Category: Faith

Stuff in the Way

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(Photo Credit: Dani Simmonds)

A certain woman, who had an issue of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things by many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better, but rather grew worse, having heard the things concerning Jesus, came up behind him in the crowd, and touched his clothes. For she said, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be made well.” Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. – Mark 5:25-29 (World English Bible)

This woman had great need. She had spent everything she had, trying to get help for herself. Instead, her condition got worse. Then she heard of Jesus, and despite a crowd of people, she determined to reach Him.

We all have things in our life, and sometimes people in our life, that are in the way. We want a better relationship with Jesus, but responsibilities eat up our time. People put demands on us. We get through the day somehow, but we’re tired. We think we’re too tired to pray at night the way we want to. We tell ourselves we’re too tired in the morning to wake up early and spend time with the Lord. If we somehow get a break and some free time, we seek entertainment so we can relax. We tell ourselves we deserve it. Many times, we mean well. But somehow that deep relationship with God gets pushed aside.

This woman could have called upon Jesus for judgment against physicians who had caused her to suffer. But instead, she chose to reach for Him. She had a need to be made well. She had no one else to turn to. But she chose correctly. She looked past the stuff in her way. She pushed past the people who were in her way. She applied the faith she had, and was made whole.

Jesus is the Healer. Put everything else aside, and reach for Him today.

Prayer for today: Lord Jesus, I need your healing touch upon me. I need your special touch on my life. Teach me how to remove things that are between me and you. As I reach for you, let your healing virtue flow. I ask this in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

 

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Threshing Mountains

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(Photo Credit: Benjamin Earwicker)

Behold, I have made you into a new sharp threshing instrument with teeth. You will thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and will make the hills like chaff. – Isaiah 41:15 (World English Bible)

Threshing is probably not something we’re familiar with these days. But for many centuries, it was known to be the act of separating seeds of corn or wheat from the rest of the plant (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thresh).

Why would God mention threshing? We all have mountains in our life. We have things that seem to be huge and in our way. It may be lack of finances, anger, alcohol, our past, worry, lust, pride, a bad relationship we can’t seem to escape, loneliness, or anything else. These mountains seem entrenched, too massive to move.

Does God want these mountains in our life? Yes, He actually might. Does He want the mountains to defeat us? No, He does not. He knows that we do not have the strength to move mountains. But He does give us something that can: faith.

For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. – Matthew 17:20 (World English Bible)

If you feel like you don’t have any faith, don’t believe it. Faith is not based in feelings, it is based in the truth of God’s Word. We all have tests of faith, and often they are not easy. Don’t listen to the voice that tells you to give up, or that it’s not worth it to keep going. Those are destructive lies, and you are the target. Listen to the voice that tells you to keep going, the voice that says, “I am with you, and I will never leave you” (Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5)  How do you build your faith? Read and listen to the Word of God every day.

So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. – Romans 10:17

This faith that God Himself gives you will be a mighty weapon. You will be able to speak to mountains, and move them. But what does threshing mountains mean? It means that after you have moved mountains with the faith God gives through the midst of your struggles, you will have victory. In your victory, a seed of faith is planted in your heart and mind. You will have faith to face the other mountains in your life as time passes. God will be with you as you do this. Don’t give up. Destroy the mountains in your life that hinder you, and gain the faith God will give to you!

Prayer for today: God, it feels like I lack faith, but I will trust in Your Word. If You say that You are making me into someone that can thresh mountains, then I believe You. Help me to see You doing this through me. I don’t know the way out of these situations, so bring me through the mountains. Show me how to beat the mountains and thresh them until they are small. I ask this in your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

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Get Your Grain

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. . .  For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. – Matthew 17:20 (WEB)

All we need is a grain to start.

“Thus saith the LORD . . .” is a grain of mustard seed, regardless of what we feel or think or know about a situation. We should add whatever faith we have to the power of God’s Word. Believe in His Word, which has power. He spoke the universe into existence.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. – Romans 10:17

God speaking to us in prayer is a grain of mustard seed. That seed will need to be watered, and fed, with the Light of Almighty God shining on it. Then it can break through the ground and begin to be seen (that which was unseen can start to be seen in our mind and heart). This is not the time to become discouraged. The seed will be small at first, but then it will grow if we keep feeding it with faith and speaking His Word. Remember that God’s promises are “yes” and “amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.  – 1 Peter 5:6-7

Humbling ourselves before the Lord, and trusting Him, is a grain of mustard seed. During the winter, a tree is dormant and does not seem to grow. For us, it may be a season in life when we feel stuck. Sometimes it’s even a season in our prayer life, but keep feeding and watering seeds of faith. Eventually, like in Springtime, faith will noticeably grow again. Our faith can gain in strength until it cannot be ignored! Spring becomes Summer. The seed of faith has grown large. Our faith in God can grow until other people see it. Then we are like a tree waving in the wind of God’s Spirit. As faith multiplies, and God’s Word become more active, it can also encourage others around us to have more faith.

Prayer for today: Lord God, sometimes my faith is little. But you have faith. Lead to the right places in your Word today, so I can receive the faith you want me to have. When that faith grows, it can grow so big that it outgrows the situations I face. Grant me the faith to move mountains that I cannot move on my own. Faith is a gift from you Father, and may it grow in me. I ask you for faith, in the Name of Jesus. Amen!

 

Scripture reference for Matthew 17:20 is from World English Bible (public domain).

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