Living by the Power of Faith, parts 1 and 2

My next few blog posts will be a collection of insights that I gathered from a favorite book of mine written by Elder Gene R. Cook entitled, "Living by the Power of Faith." I first read this book while I was on my mission and came away with a brand new understanding of faith and just how miraculous it really is. I hope that by sharing these thoughts with you readers that you will glean something from them which will expand your knowledge of faith and how to use it every single day.

The Power of Faith

• Learning to exercise faith is a spiritual, not a natural, process
• We hear much about what the world teaches about a positive attitude, but faith is much more than that
• Pray many times for help in understanding the principle of faith
• The Lord is our true trainer and teacher
• Let Him permanently change some things inside of you

What Faith Is

• Faith is the Substance of Things Hoped For

1. The promise of eternal life comes by faith
2. Those things that appear not to be, are. And those things that appear to be, are not. It depends on whether you look at it with your spiritual or natural eyes
3. We must always be sure not to take any glory unto ourselves
4. Believe that the Lord can deliver us. If we go forth in faith, doing our part, the Lord will provide

• Faith is the Principle of Action in All Intelligent Beings

1. As faith is the moving cause of all action in temporal concerns, so it is in spiritual
2. Think about every single thing that you do, and you will come to the conclusion that there is no action among men that is not born of faith
3. Our food, raiment, lodging, and all we have come as a result of that kind of faith
4. Ask yourself: Are my everyday actions based on faith in the Lord or in something else?

• Faith is Power

1. When we talk of faith, sometimes we think only of belief, or of straining our mind to believe in something
2. Faith is literally the power by which God Himself operates
3. When someone says, "I have got to study other things now, because I have already studied the first principles of the gospel," he is a long way from even beginning to understand a small part of the first principle of the gospel---faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
4. Faith is much more than just a positive attitude or any of the many techniques that man has learned to use to achieve his desires. True faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ unto life and salvation.