There's a profound moment in Mark's Gospel that captures something essential about the Christian life. Peter stands amazed, pointing at a withered fig tree, shocked by what he's witnessing. The response he receives is both simple and revolutionary: "Have faith in God."

But here's what's remarkable, Peter was already saved. He'd already committed to following Jesus. This wasn't an altar call moment; this was a lesson about what comes after salvation. Because getting saved is just the beginning. It's like being pulled out of debt. After that comes the real work: building wealth, fulfilling purpose, discovering why you're still here on earth.

The Bible uses fitness language intentionally. "Exercise yourself unto godliness." "Work out your own salvation." "Those who by reason of use have their senses exercised."

Faith is a muscle that needs to be worked out. A good trainer looks at where you are, hears your goals, and then tells you they can push you further than you imagined. "I can have you benching 250 by the end of the year," they might say, even when you weigh 200 pounds and can barely imagine it.

That's exactly what God does. He shows us something we don't see that we have the capacity to do. It's outside our capacity, but well within His. And He says, "Trust me. I can get you there."

Faith isn't just your ticket to heaven; it's your roadmap for life. The Bible makes this clear through a pattern that repeats throughout Scripture. Abraham, at 75 years old with a barren wife, was told he'd father nations. Moses, a fugitive criminal, was instructed to confront the world's most powerful ruler. David, a shepherd boy, faced a nine-foot trained warrior.

Each situation seemed insurmountable. Each calling appeared too big for the person receiving it. And that's precisely the point.

God's words and leadings are beyond your capacity, but well within His.
Think about it like this: God's calling on your life is like a Shaq-sized wardrobe when you have a Kevin Hart body. You look at it and think, "I'll never grow into this." But God isn't asking you to grow into it on your own. He's asking you to trust Him as the trainer who can get you there.

What you believe God is speaking to you must align with Scripture. The Bible warns against "another gospel" even if an angel from heaven preached it. This is critical because we live in a time when many are twisting God's word to fit their desires.

If you believe God is leading you somewhere, find scriptures that support it. Feeling called to overcome anxiety? Stand on Isaiah 53: "By His stripes I am healed." Struggling with sexual purity? Remember that God calls us to flee fornication, and that when we leave and cleave in marriage, two become one.

Take what God has spoken and root it in His written word. This transforms a fleeting thought into a launch pad for faith.

Psalm 1 describes the blessed person as one who delights in God's instruction and "meditates on it day and night." Meditation isn't just a quick topical application—it's a soak, like Epsom salt, that seeps into your pores and reaches your muscles.

Don't just hear a good message once on Sunday. Take 15-20 minutes, four to five times a week, and soak in what God has been speaking. Let it roll through your mind. Quote the verses. Hear yourself declaring them. Say out loud: "I'm believing You're increasing my faith. I'm not there yet, but I believe You're strengthening me."

That's working out your faith muscle. You couldn't push 250 pounds at the beginning, but at the end of the year, you will.

James 1:22 puts it plainly: "Don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourself."

The passage uses a brilliant illustration: looking in a mirror. When you see something wrong in the mirror, you naturally do something about it. You don't just walk away and forget. That would be absurd.

Yet that's exactly what we do when we hear God's word but don't act on it. We walk away with the spiritual equivalent of powdered sugar from doughnuts smeared all over our faces, forgetting what we saw.

You can only stretch at the gym for so long. Eventually, you need to build muscle, and that requires applying resistance. You have to push the weight. You have to feel the strain. Comfort won't build strength.

Jesus said in John 6:63, "The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life."

When someone fears a loved one has passed away, they immediately issue commands: "Speak to me! Do you hear me? Say something!" Why? Because living things respond when prompted. Living things move.

If you're alive in Christ, the word is given to you to act on. You've received your prompting. It's time to move.

There will come a day when you find yourself sitting in the seat God told you about years ago. You'll be doing what you prayed for consistently over time. And suddenly, you'll remember: "I prayed for this."

It might be three, five, or fifteen years later. But you'll find yourself living in what you once only believed. You'll stand in a place you saw yourself standing before it ever happened.

Why? Because you prayed. You believed. You declared it. You stood on it. And you lived into it.

Where does your heart need to move next? God has spoken something to you, even if it's just a word, even if it's just a whisper. The question isn't whether God is speaking. The question is: will you have faith to move the mountain?