Itty Bitty Faith

"Then the disciples came to Jesus

in private and asked,

'Why couldn't we drive it (the demon) out?'

He replied,

'Because you have so little faith.

I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain,

Move from here to there

and it will move.

Nothing will be impossible for you.'"

Matthew 17:20

Without faith, it's impossible to please God.  Why?  Because, I must believe that He exists and know that He rewards those who wholeheartedly seek Him if I'll ever have a chance of bringing pleasure to Him.  (Paraphrase of Hebrews 11:6)

Faith is knowing without a doubt that the promises of God will come to pass.  Faith is trusting in what I cannot see despite what my eyes are telling me.  Faith is giving God a chance to work when I feel desperate for answers.  Faith is getting up when I feel like staying down on the ground where I fell.  Faith is believing that the unfeasible dream, impractical desire and hopeless mission is possible.  Faith is believing that with God, all things are possible. (Luke 1:37)

Take a moment to listen to What Faith Can Do  by Kutless and meditate on the words.  What can a little bit of faith do in my life?  

Believe

"All it takes is faith and trust. . . and a little bit of pixie dust."  Peter tells Wendy, Michael and John as he gave them their flying lesson.  Soon they were flying off to Neverland.

While the only place I can fly is in my dreams, faith does give me the ability to believe in impossible things.  

When God says He loves me even though I'm His enemy because of my sin, I can swallow that truth and take it into my being, allowing His love to transform me.  (Romans 5:8 and 10)  

When God says that He made me on purpose in His own image, giving me all my traits and characteristics, even placing me in my particular family; faith allows me to accept His Word as truth, granting me a new sense of value and worth.  (Genesis 1:27, Psalm 139:13-16)

When God says He will provide for all my needs and that He knows what I require to live, I can believe that He will take care of me.  (Philippians 4:19  Matthew 6:31-34 )

While Peter Pan asked his students to "just believe,"  God does not ask us to do that.  It is hard to consider something as truth without a source of power to back it up.  In what or whom do I believe?    Thankfully, we live in a world where God rules with sovereignty, and I can count on Him to do exactly as He says He will.  God is more than able to back up what He says.

As Augustine reminds me, "Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe."  Believing I am now a friend of God through faith in Jesus means I no longer need to fight Him on every trial, tribulation or difficulty He brings into my life as my Refiner.  Believing I have great worth means I will guard my heart against all the temptations that surround me every moment.  Believing I have a Father who is my Provider means I am free to pursue His Kingdom work without restraint.

Faith in God enables me to believe that God is who He says He is.

Trust

Soften a heart hardened by pain and disappointment

Forgive a friend who inflicted a deep wound

Love a callous, cold neighbor

Live victoriously over sin

Kick an unhealthy habit

Honor God with my thoughts, words and actions

These are all examples of hard things.  Even though I couldn't imagine that a hard heart could be softened, I can trust God to accomplish this.  My hurt may seem beyond repair, but God can give me the strength to forgive as He forgave.  The angry, cutting words from across the fence seems to strengthen the barrier, but I can trust God to love him through me.  It may seem difficult if not impossible to live a life to please God instead of my flesh, but I can trust Him to back me up with His power when I choose His way.  

Once I believe that God is who He says He is, it's time to put that faith into action.  If I say I have faith in a chair to hold my weight but refuse to actually lower my body down to rest on it's structure, my faith is empty.  What difference do my words make if I'm unwilling to back it up with action?  

It's the same with my faith in God;  I can say I believe in Him but if I act like the rich man who went away sad because Jesus instructed him to go and sell all he had, then my faith means nothing.  (Mark 10:21-22)  As early 20th Century American Quaker author Elton Trueblood said, "Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation."

If I trust God, I'll act on the promises He has declared, knowing that He will enable me to do hard things.

Wait

"Hurry up and wait" is the unofficial motto of the U.S. Army.  My husband spent many-an-hour on a hot tarmac waiting to fulfill a mission.  As an Airborne soldier, he learned that an early call time didn't necessarily mean the assignment would actually be carried out early.  Rather, in order to make sure everyone and everything was in order before beginning an exercise, soldiers were expected to be ready.

I would not do well with this scenario because it's hard for me to wait when I don't know what the hold-up is.  I'd rather see action;  tasks being accomplished, headway being made and progress being detected.  Hanging around and killing time until everything is ready to proceed is difficult.

Even though God does want us to wait on Him (Isaiah 40:31-32), it is not so much that I need to sit around waiting for action, as it is that I continue in what He has called me to do while I let Him do the work of preaching, teaching and changing hearts.  

Oswald Chambers described the idea of waiting on God in this way.  He said, "If when God said 'Go,' you stayed because you were so concerned about your people at home, you robbed them of the teaching and preaching of Jesus Christ Himself. When you obeyed and left all consequences to God, the Lord went into your city to teach; as long as you would not obey, you were in the way.  To wait is not to sit with folded hands, but to learn to do what we are told."

