You Gotta Have Faith!

"But Jesus again spoke to the woman, 'Your faith has saved you; go in peace.'" - Luke 7:50

There are four gospels covering the life of Jesus and in each of them, He heals numerous people. He also walked on water and multiplied food for people. Sometimes we see these miracles as a one-sided street - God does all the work - when in reality, we do about 50% of it. Read this verse above, whose faith saved the woman? Her own! She had to believe it for it to happen. Read Jesus' miracles in the gospels. To almost every blind, dumb, mute, paralytic sick person, Jesus said "as you have believed" before healing them. If you believe a little, then you are setting yourself up for a little. Jesus told Peter to walk out to Him in the water and when his faith started to fade, Peter began to sink. Jesus knew why it happened and asked Peter why he doubted. All you want out of life, out of your God is already in your hands. Jesus has given it all to you and it is truthfully up to you to ask and expect it. Many of you doubt when you ask for things and what you're really doing is giving God so little room for Him to do anything. You have to give God room to do His thing! Give Him something to work with! From now on, ask God in true faith for something and expect it. Give thanks for it because if you believe, it will come. If it delays, keep expecting because it will come! And if it doesn't come, then evaluate your own faith - when Jesus says to you "your faith has saved you" how much do you think your faith will do?

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help my weak faith. All that we could ask, You lovingly provide as long as we ask You in faith. Help us let go of our doubts and open our hearts to You. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Miracles Take Unity

"They were faithful to the teaching of the apostles, the common life of sharing, the breaking of the bread and the prayers. A holy fear came upon all the people, for many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles." - Acts 2:42-43

Throughout the bible we read amazing stories and amazing miracles performed by the prophets. Today, many wonder why these things are not seen anymore. It says in Acts that when Paul and Peter walked by the sick, even their shadows falling upon people made them well. It's hard to believe because we seldom see these huge manifestations from God happen before our eyes. It wasn't that God cared about them more and abandoned us, it's that we don't live in the same way the apostles and the early believers did. We feel independent from everyone, even our own families. Nobody thinks they need anyone. Reread this verse and see that miracles and signs were abundant because the believers lived in community, they shared with one another, they prayed together constantly and they remained faithful and obedient to the Word of God. They encouraged one another letting the Holy Spirit thrive and work through them. That's hard to do on an individual level, how much more on a bigger level? If you want to see these miracles happen in your own life, you need to become one with God. If you want to see these miracles happen in your own community, you need to become one with God and your peers supporting unity, supporting the will of God.

Today's Prayer:
Lord God, we moved away from the values of Your early church. Bring us together as a family so that we can be united in serving You and carrying out our faith. Let the Holy Spirit works through us so that all can see Your wonders. In Your Name we pray, amen.