the blessings of yesterday into the purpose of tomorrow.

Moses also followed divine strategies that made no logical sense—like the Passover or walking through the Red Sea. If you're facing impossible odds, tight deadlines, or dwindling resources, you're in Red Sea territory. And when the wall of Jericho looms large—when you feel like you've come too far only to hit an immovable barrier—remember: faith still brings walls down.

Rahab

Rahab's story reminds us that faith starts with what we hear and believe, not necessarily with what we've seen. She was a harlot, yet she risked everything to protect God’s people—not out of blind kindness, but because she knew what God had done. “I know the Lord has given you the land,” she said. That conviction, based on secondhand stories of God’s power, moved her to action.

Many of us have seen far more than Rahab, yet struggle to trust God. She believed just by hearing. So if you’ve heard testimonies—your own or others—and still wrestle with fear, Rahab challenges us: if you know, then act like it. Faith responds to what it hears with bold, intentional steps.

Building Faith Gradually

1 Corinthians 10:13 assures us there’s no challenge we face that faith can’t handle—because God is faithful and always provides a way of escape. We're never stuck; the faith we need is available, even if we haven’t built it yet.

Like physical strength, faith grows through consistent, intentional effort. No one benches 400 lbs on day one—but with training, it’s possible. Spiritually, the same applies: we may not be ready to part Red Seas now, but if we commit to growing, we will be.

Also, our problems aren’t unique. Others faced lions, fire, and impossible odds—and overcame. The issue isn’t God’s faithfulness; it’s whether we’ve trained our faith to respond.

Often, we walk into challenges unprepared, then blame God when things fall apart. But He’s already provided the tools: past victories, scripture, testimonies, and His voice. David remembered the lion and the bear—so must we.

Faith isn’t random or passive—it’s built through time with God and receiving His word. When He gives a dream, He also gives the capacity to believe for it. If we’re not seeing results, it’s not because He failed, but because we haven’t fully activated what He’s already placed within us.

Be intentional. Train your faith. God has already made the way.