Where am I in the way of God's work because I refuse to wait on Him?  In my need to see action, results and fruit, I am blocking God's voice from being heard.  I am becoming a stumbling block because I am too concerned with my mission instead of God's.  Anything done apart from Jesus means nothing; even if I do it in His name. (John 15:5)

Faith allows me to wait on God, even if I don't see the purpose or understand the reason.

Jesus said it only takes a little bit of faith to move mountains.  That itty-bitty faith allows me to believe that God is who He says He is, to put that faith into action by trusting Him to do hard things through me, and to wait on Him to do the real work.   It's not the size of my faith that matters, but the magnitude of the One in whom I place my faith that makes all the difference!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can take my little faith and place it in God's mighty hands.

How do I fail to trust God to do what I consider to be impossible?

When do I put my plan into action instead of waiting on God to initiate His?

Object of Blessing

"'But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people

as I did in the past,' declares the LORD Almighty.

'The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit,

the ground will produce its crops,

and the heavens will drop their dew.

I will give all these things as an inheritance to the remnant of this people.  As you have been an object of cursing among the nations,

O Judah and Israel,

so I will save you, and you will be a blessing.

Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong.'"

Zechariah 8:11-13

Jesus changed everything:  

I deserve death because of my sin, but He offers life.

My sin separates me from a holy God but He offers reconciliation with Him.

My sin makes me God's enemy, but following Jesus makes me His friend.

I am an orphan, estranged from the family of God because of my sin, but He freely accepts me as His child.

As a sinful human, willfully disobedient to His law and unintentionally wayward in my habits and traditions, I am under a curse from God.  Thankfully, He does not deal with me as my behavior deserves.  Instead, I am an object of His blessing through the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross, taking my own sin upon Himself that I might live. . . and live life to the full.

Fruit

My cucumbers are not doing so well this year.  In the past, they would produce abundantly on luscious vines that would grow to over 10 feet long, but this year we've had no fruit to enjoy.  It seems there's something in the soil; a pest or a mold or fungus which is attacking the plant, rendering it fruitless. 

It's the same with me.  I have dedicated my life to following Jesus.  Since I belong to Him, His Spirit lives within me to help and guide me, to give me power and to produce fruit.  Many times, however, there are pests or disease that hamper the production of His fruit.  

It could be my own pride, demanding that I get my way instead of yielding to His.  Maybe there's a stronghold of sin that is overshadowing anything good that God's Spirit is producing.  Or it just might be that I am holding on to anger, refusing to forgive another who has wronged me.

Whatever the problem may be, His fruit will become evident once I bring that area under God's dominion, allowing Him to humble me, break the shackles of sin and flood me with peace and freedom from bitterness.  Only through the power that is found in Jesus am I able to submit my will to God's, turn away from sin and let go of resentment.

If I want to experience the blessing of God's fruit in my life, I will need to draw on the power found in the cross that will enable me to submit my life to Him.

Abundance

Driving to the beach this past weekend, my husband and I saw acres upon acres of corn that was ready to harvest but had been scorched by the heat wave.  The 100-110 degree temperatures served to shrivel those stalks to nothing more than brown, withered plants that would work well for Autumn Harvest decorations but not for corn production.  It seems the farmers took a hard hit.

No one is at the mercy of God more than a farmer.  He does the work to prepare the soil and plant the seeds, but it is up to God to provide the right amounts of rain and sun.  If a sudden hailstorm hits, the whole crop could be ruined.  If drought hits the region, the plants will cease growing and could die.  If temperatures drop below freezing at the wrong time, fruit yield may be diminished.

As a part of God's creation, I am also at His mercy. It is not my efforts, obedience or godly attitude that results in blessing as,  "He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Matthew 5:45)  Rather, it is His loving-kindness showering down on me through the grace that is found when I trust in Jesus as my Savior that is the true blessing. 

I can trust God to meet my needs because He loves me.  Through no attempt at godliness, struggle to stay away from sin or desire to walk with Him will He shower me with blessings.  God is not to be manipulated.  It is not a case of give and take where I give Him something then I can take from Him. 

Instead, I can trust that, "my God will meet all (my) needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4:19)

I can't earn God's blessing anymore than I can jump over the Eiffel Tower.  The abundance of needs He supplies is as a result of His love for me.

If I want to experience the blessing of the abundance of His grace and provision in my life, I need only to trust In His loving kindness.

Manna

When the Israelites were wandering around in the desert for 40 years, their needs were completely met by God.  He rained down manna each morning, provided quail for meat as well as water for drinking.  Another benefit of belonging to the family of God was that their clothing did not wear out.  God sent them many good things.

The Israelites did nothing to earn this provision.  It could rather be argued that they deserved death for their outright disobedience and defiance to God's laws.  In fact, God did punish them for their unfaithfulness by keeping them in the desert for so long and denying an entire generation, save for Caleb and Joshua, the blessing of the promised land.  God, however, did not give them what their sins deserved: death.

