But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6, Amplified)

Our faith pleases God. Think about that. We can be pleasing to the Creator of the Universe. He loves us no matter what, but oh to be pleasing to Him. Forget about being a people pleaser and become a God-pleaser. How? By faith.

What is faith? Let’s take a look at Colossians 1:4 in the Amplified to see faith defined.

For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus [the leaning of your entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness]…

I love the use of the word leaning. Faith is not just believing in God and His faithfulness to do what He said, but in so completely believing and trusting that you lean on Him and His word to the point that if He wasn’t there you’d fall.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6, KJV)

Throughout the Psalms David spoke often of this trusting, this leaning on the Lord.

Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass. (Psalm 37:5, Amplified)

By [the help of God] I will praise His word; on God I lean, rely, and confidently put my trust; I will not fear. What can man, who is flesh, do to me? (Psalm 56:4, Amplified)

Trust in, lean on, rely on, and have confidence in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is a refuge for us (a fortress and a high tower). Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! (Psalm 62:8, Amplified)

…I lean on, rely on, and trust in Your word. (Psalm 119:42, Amplified)

The very first scripture in today’s post comes from the book of Hebrews chapter eleven. This is known by many as the “Faith Hall of Fame”. Men and women who did mighty and impossible things in their lives because of faith. David is among this list of people, as are Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, the Israelites (led by Moses and Joshua), Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, Samuel, the prophets, and the women who “received again their dead by a resurrection”, those who refused to deny Him and suffered for His Name, and the martyrs. The mighty men and women of the Bible…

Who by [the help of] faith subdued kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promised blessings, closed the mouths of the lions, extinguished the power of raging fire, escaped the devourings of sword, out of frailty and weakness won strength and became stalwart, even mighty and resistless in battle, routing alien hosts. (Hebrews 11:33-34, Amplified)

All by faith, simple trust and confidence in God (Hebrews 11:28, Amplified). Stop leaning on your own abilities, your own strength, your own understanding and by faith in God access the grace of God which is the power of Christ resting on you (see 2 Corinthians 12:9). Then you will find yourself walking in His abilities, His strength, His understanding in whatever you face. It is of faith that it might be by grace (Romans 4:17).

It pleases Him when you lean on Him so He can get involved in all that you do.

I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust! For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. [Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge… A thousand shall fall at your side, then ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High]… (Psalm 91:2-4 7-8; Amplified)