Calling Those Things That Do Not Exist As Though They Did

We overcome the world by faith (1John 5:4). We are commanded to live a lifestyle of faith, and not one of dependence on feelings and circumstances (2 Corinthians 5:7). We are to keep our gaze on unseen things, the promises of God, and keep our eyes on these promises until they are manifested for all to see (2 Corintians 4:18). Our entire Christian life is a fight to stay in faith (1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7). We are to trust the Lord with all our hearts, and we are not to trust in our thinking abilities or any of our own natural abilities apart from God’s Word (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Simply put, walking or living by faith is living or acting as though God’s Word were true right now. Many of the things that the Lord promises us in His Word seem as though they are not real in our lives. And it is our faith that brings what God has promised (that which is yet unseen or unfelt) to us, into this world where we can see, feel, and experience it. And when we choose to live by faith, we please God so much (Hebrew 11:6)!

The verse at the beginning of this article shows us exactly what to do when we live by faith. We are to CALL THOSE THINGS THAT DO NOT EXIST AS THOUGH THEY DID! The Amplified version of Romans 4:17 says it so well, “... and speaks of non-existent things that He has foretold and promised, as if they already existed.”

Faith says, “I believe that I have the money that I need,” even when it seems as though you can’t pay the bills. Faith says, “I believe that my body is healed even when the doctor has a very negative report. Faith says, “My children are obedient and faithful,” even when they’re acting up! Faith says, “My marriage is getting stronger,” even when it looks as though you’re drifting farther apart. When you’re standing in faith, you’re agreeing with what God’s Word says, and with how you prayed about a situation, even when it seems there is no change!

This is God’s answer for anxiety when it attacks us. In stead of believing that things will continue the way they are, pray and ask the Lord to change the situation, and then talk as though you believe that He’s answering your prayer! We presently believe something about every area of life right now anyway, so why not go ahead and believe the promises of God instead of the circumstances that we see!

Too many times instead of doing what God’s Word says and call those things that do not exist as though they did, we turn it around and call those things that are as though they are! “Nothing ever works out for me!” “It looks like I’m getting worse.” “I don’t have the money to pay this bill.” “My children never obey the way they should.” “My marriage is getting worse all the time.” That’s not the way we’re supposed to talk if we want the Lord to turn our problems around! It takes absolutely no faith to talk like that. But that’s the way most of the world lives. Though we are in the world, we are not to live the way the world does. We are a “peculiar people!”