Instead, the LORD offered life that came in the form of bread from heaven.  In the same way, Jesus said He is, "the living bread that came down from heaven.  If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever."  (John 6:51)  

Just as the Israelites did nothing to deserve the manna, I can do nothing to earn eternal life and an intimate, one-on-one relationship with a loving, all-powerful God.   Instead, it was generously given as a gift from heaven, free for the taking for all who recognize it's power.  When I enter into this relationship with my Father, I will experience all the kindness of God.  I will learn that "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights. . . " (James 1:17)

If I want to experience the goodness of God in my life like drops of dew on a parched field, I need only accept His free gift of mercy and grace through Jesus Christ.

Without Jesus, I have only death and eternal separation from God to which I can look forward, but through faith in Christ I can have His fruit in my life, an abundance of His provision and goodness to fall upon me like so much manna in the desert.  As a child of God through faith in Jesus, I truly am an object of His blessing!




As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can live out the abundant life Jesus supplies.


What is holding back the harvest of God's Fruit in my life?


When do I worry about my needs being met when I follow the One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills?

God is There

“You will not have to fight this battle.

Take up your positions;

stand firm

and see the deliverance the Lord will give you,

O Judah and Jerusalem.

Do not be afraid;

do not be discouraged.

Go out to face them tomorrow,

and the Lord will be with you.”

2Chronicles20:17

“…blessed are those have not seen and yet have believed.”

John 20:29b

God does not need me.  I like to think I am irreplaceable, but God isn’t crippled without my help.  Although I am valuable beyond measure as His child, my service is not necessary to the completion of His plan.

God wants to include me in His plan, but in order for this to happen, I must understand that it is Him who does the work through me.   My only job is to step forward in an act of faith, showing my willingness to be sent forth.  He does the rest.

So what am I waiting for?  Why do I not heed His call, instead focusing on my plan for my life, fulfilling service I am doing for His Kingdom, keeping busy working for Him?  Does any of that really matter in the eternal scheme of things?  Does it make an impact when I am doing it instead of God doing it through me?  When will I step forward as a show of confidence in my God so I can experience His power flowing through me, delivering me from whatever bondage restrains me?  Or when will I say, “Yes” to Him and “No” to my fears? I hear His call, but I don’t think I’m the appropriate one for the job.  What is holding me back?

Fear

I, like most people, have a healthy fear of heights.  I didn’t want this to hold me back, though, so a few years ago I attempted climbing a 20-foot cargo net wall.  I made it to the top and froze with fear as I tried to swing my leg over the top beam.  There was nothing to hold on to and the netting was shifting beneath my feet.  I nearly panicked as I felt the vulnerability of my position. 

Fear can immobilize me, stopping my forward motion and creating an attitude of worry and helplessness.   God reminds me many times in scripture to not fear because it sends me into a state of panic that is counteractive to faith.  Not only is it hard to move when I am terrified, but it is also hard to think about anything else besides that of which I fear!

Instead of focusing on what it is that alarms me, it is helpful to keep my eyes on the One who will deliver me and Who will supply all I need to answer His call. 

Discouragement

It is frightening how easily I can become discouraged.  A few difficulties take place and I am ready to throw in the towel.  God does not want me to give up hope, courage or confidence because with Him, all things are possible!

The key is to let God have His way with my life.  I only get discouraged when I think I’m in control .  Then, when things go a different way than I expected, my limited resources are spent and my vision is clouded.  I think all hope is lost and I must turn around and go a different way.

But if I let God lead, I become a follower of a mighty warrior who has complete, sovereign power.  He will not lose, so as His child, I will not suffer defeat.  His plan will always go forth.   If I want to be on the winning team, I must step onto His side and stop trying to serve God and live life my way.  Apart from Him, I can do nothing that matters in His Kingdom. 

Tomorrow

The unknown looms in my future.  I can plan, thinking of every possible scenario and strategy, but only God knows what is yet to come.  Trusting Him means letting Him choose the who, what, when and where.  It’s kind of like following behind someone who has blazed a trail in the snow, all I need do is walk forward on the path He has cleared.

God has promised that if I will only step forward into the great unknown, He will be there.   Moses knew how vital God’s presence was for his success.  He did not even want to go toward the Promised Land if it meant God would not go with them.  Moses knew that the power of God is what set the Israelites apart from every other nation.  He was their defining feature. 

My attitude should be similar as I step into the unfamiliar and indefinite territory of tomorrow.  Even though I have no idea what will happen, God knows and He has promised to be with me.

Knowing God is with me can give me the strength to face anything and everything as I follow behind Him.

Fear can keep me from answering God’s call and discouragement is common when I try to do things my way.  Likewise, tomorrow can be a scary place, but God has promised to meet me on the battlefield, if only I will take a step of faith, setting aside fear and discouragement and instead trusting Him to fight the battle for me.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will choose to trust God despite my inability to see Him standing before me.

Where is fear crippling me from taking a step of faith?

How am I showing my mistrust in God’s ability to triumph in the strongholds of my life?