Faith is the substance of things hoped for (confident expectation toward the future) and the evidence (admissible in a court of law) of things not seen (empiricism) (Heb. 11:1).  The writer of the Book of Hebrews understood that faith is not merely a cognitive affair.  He understood faith as laying hold of the Word of God in one's heart.  This is a bold assertion, and one that challenges  the believer to seek only that which God desires in his life.