Our society thinks that faith refers to what we believe in, but faith is more than just an intellectual exercise.  It refers not only to what we believe, but also to how we live.  Faith inspires action.  For example, if I had faith that the lottery numbers were going to be 2253417082, but that faith didn't inspire me to buy a ticket, what good would it do me?  What we believe should affect how we live.

Faith starts in the intellect, but ends in the heart.  The more you learn about God, the more your life will change.  Can you see areas in your life that are changing?  That is because faith is at work in you.  Maybe you are not giving into sin as easily.  Maybe you are being kinder to people.  Or maybe you are just seeing life in a whole new way.

Those are signs of a growing faith.  Faith is like a sixth sense, it allows us to see beyond what our other senses tell us. It doesn't deny our other senses, it enhances them, giving us information above and beyond them. Faith allows us to see hidden realities that are truly present, so we can "walk by faith, not by sight."  For example, faith enables us to "see" God in the Eucharist.

Our faith is not blind, as many unbelievers think.  Our faith is based on the authority of God, who has revealed Himself to us.  Many people put faith in what doctors or scientists say about things, even if they don’t know them!  We put our faith in the Creator of the universe, who loves us so much that He died on a cross for us.

Faith is a virtue. As we grow in our Christian faith, we grow in our virtues. Virtues are like spiritual muscles. The more we work on them, the stronger they get.  We must always seek an active faith that is active in learning and active in living. Pray for ways you can put your faith into action.