The Psalmist said, I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13). You must believe to see the goodness of the Lord manifested in your life. Believe to see God fulfilling His promises for you and supplying all of your needs, spiritual, physical and financial.

Any time you fail to believe to see God’s goodness, you are spiritually fainting; and that will make you spiritually weak in difficult times. If you want to walk with God and please Him, you must know what it means to believe to see.

Life on this Earth is no paradise. Jesus warned, In the world ye shall have tribulation (John 16:33). You will experience hardships, sorrows, persecutions and temptations in this life. In fact, the closer to God you live, the more you are subject to those things; but Jesus went on to say, Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33). If you abide in Jesus and His Word abides in you, you will be an overcomer too.

Don’t Live by Natural Sight

Physical vision takes place when your eye takes in the surrounding images it sees. Your human mind instantly processes those images to produce understanding of what you are looking at. Spiritual vision takes place through a spiritual mind; so to have that vision, you must take on a spiritual mind. Paul said, But we have the mind of Christ (I Corinthians 2:16).

Child of God, you must learn to live by spiritual eyesight and believe to see. Physical eyesight focuses on your circumstances, on what people and the devil are doing and on self and its limitations and weaknesses. All of those things make you weak. Living only by your natural eyesight will displease God and distance you from Him because natural eyesight produces doubt, fear, grumbling, complaining and spiritual weakness; and those things will ultimately cause you to fail God.

Living by your natural eyesight will cause what happens in this life to dictate what you do, what you say and how you respond. You won’t be able to see past your problems long enough to focus on God and His promises; so you will become spiritually weak, selfish and full of opinions.

Living by your natural eyesight is really living by your feelings. When everyone is treating you right, all your needs are being supplied and things around you are well, you feel good. However, when things go wrong, it’s a different story.

Live by Faith

Believing to see is living by faith. Hebrews 11 is known as the faith chapter, and the very first verse gives a wonderful definition of divine faith. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). That which you hope for from God—answered prayer, deliverance or anything else you need—is what you must hold on to. If you prayed but God hasn’t yet moved, divine faith is your evidence that He will move. It is the evidence of what you pray for and believe for before the answer comes.

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17). When you begin your journey with the Lord, you start out in divine faith; but do you continue on that path? When things don’t go your way, do you go from faith to faith, or do you go from faith into doubt, fear, grumbling and complaining?

Those who are justified in God’s eyes will never leave the realm of faith. The just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17). It takes spiritual eyesight to live by divine faith; and when you have that spiritual sight, you are well regardless of what is going on around you. Your spiritual vision sees past your troubles and focuses on God, His Word, His promises and His character. Paul said, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

When you live by faith, you will be filled with courage and strength no matter what you have to face in this life because your vision is not focused on your problems but on the Lord. Then you will know, There is nothing too hard for thee [God] (Jeremiah 32:17).

Goliath Challenges the Israelites

To compare using spiritual vision with using natural vision, the Holy Spirit took me to the story of David and Goliath. The Israelites were at war with the Philistines, and the enemies of God’s people were camped on one side of a great valley while the Israelites were on the other side. The Philistines’ champion was a giant named Goliath; and each day, he sent forth his challenge to the Israelite soldiers: I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together (I Samuel 17:10). He defied and mocked God’s people and even God Himself.

King Saul and his army represented God, but they weren’t living close to Him at that time. When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid (I Samuel 17:11). The Israelite soldiers were seeing things through their natural vision and were not living by faith.

One day, young David arrived on the scene to check on his older brothers, who were soldiers in King Saul’s army. David was a shepherd who watched over his father’s sheep; and during those times, he would spend his days in the presence of the Lord writing psalms of praise unto God. David’s heart was full of love and faith for God, and that gave him clear, spiritual vision of God’s divine will and the courage and strength to fulfil that will.

Natural Vision vs. Spiritual Vision

And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man [Goliath], fled from him, and were sore afraid. And David [a young boy] spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God (I Samuel 17:24,26)?

Natural vision breeds selfishness, and all King Saul and his soldiers thought about was themselves. They feared Goliath and what might happen to them. David, on the other hand, had spiritual vision and a heart full of love and faith; and all he thought about was, “Who is this devil-possessed enemy of God who is defying God and His army?” He didn’t care about himself; he cared about bringing retribution against the uncircumcised Philistine for what he was doing and saying to God and His people.

David had a heart full of love and faith, and he was not afraid to stand for God and do His will at the expense of his own life. He was determined to take away the reproach the devil-possessed giant was placing on God’s people and do what was right in the eyes of God.

David Accepted the Challenge

David had and used divine faith, and he knew God would deliver Goliath into his hands. Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied (I Samuel 17:45).

David’s spiritual vision was in clear focus; and he went on to say, This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel (I Samuel 17:46).

Through spiritual vision, David saw the victory over Goliath taking place. Then it took just one stone and one swing of his slingshot to bring it about. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth (I Samuel 17:49). All God needs to perform the miraculous is a human vessel full of divine faith.

Have the Mind of Christ

Paul said, For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God (Romans 8:5–8).

