The thought from above for this episode is: Faith is acting on what you believe. James uses a story about the Prussian missionary George Mueller to help explain this week’s thought from above.

George was crossing the Atlantic in August 1877 when his ship ran into thick fog. He explained to the captain that he needed to be in Quebec by the following afternoon, but the Captain said that he was slowing the ship down for safety and Müller’s appointment would have to be missed. Müller asked to use the chartroom to pray for the lifting of the fog. The captain followed him down, claiming it would be a waste of time. After Müller prayed a very simple prayer, the captain started to pray, but Müller stopped him; partly because of the captain’s unbelief, but mainly because he believed the prayer had already been answered. Müller said, “Captain, I have known my Lord for more than fifty years and there is not one instance that I have failed to have an audience with the King. Get up, Captain, for you will find that the fog has gone.” When the two men went back to the bridge, they found the fog had lifted, and Müller was able to keep his appointment.

When we hear stories like this, it is easy to sit back and say “did that really happen?” James takes a different approach when it comes to stories like this and how we understand them. His mentor and friend Dallas Willard would teach that faith is an extension of knowledge based on knowledge, meaning faith is how I act based on what I know.

Once James was able to fully grasp this concept it felt as if a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders. He began to understand that faith is not trying to believe something you don’t truly believe in. The more we walk with God, the more we come to know God, the deeper our relationship with God is in the way that he acts the more we’re able to take those steps in faith. In this way we can grow in our faith because faith is acting on what you believe

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