Yesterday I watched a small bird, flying very fast, disappear into the canopy of an oak tree. So dense were its leaves that it was impossible to see what happened next, though I can tell you it remained inside.

I wondered how the little bird found its opening through the leaves at such a speed, and then managed to gently align its fragile body on the branch it chose to land upon, all within a fraction of a second. Not to mention the impossible to imagine flying maneuvers required: the banking, the curling, the vertical and horizontal stabilizations, the deceleration and landing.

Memory? Calculation? Not in that tiny brain. Instinct? Maybe, but how does instinct know which way the branches of a tree have grown when no two are the same? Truth is, that little bird just knew. It had faith, in spite of not being able to see how things would work out, that if (and only if) it stayed the course the details would be taken care of; that an opening would appear and a twig would be found. In fact, had she slowed down enough to carefully and logically inspect the tree first, the prudent thing to do, she would have lost her lift and fallen to the ground.

Kind of like reaching for your dreams. Neither memory, nor calculating, nor instincts are the deciding factors, but faith coupled with action.

Psa 146:3-5 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. (4) His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. (5) Happy is he that hath the Elohim of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in YHWH his Elohim:

Psa 118:8-9 It is better to trust in YHWH than to put confidence in man. (9) It is better to trust in YHWH than to put confidence in princes.

Isa 2:22 Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?

Jer 17:5-6 Thus saith YHWH; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from YHWH. (6) For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.

Jer 17:7-9 Blessed is the man that trusteth in YHWH, and whose hope YHWH is. (8) For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. (9) The heart (Flesh) is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Pro 3:5-6 Trust in YHWH with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Psa 64:10 The righteous shall be glad in YHWH, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

Pro 28:25 He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in YHWH shall be made fat.

Psa 37:3-5 Trust in YHWH, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. (4) Delight thyself also in YHWH; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. (5) Commit thy way unto YHWH; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Psa 62:6-8 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defense; I shall not be moved. (7) In Elohim is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in Elohim. (8) Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: Elohim is a refuge for us. Selah.

Psa 125:1 A Song of degrees. They that trust in YHWH shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth forever.

Isa 12:2 Behold, Elohim is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for YHWH YHWH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

Isa 26:3-4 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (4) Trust ye in YHWH forever: for in YHWH YHWH is everlasting strength:

Heb 11:1,6 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (6) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to YHWH must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living Elohim.

Heb 3:18 And to whom swore he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

Let us not be like the Yisraelites who..

Psa 106:21 They forgot Elohim their savior, which had done great things in Egypt;

Hab 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Gen 15:1 After these things the word of YHWH came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.