Photo scanned from Dec. 2008 issue of the Focus on the Family Canada magazineSo, if faith is so important, the question that comes up is, “How do I get it?”
First of all, I can ask.
In the time of Jesus, a father came to Him and asked Him to take pity on his son. This father’s contrasting sentiments echo how I have often felt.
“I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)
A second way to acquire or increase my faith is to listen.
Romans 10 :17 says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” This verse answers a question a few verses earlier where it says, "How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?”
It is by word of mouth and by reading God’s word that we come to believe.
Thirdly, and the one that resonates most with me, is to feed on God’s faithfulness. This involves remembering what God has done in the past. A heart that stores up memories of what God has already done, has more to draw on when our belief is tested. Remembering increases our faith.
Dear Lord, sometimes it's just hard to know what to believe. I have faith that you can do the impossible, but then I wonder if it's your will. So I ask that you gjive me the faith to ask boldly or show me how to pray according to your will and give me peace in that. Your peace in a difficult situation is a miracle too . . . I want to trust that you see things from an eternal perspective . . . and one day I will understand fully . . . just as I am fully understood by you now.
10 comments:
Enjoyed this post about faith, especially the importance of remembering what the Lord has done for us. This has been on my mind lately....another reminder for me! Remembering can also open the door to gratitude. Thanks for your lovely posts.
Great post about faith. Remembering with a heart of gratitude is so key for my faith to grow. Remembering how God has led us each step of the way is such an encouragement to me right now - He will also see our children through everything He sends their way. I love remembering to tell our grands and pray that their faith will grow through our remembering.
I was writing our Christmas letter this week and mentioned my husband's 8 month search for a "retirement" job. It was difficult waiting and the rejections and general lack of interest in his applications was beginning to depress him and worry me. We kept reminding ourselves that God was in control,He did indeed see the "whole" picture and He has ALWAYS been faithful to provide for us. In His perfect timing, the job came. And it is the ideal job....something he enjoys, is good at, and has none of the stress that his life-long occupation had for those last few years before retirement. "Every good and perfect gift is from above"..... and faith is one of them!! Thanks for an encouraging post!
Beautiful Anneliese. I think your prayer summed up so wonderfully how I often feel.
I so agree with this post . Thanks for this lovely post and I hope you have a lovely weekend.
Great post. I was writing our Christmas letter this week and I noticed the them was definitely about our recognition of God's continuing faithfulness to us. Your third point resonated with me. He is faithful!
Feeding on God's faithfulness...storing up memories of what He has done...I like that! Thanks for sharing.
Your prayer could be my own heart's cry! Thanks for a practical, easy-to-understand post . . . almost sounds like an oxymoron when speaking of faith, doesn't it?!
So simply and beautifully said, Anneliese.
Great post,wonderfully written ,spoke directly to me.God bless you!
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