Faith is defined in various ways. The workable definition I use most often is that of applying yourself 100% to the task at hand even when you don’t “feel” it.

Now, don’t psyche yourself out and try to give more than 100%. This is technically impossible. However, even if you could “do” this, it would really only mean you were deceived or are currently deceiving yourself as to your true ability. Live consciously.

Live in the present and never in the future. Find out what task you should be or want to be engaged in now and give your whole attention to that. This may at times be planning for the future, but even this action is done consciously IN THE PRESENT.

Faith is usually displayed most prominently during the scientific times. This is when you have to believe in yourself and the rationality that went into making a paradigm for you to follow. However, faith is also employed during philosophical appointed times. It can be tempting during slow portions of these to switch back to an accomplishment mindset instead of really living in the moment.

Don’t operate on feelings. View them as the natural outworking of your thoughts, habits, and purposes. A tree does not strain to produce fruit; it “strains” to find sources of water and take in sunlight and the fruit comes automatically. The quality of the fruit it produces is determined by how much nutrients it gets from water, soil, and sunlight. The same is true with our feelings.

So, focus on living based upon your will and not your emotions. This will give you conscious fulfillment even if full emotional fulfillment lags behind. When in time your feelings tag along for the ride, this is just icing on the cake.

Remember that this is not just following a plan; it is giving yourself 100% to that plan. For example, suppose you want to do three things today: clean a room, research a topic, and write a paper. You don’t really feel like doing any of these, but know that you should, so you go ahead and do them anyway. However, the whole time you are engaged in these activities, you are thinking about how pleasurable it will be when you are done, how good dinner will taste, or just random thoughts. This is not faith. You are not believing these tasks can really bring you fulfillment in any sense, now or later.

Instead, admit to yourself that you don’t feel like doing these things. Tell your feelings to sit in the back seat. Put your consciousness at the steering wheel. Smile. Engage your mind on the activity at hand. As Colossians 3:23 states, “Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” Exercise faith!