Faith generally when we hear it usually is in the context of church and/or religion. Yes, I would agree that it’s a term very much utilized in the context of religion. It’s defined by most as the substance of things hoped for but the evidence of things unseen. I would also argue that faith and its essence is very much a universal concept that basically means we have to believe for things that at the present moment may not be true. If you want to be professional athletic, that requires you to believe its possible long before you’ve made any professional team. Let’s take an aspiring American football player for example, prior to the realization of his dream and playing for an NFL team he would have had to first play college and more than likely high school believing in himself along the way. The same can be said for someone wanting to become a doctor, teacher, find love, or anything for that matter. Long before they’ve become or achieved those things, they would have had to first believe it was possible. You hear motivational speakers including myself often saying, “if you believe it, you can achieve it” and to certain extent that very much is true. I don’t want to leave you with the impression that believing alone is the only ingredient required in your success recipe, however it’s at least a good starting point.
Why peculiar? Peculiar basically means strange, odd and/or abnormal. We generally use the word peculiar to describe when something isn’t right, doesn’t fit well or unique. I am from Buffalo, NY and year after year during the month of December its snows, it snows a lot. Let’s say for some reason this December not only does it not snow but the weather is warm and sunny, that would be very peculiar weather in December for Buffalo, NY. Can you think of any other examples where you’ve seen or heard something and thought to yourself its was peculiar?
I want to encourage you today is to combine those previously discussed words. I want you to not just have faith, but peculiar faith. I want your faith to be both strange and radical believing for things not yet realized, so much so you begin to act almost in anticipation of achieving what you’re also having faith for. Those things that have yet to occur but you know in your heart are meant for you. One of my favorite stories regarding peculiar faith is the story of the two farmers:
These two farmers—neighbors—looked out over their dry, dusty fields without much reason for hope. They had experienced a drought the year before, and money in their bank was nearly as dried up as the land the saw in front of them.
This coming year promised to be even worse. As another season of drought was predicted in the forecasts, both farmers turned their faces toward Heaven and prayed for God to send rain.
Days passed and yet there was no rain. Eventually weeks passed, and yet still there was no rain. Despite still not having any rain If asked, both farmers would have said they had faith in God to answer their prayers.
Yet only one of the farmers had peculiar faith, strangely and radically believing for rain not yet realized and that forecast said was not going to come. Every day he would wake up and tend to his fields plowing and planting seeds despite having not received any rain and being told it wasn’t going to come.
In time, God answered the farmers’ prayers and sent the rain, but only one farmer reaped a Harvest. Only one farmer regardless of what he saw in the natural, meaning the dry fields and no rain in the forecast he had peculiar faith and believed God would bless the ground and seeds he planted.
Although the story of the two farmers is based in spirituality, I’d like to expound upon the practicality of it. I believe you are reading this for a reason. There is something you want to do and/ or something you believe you can accomplish. You are special, unique and you have a purpose. The goals you set for yourself you can and will accomplish, despite some of them being farfetched. Even if you’re the only person that has peculiar faith in those dreams you can do it! Whether you’re spiritually based person or look to the universe and things such as The Law of attraction for guidance we all can agree that accomplishing a “thing” first starts off with believing that “thing” can be done. Ask yourself, what thing/s are you going to be believing for today? Are you like the farmer with peculiar faith that accompanied his faith with works, task and preparation? Are you despite your current situation preparing to reap the benefits of what it is you are strangely and radically believing will come to be realized if so, that is the kind of peculiar faith needed to achieve success?
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