Growth in Faith

Nothing will be impossible for you. (Matthew 17:20) 

As we read Matthew’s Gospel, we realize that the apostles were a very special group of men. They must have been, to have such privileged access to Jesus. They witnessed him feeding five thousand people with almost nothing.

They saw him walk on water. They heard all of his teaching. Some of them even beheld his transfiguration. You would assume that they knew all his secrets by now—and yet they couldn’t heal this man’s son. What were they missing? Why couldn’t they muster up the faith Jesus expected from them?

To answer that question, we have to go out on a limb and state that not only did God become man, but he entrusted his mission to other men and women who were far from perfect. Unlike some supervisors we know, Jesus didn’t expect his apostles to do everything right the first time. He was perfectly content to let them make mistakes—and he did so for a reason. Unless he allowed them to stumble and fall, they would keep relying on themselves rather than his love and power.

Like the apostles, we have to learn about faith in the same way. It’s not a technique or something we receive automatically. It’s a process of falling in love with Jesus. The better we get to know him, the more we are willing to take risks for him. It will certainly mean failing at times, but we should never look at those failures as defeats. The mustard seed of faith won’t blossom overnight. It grows gradually as we continue to step out in trust and see where God takes us.

Peter himself tells us to add perseverance to our faith (2 Peter 1:6). If you are praying for someone, but nothing is happening, don’t stop! If you feel you are stuck in an area of sin and tired of seeing the same old habit return, don’t despair. Instead, persist until you see the victory God intends for you. He will give you a crown of righteousness, even if it happens one jewel at a time.

“Lord, help me let go of perfectionism. Let me be unafraid to believe in your promises and always willing to move forward in faith.”

from wau.org

Signs of glory

All this you were allowed to see. (Deuteronomy 4:35) 

The Hebrews whom Moses led out of Egypt saw spectacles we can only imagine: plagues, pillars of cloud and fire, and a sea that parted before them and closed on Pharaoh’s army. Just recounting all the miracles and signs and wonders surrounding the Exodus can make us tired. Surely God could have just picked up his people and transported them directly to the Promised Land instead! But he didn’t. He chose to lead them by signs and wonders so that they would know that the Lord is God—and there is no other.

Likewise, God wants to give us signs and wonders to help convince us that he is the one and only God. His signs are all around us. Brilliant sunsets and billowing clouds, towering peaks and rushing streams, daily proclaim his glory. The vast variety of plants and animals on our planet declares his infinite beauty and creativity—and, in some cases, his sense of humor. The slow erosion of mountains and the movement of glaciers show his limitless patience, while gales and blizzards tell of his vast power. 

God’s signs and wonders aren’t just visible around you; they are within you as well. Pillars of fire may be rare, but the Holy Spirit might “light up” a Scripture verse to help you understand God’s mind a little better. Or you might read the story of a saint and gain a new appreciation for another way that God has worked in the world. Or God might give you the grace to cross “seas” of discouragement or fear so that you can emerge stronger and closer to him. 

God is always sending you signs that he is alive and present. It just takes practice to recognize them. One way to start is with praise—maybe praising him for the glory of a glowing sunrise or the pleasure of a cooling breeze on a hot day. Look for the ways he has helped you forgive someone or has given you a sense of how much he loves you. If you open your eyes today, you can be confident that you’ll see the glory of God. 

“Lord, open my eyes so that I can see your power at work in my life today.”

from wau.org

Worship..everyday

Matthew 14:22-36

If you’re thinking that “homage” means “worship” here, you’re right. A boat may seem like an odd place for the disciples to fall down in worship and adoration, but consider the scene: they had just seen Jesus walking toward them on the water—and in the midst of a violent storm, no less! Add to that the fact that not long before that, they had seen him performing many other miracles like multiplying bread and performing countless healings. So it’s no wonder they responded this way. They were awestruck!

That’s the best reason for worship. It’s the natural response of our hearts to God’s greatness and mercy. Like the disciples in the boat, the more we see how marvelous he is, the easier it becomes to praise him and offer him our lives. 

So how can you cultivate an attitude of worship? You don’t need to go through the day on your knees or spend all of your time in church. Your everyday words and actions can become filled with devotion and gratitude to the Lord. Brother Lawrence, in Practicing the Presence of God, paints a picture of what this could look like. “God does not ask much of us, merely a thought of him from time to time, a little act of adoration, sometimes to ask for his grace . . . at other times to thank him . . . One need not cry out very loudly; he is nearer to us than we think.” 

So start small. Take just one thing you have planned for today, and turn it into an act of worship. Keep Jesus in mind. Start up an inner conversation with him and invite him into your task. And then try to do this task as if you were doing it for him. 

As you get into the habit of turning your everyday activities into acts of worship and adoration, you’ll find yourself more aware of God’s presence throughout the day. You’ll find your heart softening toward the people around you. And you’ll find yourself echoing the cry of the disciples in the boat: “Truly, you are the Son of God” (Matthew 14:33)!

“Lord, help me to be more aware of you in everything I do. I want to worship you even in my ordinary tasks.” 

from wau.org

A "sheaf" of faith

When you come into the land . . . (Leviticus 23:10) 

Try though we may, we simply can’t control everything that happens in our lives. From political intrigues to sudden thunderstorms, some things just happen no matter what we do. Only God can make accurate predictions about what will and won’t happen. He does exactly this in today’s first reading, when he tells the people, “When you come into the land which I am giving you . . . bring a sheaf” (Leviticus 23:10). Notice that he says when you come into the land, not if.

Ever faithful to his promises, God knew that the Israelites would enter the Promised Land. All he asked for in return was their trust, demonstrated by an offering of a “sheaf,” a bundle of harvested grain, during the major Jewish festivals. This sheaf was to come from “the first fruits” of their harvest—the very first ripening of grain (Leviticus 23:10). They weren’t to wait until they had gathered all of the harvest; they were to show their trust that God would bless the rest of the crop.

But what about during years of drought or hardship, when the Israelites were struggling to see God’s blessings? Undoubtedly, it was hard to trust God then. But that’s what made the offering even more valuable.

We can find it hard too when our loved ones continue to struggle despite our prayers or when we can’t see a way out of a painful situation. Like the Israelites, we might wonder if God will be faithful. So how can we “bring a sheaf,” or continue to trust in God? By recalling how faithful he has been in the past. Use your personal history as a starting point, and then proclaim with the psalmist, “I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness” (Psalm 27:13).

Maybe your faith has faltered at other times, but in this moment, decide to bring God a sheaf of trust. Imagine him responding, “When I answer your prayer . . .” God knows what he is doing. He is already past the “if” stage and onto the “when.” He is providing for you in ways you don’t yet perceive. Trust this, and thank the Lord for what you believe, even if you can’t see it. You may not know all the details of God’s plan, but God does. He won’t abandon you. 

“Lord, I entrust my deepest concerns to you in faith.”

from wau.org