We are always exercising faith. Faith is our contribution to the reality created in our lives. But faith is mixed with words to create results. The real issue is, what words do we choose to mix faith with.
If we vocalize negative thoughts, hopeless feelings, and suggestions of the enemy about God, we inject our faith into those concepts and they become our reality. If we do this long enough we will find ourselves in permanent belief in the lies about God and will experience what we think to be God's wrath when in fact He only is pouring His love and passion on us. This is the condition of all those in hell. They will experience the outcome of their faith placed in the words of the head dispenser of death.
On the other hand we must inject our faith into the words of God if we want to experience His life and power. It is not enough to immerse ourselves in religious culture and jargon and activities. We have to choose to repent of our faith in the Devil's word and choose to mingle faith with God's word both about ourselves and about Himself.
We are always placing faith in someone and their word. The condition of our spiritual life is the sure-fire indicator of what we are placing faith in.