If you’re a Christian or Messianic believer in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and His Son, you have faith. Having faith simply means possessing such a strong belief in something that you live your life by it. It is your faith in the Bible, God’s word that gives you the confidence of salvation. You believe its promises and this gives you hope, strength and fulfillment in life which non-believers lack. True Biblical faith is life changing. Because you believe that the Messiah died for your sins, you stop sinning and begin living a new life in Him by obeying His laws.

What are the benefits of having faith? In faith, believers pray for the sick and injured every day. Thanks to recent scientific studies, we now know that prayer works. According to Reader’s Digest (December 2004), in an article titled “The Healing Power of Prayer,” doctors at Yale University School of Medicine discovered that faith-filled believers who are poor are less likely to be depressed than their unbelieving peers. In the same article, a study in Italy proved that praying adults improved their heart and lung functions and “in a study of 999 cardiac patients from Mid America Heart Institute of St. Luke’s Hospital, those who unknowingly had others praying for them fared better than those heart patients who didn’t receive intercessory prayers.”

These aren’t the only studies that prove prayer works. Duke University Medical Center did its own study, which came to the same conclusion: “…Patients who are prayed over recover faster and have fewer complications from serious illness.” There isn’t enough room in this article to list all similar studies. Let it suffice that living on faith and prayer works and has been proven scientifically beyond a doubt.

Are you looking for a good church that is based in the theology, tradition and practices that you have grown to love and respect? Many institutions are scattered across the country giving us close to half a million religious organization choices.

Let us look at Christianity. The Roman Catholic Church has a strong history and has several diocese and church parishes scattered throughout every state in the Union. The Roman Catholic Church has resources available dating back to the birth of Jesus Christ. This religious organization is presented with the same formatting of services around the world. Their masses are offered in the language of the area. Every Catholic can attend Holy Mass and be fully aware of what is happening around them because of the structure and uniformly consistent order of proceedings. The Roman Catholic Church is the largest church in the states. The National Shrine of the Divine Mercy is located in Stockbridge, MA.

The World Changers Church International in Atlanta, GA and New York City with Dr. Creflo A. Dollar is a good example of modern Evangelical practices. Creflo and Taffi L. Dollar practice what they preach. Living a faith-filled life is essential to a believer in Christ. They educate parishioners and people around the world using television, radio and the internet. Dr. and Mrs. Dollar instruct individuals how to live the Gospels of Christ during everyday life.

The Presbyterian Churches have a variety of different denominations including Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, Evangelical and many others. Practicing religious freedoms in the US has never been easier with all the choices available to its citizens.

Life is a difficult journey through the years for everyone. There are often major bumps in the road of life that tax one's inner resources. It is in these times that faith makes it possible to deal with the problems of life and move on triumphantly. Sir William Osler, a famous Canadian physician, once said: “Without faith a man can do nothing; with it all things are possible.”

Modern science is discovering the benefits of faith. If you want to live longer— some studies say as much as seven years longer— have faith. In a study done at Dartmouth Medical School, it was shown that people of faith are three times more likely to survive open heart surgery. Other studies reveal that people with faith that suffer from high blood pressure, cancer, and heart disease have a far better prognosis than those that are faithless.

Faith invites the Divine to enter one's life to lead and guide in the face of fears and doubts. With one's faith anchored in the Divine, one can face life with confidence that all obstacles will be overcome. Faith calms the spirit and gives one courage to tackle all problems. Faith gives hope. As faith increases, so does hope. One becomes optimistic that faith will carry them through the most difficult situations. Furthermore, faith helps one to overcome all destructive and negative emotions. Then as faith and hope increase, it makes it possible for one to love and be happy.

Faith means to trust, in someone, something, or a belief. We use faith every day in many ways. Faith and religion are not the same thing. Faith is not mentally agreeing with something, just as faith and hope are not the same. Faith also is not a way to get God to do what you want. Faith is that you know that you know, that you know, that God and Jesus are the real deal. Faith is knowing that you can trust Jesus with your life, and God will answer prayers that you pray with no strings attached.

Faith is believing before you see the results of what you are praying for. You know that you accept God at His word and it pleases Him. Hebrews 11:6 confirms that you need faith to please God. When you have faith and please God, He moves in your behalf. Faith is a heart thing. 2Corthinians 5:7 says that we walk out our life by faith, not by what we can see.

You must move in faith before you can have hope, and you need to have both to live the christian life. Hebrews 11:17-38 talks about the heroes of faith in the Old Testament. They had faith in things that looked impossible yet they came to pass. Abraham and Sarah were past the childbearing years, God told them they would have a child and they did. Also having faith gives you an inner peace that cannot be explained. Christians feel that as you read, study, and pray your faith will grow stronger.