To me the greatest shortfall that we as believers have, is our lack of faith. And it is not that we need a whole of it. We actually need just a little bit of faith, according to Jesus, as small as a mustard seed to move mountains. According to Hebrews 11:2 we receive our testimonies by faith.
So you ask, what is faith?
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. - Hebr. 11:1
This must be the most profound definition ever given to what faith is. In the same manner money is the substance of what we hope for. Meaning that if we hope to buy something of a shelve in a shop, the money in my pocket will make it possible, if I have enough to match the purchase price.
Faith however is the higher level than money. Our faith is in what we can't see, but yet we believe. Faith is thus you believing in what is beyond the bounds of possibility, unreachable and attainable; yet knowing against all odd that it is achievable.
The Greek word used for substance is Hupostasis (hupo, “under,” histemi, “to stand”). Hupostasis means thus to stands under something (a building, a contract, a promise). From thus we find the word like assurance, Title-deed, guarantee). So in short... Faith this an unseen support.
Let us think about faith as support. If you build a roof of the house, you need to make sure that you have enough support under the roof. The support is to ensure that regardless of how heavy the weight of the roof get, your support will be strong enough to carry the weight.
If you therefore don't lose your faith when life is getting tough on you, you will be able to stand through your tests.
"Faith and Belief are not exactly the same. Faith always comes from God and involves His revelation therefore faith is beyond belief!"
Faith is not birth in the flesh of a man, neither is developed in your spirit. But faith gets birthed in the soul of a man. To be exact, in the mind. This is what I calls The Arena of faith. This is where the greatest battles are being fought. And the Evil one knows this very well, therefore he is always attack you there, through the things you see and you hear.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. - Rom 10:17 KJV
It is the revelation of Gods word that brings faith. When you hear it, it finds entrance through your hearing. The mind is thus the gateway to the soul. That is why Paul encourage us in Romans chapter 2 to get transformed by the renewing of our mind.
The more you hear the word, the more your faith is being stirred up. The more your faith is stirred up, the more you will put your mustard seed faith to action. And your seed will only produce a harvest once you put it in the ground.
If you can beat the fear and unbelief in your mind, then you can beat it in every area of your life. It is the voice of fear that scares us the most, but the Rhema (revelation) of Word drives the unbelief away.
The only way to win the battle between your ears, is through the entrance of the Word of God. It builds up your faith and makes you victories. If you can believe it in your head, you will manifest it outwardly. For every battle gets won in the spirit first, before it manifest itself in the natural.
Shalom
