All mentally processed experiences occur in one of these four states of awareness presented here in their active cases.
     *Assuming is supposing that something is true without supporting evidence. This supposition is usually based on feeling or wishful thinking about something or somebody.
     *Believing is an unexperiential way of knowing. In actuality of not knowing. It is opinionating about something the believer considered to have a probability of being true . It may also be stated, "I think."
     *Knowing is understanding derived from reflective knowledge, information or intelligence. By definition it is also recognition of the unknown and/or unknowable.
     *Faith is trust in or toward some object. When it is faith in God rather than faith about God it is a matter of surrender, ultimate concern and supernatural presence.
       It is important for a person to acknowledge which of these four states he is operating in at any given time. That means not taking believing to be knowing. "I believe" rather than "I know" has caused the death of more than 4,500 Americans in Iraq. Less assuming and less believing are desirable pursuits for the person who desires potential living. It is also important for a person to recognize that each state of awareness has its own specificity. More believing cannot be knowing. Nor can more knowing be faith. Believing almost always precede faith but not because it is a necessary prerequisite for fatih. It is not. Early in life a person is bombarded with beliefs and for most people this continues for a lifetime. However believing can be replaced with knowing. Acknowledging this the Apostle Paul said,"I know in whom I believed." Oftentimes that is the order of the process, a  shift from believing to knowing which usually requires effort and deterrmination..
     Knowing and faith are desirable states to attain. More knowledge is not a prerequsite for faith and it does not necessarily help a person to increase his faith. Having faith in God, hence in one's self and other people, makes possible transcendence and creates an opportuntiy for a person to experience happiness, joy, peace and fulfillment   
     Assume less. Believe less. Know more. Have more faith, especially more faith in God and experience transcendent living. Wow! 

Copyright 2011 by Uriah J. Fields