Faith Mimics: Looks Like Faith, But It's Not • Deshen Daily

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. (Mark 11:23, KJV)

One puzzling reality I’ve encountered in scripture and my personal experiences and ministry is the phenomenon I call “faith mimic.” This occurs when believers assume they are walking in faith when, in fact, what they call faith isn’t genuine faith at all. I had a wake-up call when the Lord revealed that the faith I thought I had was not truly present. In this discussion, I’ll address two common types of faith mimics. For additional insights, you may also look into “doubt.”

The first mimic, arguably the most prevalent, involves empty words and actions, as in Mark 11:23. We can speak to mountains and move them, but only if our hearts genuinely believe. To believe simply means to accept something as true. However, executing “faith actions” or uttering “faith words” without genuine belief leads to disappointment. Years ago, I learned about “acting in faith” and started taking action, assuming faith equates to actions. Unfortunately, all those spiritual gymnastics amounted to nothing more than emptiness.

The second mimic is the opposite of empty faith—James refers to it as “dead faith” (James 2:17). This type of faith resides in the heart but is not expressed through actions. Have you ever met someone who claims to believe, yet their actions suggest otherwise? True faith naturally manifests in our words and actions. Since we can’t read people’s hearts and sometimes struggle to understand our own, our words and actions are the primary indicators of what is in the hearts of people.

So, don’t assume you are walking in faith—actually walk in faith. Cultivating faith is a spiritual investment that requires time spent training your heart through God’s Word and presence. Make sure you are not trapped in either empty or dead faith.

Meditate

Which of the two mimics described above do you find most applicable to your life?

Apply the Word

Faith can move mountains, but only if it’s genuinely there. It’s our responsibility to ensure that our words and actions are grounded in true faith. Invest time in training your faith.