Acting Faith on the Promises of God

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
(James 1:5-8 ESV)

I am sure that all of us can remember a movie or tv show they have watched (though I wonder how many can name one, because I can't think of the name of one in particular), where you have a child, boy or girl that is in an orphanage. The child has been there for quite a few years and is still holding on to a promise from their parent that left them there. The promise was that they would pick them up soon. My thoughts are that another parent has come to the orphanage to adopt the child, and even though many years have passed, the child won't let go of the promise. In the end, the delinquent parent never returns, and the child has believed a promise in vain.

The child's faith is worthy of our imitating, but the person who made the promise to the child is not a worthy object to place one's faith in. The parent either didn't have the resources to make good on the promise, or did not have the desire to fulfill the promise.

What does the Christian's faith look like? The Christian lives each day ACTING FAITH ON THE PROMISES OF GOD. We have a book filled with the promises of God. It is as if we have been stranded in this orphanage of life. We have promises to cling to (like the child in my example), but they are made by One who is able to make good on His promises. Our duty, is to tell the other children in the orphanage that there is a great and wonderful Father that will come for each and every one of us who will quit trusting in themselves, or another delinquent father to save them. This Father has a mansion filled with many, many rooms. His Son told me so, and I am acting my faith on His promises. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
(John 14:2-3 ESV)