Natural vision cannot please God; only divine faith in operation pleases Him. Paul said, But without faith it is impossible to please him (Hebrews 11:6). He also said, But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his (Romans 8:9). The Spirit of God dwelling in you is the Holy Spirit, and every child of God must be baptized in the Spirit and be full of Him.

The Holy Spirit will lead you to take on the mind of Christ. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5). The mind of Christ in operation gives clear, spiritual vision at all times, the same kind of vision Jesus had. When you live by spiritual vision, your mind will always be at peace and filled with joy; and your tongue will be full of praise, honor and glory to God.

Thomas Lived in Feelings

Let’s examine two stories in the Gospels. The first one is an example of a person who disappointed Jesus by using natural vision. The other is an example of a person who pleased Jesus very much by using spiritual vision. The first story found in John 20 takes place the evening after Jesus had been resurrected from the dead. The disciples were gathered together when suddenly, Jesus appeared in their midst; but one of the disciples, Thomas, was not there.

Thomas was accustomed to living by natural eyesight; and since Christ’s crucifixion, he had separated himself from the other disciples. He was selfish and living in his feelings, and he felt no need of gathering with the other disciples to be a blessing and encouragement to them. Because of that, he missed Jesus’ first appearance to the disciples.

Later, when the disciples told Thomas about Jesus coming to them, he was so stubborn that he refused to believe it and said, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe (John 20:25). That was such an unreasonable request from a carnal mind that was full of doubt, stubbornness and ego.

Eight days later, the disciples once again gathered together; and that time, Thomas was with them. Then Jesus again appeared in their midst, and He immediately went after Thomas for his lack of faith. Then saith he [Jesus] to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed (John 20:27–29). Notice that Jesus did not say Thomas was blessed; He said those who believe to see are blessed.

A Centurion with Great Faith

The second story is found in Matthew 8. A certain Gentile centurion had a servant who was very sick; and even though the Jews considered the Gentiles to be heathens, the man went seeking Jesus to get healing for his servant. And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed (Matthew 8:5–8).

Unlike Thomas, the centurion demonstrated great humility before Jesus; and he had so much divine faith that he believed to see his servant made whole without Jesus even going to his house. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel (Matthew 8:10). That humble centurion’s faith caused an awesome reaction in Jesus. That should show you how much it still means to the Lord today when His children live by divine faith.

And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour (Matthew 8:13). The centurion trusted Jesus’ words, and he believed to see; and the miracle took place.

Be Faithful

During Jesus’ ministry, He taught and demonstrated that children of God are to please the heavenly Father through divine faith. He said, Have faith in God (Mark 11:22). He also said, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth (Mark 9:23).

If you are a born-again child of God who is filled with the Holy Ghost and living a holy life, you are an heir of God and a joint-heir with Christ. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs [equal heirs] with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together (Romans 8:16,17). Sufferings will come to you in this life, so you must live by faith. If you suffer faithfully for Jesus, you will be glorified with Him in eternity one day.

Many times, believing to see requires divine patience. Paul wrote, Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise (Hebrews 10:35,36). Don’t cast away your trust and confidence in God and His Word simply because He does not answer right away. Every promise of God has conditions; and if you meet the conditions of the promise you need and do God’s will, the promise will be fulfilled in due season. You must patiently wait and believe to see God move for you.

Divine Faith Pleases God

Throughout the four Gospels, Jesus demonstrated that He possessed all power. He healed all manner of sickness and disease; He raised the dead; He cast out devils; He walked the waters, and He calmed the angry seas. But Jesus’ great power could only work according to people’s faith. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you (Matthew 9:29).

Divine faith in God heals the sick. And he [Jesus] said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague (Mark 5:34). Divine faith in God saves souls. And he [Jesus] said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven…Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace (Luke 7:48,50).

Jesus was so pleased when He found divine faith in operation, but He was displeased when He found a lack of divine faith. Jesus was in a boat with the disciples in the midst of a terrible storm, and the disciples were afraid and thinking they were going to die because they were not using spiritual vision. Jesus said to them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm (Matthew 8:26). The disciples had lost sight of the fact that the very Son of God was right there with them on the boat.

Jesus must have grown so tired and weary within Himself as He consistently struggled with the lack of divine faith in people, and especially in His own disciples. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you (Matthew 17:17)? Every child of God must know the necessity of living by faith, so you can please Jesus moment by moment and from faith to faith.

Where Is Your Faith?

At one point near the close of Jesus’ ministry, He asked a profound question: Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth (Luke 18:8)? When Jesus makes His second appearance, will your divine faith be in operation? Will you be patiently waiting and looking for His promised return? Will your garments be spotless, and will you be working to bring in the last of the harvest of lost souls?

Jesus also posed the question, Where is your faith (Luke 8:25)? Friend, you are in spiritual trouble if you put your faith in anything but the Word of the living God and His promises. Jesus said, Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away (Matthew 24:35).

If you have a great need in your life today, believe to see the promises of God fulfilled for you. Believe to see your problem solved or your miracle or healing take place. Then glorify God by telling others about what He has done for you.