Emunah is one of the תדיריות מצוות, which means it is from the mitzvos that one should be performing 24/7, every moment of one's life. His mind should always be on emunah. As the Sefer HaChinuch writes (introduction), "The obligation is constant. One shouldn't stop, not even one minute of his life." Also, when the Chinuch discusses the mitzvah of emunah (Mitzvah 25), he writes, "A person's entire life, he is obligated to have in his mind this thought."
If a person doesn't think thoughts of emunah every moment of the day, he is advised to think about his emunah in Hashem at least once a day and gradually grow from there.
The Chofetz Chaim (Shemiras HaLashon, Chasimas HaSefer ch.2) discusses the mitzvah of loving Hashem and writes, "A person should think about this at least once a day. Just because it is an ongoing mitzvah, unrelated to a specific time, should a person perform it less, not even once a day? It is advised to think about Ahavas Hashem after Shacharis before he goes home to eat. Like the mitzvos of tefillin and lulav, where one doesn't eat before he performs the mitzvah, so, too, one shouldn’t eat before he thinks about loving Hashem."
Here the Chofetz Chaim is discussing the mitzvah of loving Hashem, which is also a mitzvah tadira, but this applies to all mitzvos that are constant, including emunah. If one can’t think about this mitzvah all day, it would be a good idea to at least think about this mitzvah before he eats, just like many mitzvos which are performed before one eats.
The Shinover Rav zt'l was once learning a Mishnah in Pirkei Avos for an entire hour. Next to him, there was a scholar who spoke with chutzpah. He said, "I give a shiur in Mishnayos. In one hour, I teach an entire chapter. But I saw you studying Mishnayos for an hour, and in this hour, all you studied was one Mishnah!"
The Shinover Rav replied, "For words to come out of the mouth (זאגן ארויס) it doesn't take so long, but to bring the words into the heart (זיך אין נעמן אריין) that takes a lot more time."
The lessons of emunah need reviewing. It isn't sufficient to think about emunah occasionally. Thoughts of emunah should be frequently (or constantly) on our minds, and then the lessons will penetrate.
In this week's parashah, by makas Barad (hail), a wondrous thing occurred. Moshe warned the Mitzrim that the makah was about to come. The hail would kill all animals and slaves in the field, but those who feared Hashem should bring their animals and slaves indoors, where they would be protected. Almost no one heeded the warning! They left the animals and slaves in the field and suffered a terrible loss. How could it be that they weren't afraid? After witnessing six makos, where all that Moshe said occurred, wouldn’t logic dictate that to be worried that Moshe's warning and predictions would occur this time as well? But they weren't afraid. This is what happens when people don’t think.
The Imrei Emes wrote to his grandson, Reb Menachem Noson hy'd, "To my dear grandson, Menachem Noson 'שיחי. You requested that I write to you about yiras Shamayim. We read yesterday in the parashah ַּרְעֹהפ ֵיַבְדֵעמ 'ה ַרדְּב ֶתא ֵאַיָּרה (9:20-21 ,וארא פרשת)י ַרדְּב ֶלא לִבּוֹ ָםׂש לֹא ֶרֲׁשוַא ,ִּיםַבָּתה ֶלא ְ נֵהוִּקמ ֶתוְא ָיוָדֲבע ֶתא ֵנִיסה ֶהָדּׂבַּש ְ נֵהוִּקמ ֶתוְא ָיוָדֲבע ֶתא ֲזֹבוַיַּע 'ה , 'He who feared the word of Hashem among Pharaoh's servants drove his servants and his livestock into the houses. But he who did not put his heart to the word of Hashem left his servants and his livestock in the field.' It seems that yiras Hashem meant to place every matter on one’s heart, not to do anything that isn't Hashem's will, and to believe that Hashem's honor fills the earth. In this manner, you will attain yiras Shamayim. Signed by your grandfather, who seeks your well-being..."
The Midrash (Shemos Rabba 12:2) says that the pasuk, ַּרְעֹהפ ֵיַבְדֵעמ 'ה ַרדְּב ֶתא ֵאַיָּרה, ‘He who feared the word of Hashem among Pharaoh's servants' is referring to Iyov. He feared Hashem and he brought his cattle and slaves indoors. 'ה ַרדְּב ֶלא לִבּוֹ ָםׂש לֹא ֶרֲׁשוַא, 'But he who did not put his heart to the word of Hashem left his servants and his livestock in the field' this was Pharaoh with his nation."
From the entire nation of Mitzrayim, only one person believed that the makah of Barad would come. The explanation is that they all knew what would happen with their minds, but their hearts were distant. The same is true with all areas of yiras Shamayim. It isn't enough for a person to be wise, for an idea to be known in the mind. It must reach the heart, as it states (Devarim 4:39) אל והשבת היום וידעת אין מתחת הארץ ועל ממעל בשמים האלקים הוא 'ה כי לבבך עוד , "You shall know this day and review it in your heart, that Hashem is G-d in heaven above, and upon the earth below; there is nothing else." You begin with knowing the emunah in your mind, and when you think about it repeatedly, it penetrates, and the ideas become part of your heart.
