WE realize what we believe—such is the order of faith in God. There must be faith in God in order to there being realization of what we believe concerning God. Faith is belief in God and His word, not belief in our own realization of what God says. If we place realization before faith we really put our realization of a truth of God before the truth itself, and thus, by a back door have made our faith, faith in self.
It comforts the heart of a Christian most exceedingly when he opens the word of God and, as he reads, says to his soul, “My God and my Father is now speaking to me." Perhaps he has been cast down by the day's difficulties or trials; maybe he has grown weary under the assaults of the enemy; possibly his soul is out of tune with heavenly things; but he opens the word of his God and reads. He hears the voice of his God speaking to him. How sweet are the words, yea sweeter than honey or the honeycomb! The word is life to his spirit. His soul had melted for heaviness, but God quickens him according to His word. He was afflicted very much, but because the word is, by grace, his delight, he perishes not in his affliction. Thus, even before he is aware, realization follows faith. Through mercy the ear was not stopped to God's word by putting realization of the truth before the truth itself.
It is the same in principal with the awakened soul, with the soul to whom God has given life in Christ, but who lacks peace and liberty. Take the word of God as it is written. Read what God says of His love to you, poor, anxious seeker after His salvation; read not the book of your own heart of unbelief. God loves sinners; God gave His Son to die for sinners; God has made you, by His Spirit, to know you are a sinner. It is God who speaks to you. Jesus died for you, your sins are all gone. Ah! you believe God. You say, "God has forgiven my sins, and has forgotten them." His grace fills your spirit with overwhelming gratitude. You now love Him because He first loved you. How sweet the realization of His love. Now you know that faith in God opens the heart to the joy of His grace.