8/14/18 | Mustard Seed Faith

“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.“
Matthew 17:20 NLT

This idea of having faith as small as a mustard seed has always been a bit difficult for me – it’s actually caused a little bit of stress because I know I don’t have enough faith to move a mountain. If it takes faith as small as a mustard seed to do that, then I’m in real trouble. I must have faith as small as…a molecule or something.

But Jay E. Adams has an interesting insight into this passage that got me excited. He wrote:

Don’t you see what He meant? He was saying ‘You don’t need anything more. Even the faith that you have is enough to work wonders if you will only exercise it in obedience.’

I see now that it’s not on our shoulders to move the mountains. It’s on God’s. He only asks that we trust him and put what faith we have into obedience.

What if you put your small offering of faith, even if it’s as small as a mustard seed, into obedience to Christ? What if you trusted God enough to use what little faith you have? What if you planted it in the soil of God’s care – how might you see it grow? What if, a year from now, it was no longer that tiny seed, but a growing and thriving plant that was established in God? God can move mountains, if only you have faith to watch how he’ll move.

What could God do with your faith today? What could he do in your job, your family, your finances, your marriage? Maybe today’s the day you plant that little mustard seed.

8/7/18 | Daily Bread

“Give us this day our daily bread.”
Matthew 6:11 NLT

It was our first few months in Colorado, and although it was difficult for me, it was a world of pain for my husband, Luke. He had a boss that tore him to pieces daily.

It was so hard to watch. So hard to control my anger.

On top of it, we had two vehicles with phantom issues. We had no one to help us and no money for a mechanic, so it was on Luke’s shoulders to fix them.

I had my own stresses to contend with as well. We went through so much change in such a short amount of time.

This was the first time in my life I started getting up with the sun to desperately seek God. We had a spare bedroom in our apartment, and it became a safe place for me. One of the first verses that jumped out to me during that time was give us this day our daily bread. I badly needed Jesus to know what was going on and that I was relying on him. It was he alone that could give me enough to get me through each day.

What that new routine did was something really cool – it opened my eyes to see how he was working. As he worked and provided all that I needed each day, I increasingly gained confidence in him and his ability to provide. I began to trust him.

Just think about this: This is one of the lines that Jesus himself instructs us to pray – give us this day our daily bread. Think on that this week, and take it into consideration in all that comes up.

7/31/18 | A Safe Haven

The other day I wrote the following in my journal: It’s too strong for me. I wrote this over and over again because I didn’t know what else to write. I had reached the end of myself and had to admit that some things are just beyond me. I needed help to know what the next step was.

There are many times when I find myself thinking a situation to death. I explore all the possibilities, good and bad, and come up with what-could-be results for each one. But if this brings me relief of any kind, it’s short lived. All my thinking and imagining can only get me so far and offer me so much comfort.

Before getting ready for work, I found this passage and read it aloud to myself:

Psalm 18:16-19

¹⁶ He reached down from heaven and rescued me;
    he drew me out of deep waters.
¹⁷ He rescued me from my powerful enemies,
    from those who hated me and were too strong for me.
¹⁸ They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress,
    but the Lord supported me.
¹⁹ He led me to a place of safety;
    he rescued me because he delights in me.

What I need is for the Lord to rescue me from these powerful enemies, support me, and lead me to a place of safety.

It’s time to look to him for help. He will surely answer you. He will speak if you listen. Why? Because he delights in you. The Lord will reach down and rescue you. He will support you in your distress. He will lead you to a place of safety.