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 Faith is defined as a strong belief in supernatural powers that control human destiny without there being any concrete proof. To put it in my own words, it is the belief in God and all of His works. It is also loyalty to ones religion. Religious faith is putting our trust in God. It helps me know what I believe in. I have faith in God that in bad times he will help me cope with my problems. Faith also helps me through the days by knowing that no matter what happens God is by my side and with me. A faithful person is one who believes that God is the one and only true God. My faithfulness demands that I try and not listen to the devil's temptations. It is staying focused on the relationship between God and me.
 It is extremely hard for me to stay focused on God's word as a young black Catholic because there are many temptations that I face every day. There's pressure to not have sex before I commit myself to marriage, staying away from drugs, and not drinking. These are just some examples of temptations that my peers and I go through regularly. I am also tempted to worship many false idols in our society such as stylish clothes, video games, and keeping up my body image. Sometimes I give in to these temptations, but my faith assures me that if I do I can repent and God will forgive me.
When a tragedy happens such as the death of a family member or a close friend I may question God. I may get mad at God for letting it happen, but I know that everything happens for a reason and that if I do everything I am supposed to do in my life one day I will see them in the Kingdom of God. My faith in God assures me that there is a Kingdom of God and that one day I can be there.
The Catholic Church is the church that Christ instituted, and for several centuries it was the only one. This is a great gift to us and a fact that increases my faith. A Catholic begins the journey of faith at Baptism and becomes a full adult in the Church after the Sacrament of Confirmation. It is a sacrament in which the Holy Spirit is renewed in people already baptized to help them to be stronger Christians. I believe as a Catholic that whatever God reveals to me is true. Not everything that God created is for us to know, but some things such as the nature of the Holy Trinity are unexplainable.
Because of my faith in God I believe that these and
other mysteries that God presents to me are the truth. It is impossible for me
to be faithful to the truth of God without believing the facts of our Catholic
faith. In the New Testament Jesus is presented to us as a teacher and as an
example to us of how to live a holy life. He is the only man that has lived a
holy life without sinning. Sin is part of life, but because of my faith in God I
repent my sins truthfully to God and I believe I am forgiven of them.
Faith as a Confirmed teenager means fasting on
Fridays during Lent, taking active part in mass and community life, receiving
the Eucharist and respecting the Bible and all of Jesus Christ's works.
Sometimes this can be tough when I am with people who are disrespecting our
faith, but by being faithful myself I know who and whose I am. I am God's and I
respect Him and his works.
"Through faith we understand that the worlds were
framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things
which do appear." (Hebrews 11:3-4). This verse from the Bible reminds us that
God created us from nothing and that God is the object of our faith. My faith in
God can inspire others to believe more deeply and that will help to strengthen
the Church. My faith grants me the ability to accept the world that God reveals
to me. My love and fear of God helps me stay faithful to God. For any teenagers
reading this article my advice is to always keep faith in God. Don't disrespect
God or casually commit a sin because the people you are with are doing it. Stay
faithful to God and thank Him for blessing you and your family.
Submitted by: Justin A. Jack
10h grade student at St. Augustine Academy, New Orleans, LA
(Pre-Hurricane Katrina)
New MAX School, New Orleans, LA (Post-Hurricane Katrina)
Contact:
Justin A. Jack
3617 Inwood Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70131
(504) 858-5213 dadjj2@yahoo.com - or -
mrvincentg@yahoo.com
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