Utter dependence

Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk. (John 5:8 NIV)

 Real faith is not a passive thing; it acts out what it believes. It is a practical thing; it does not expect God to do the thing that we alone can do. A believing person puts faith into action.
 When he has asked God for something, he proceeds to believe God and takes God at His Word. He actually believes that God really meant what He said, though the natural senses may deny every step of the way that which his faith has claimed.
 Yet he knows that God’s Word is true and that God cannot fail that Word. Great is His faithfulness! Many times that is called “the stand of faith.”
 The seat of faith is in the will, and I’ve found that God certainly expects us to put our faith into action. You know, faith isn’t some glorious feeling, some wonderful sensation, as many think. It’s simply taking God at His Word.
 It is utter dependence upon the veracity of another. So faith is utter dependence on the truthfulness, the faithfulness of God. —VBB [1]

 Those who take prayer seriously become capable of everything, in the sense of love for their brothers and sisters, Christian proclamation, and overcoming all difficulties. —Francesco Peyron

[1] —VBB Anchor Taking up Your Mat