Wednesday January 26, 2022

Today is Wednesday, January 26 and this week we are exploring what the Bible says about expansion.

As I enter a time of prayer, I pause and become still. I calm my thoughts and silence my mind. I breathe deeply and slowly, and center myself upon the presence of God.

Pause and Pray

My Lord and my God, I set aside this time to experience your presence. Come Holy Spirit, show me what you want to increase in my life and how you want to expand my horizons in this new year. Reveal your message for me today in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.

I rejoice in God’s faithfulness and join the ancient people in praising him with the words of Psalm 119.

I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your ordinances before me. I cling to your decrees, O Lord; let me not be put to shame. I run the way of your commandments, for you enlarge my understanding. Psalm 119:30-32 (NRSV)

Pause and Pray

The new year provides opportunities for groundbreaking discoveries and fresh adventures in my life. God is preparing the soil of my soul through much needed spiritual renovations and expansions. God wants to expand many things in my life and one of the most important is faith. Faith is an unshakable conviction in the truth of God. Faith means trusting in God no matter what. Faith is one of the most important components of Christianity. Faith is powerful. Faith is strong. Faith is mighty. How can I increase my faith? Today I go to the words of Jesus in the seventeenth chapter of the gospel of Luke. Sandwiched between multiple parables and teachings of Jesus is an essential lesson about increasing faith.

“Be on your guard! If another disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive. And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you seven times and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive.” The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” Luke 17:3-6

Initially, Jesus warns me to be on guard and encourages me to forgive others. I consider how many times I have sinned against God even after repentance, what a miraculous reality to know that I am forgiven. I confess my struggle to forgive others as readily as I have been forgiven. I cry out alongside the apostles and say to my Lord, “Increase my faith!” Jesus challenges me to have the faith of a mustard seed. A mustard seed is a very tiny seed which grows into a very large tree. Jesus is saying that a small amount of faith is very powerful. This encourages me. Perhaps the faith I already possess is enough, if only I could learn to tap into it I would experience its strength. What is my “mulberry tree?” What seems impossible for me to move? Uproot? Cast forever in the sea? Faith as tiny as a mustard seed can move mountains. A tree the size of a cross moved the boundary of God’s love, grace and mercy for infinity. It was impossible for sinners like me to find forgiveness, move into holiness, move into God’s realm and have a relationship. Jesus made that possible. With God, all things are possible.

Ask: How can I tap into my “mustard seed” faith? Do I believe that God can move the “mulberry trees” of my life?

Pause and Pray

Loving and gracious God, thank you for the depths of your love that offer me forgiveness and redemption through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the tree of Golgotha. I ask you to increase my faith and expand my small-minded thinking. Enable me to see new possibilities and grant me the faith to believe that even giant mulberry trees don’t stand a chance in the face of a “mustard seed” Savior. I read the words from Luke again and listen for the message you have for me.

“Be on your guard! If another disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive. And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you seven times and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive.” The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” Luke 17:3-6

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

I am learning to listen to scripture with the ear of my heart. I repeat the word or phrase that stands out to me today – I say it aloud. I consider the words sin, rebuke, and offense as well as repentance and forgiveness. I question if the number seven holds any significance for me. Seven times a day. I imagine what the mustard seed and the mulberry tree represent in the current circumstances of my life. How does God want to guide my reaction to a particular situation with the words from this passage of scripture? I visualize the smallness of a seed and what is contained within it. It has the power to grow into a large and fruitful tree. Where do I need to have more faith and trust in the power of God? When do I most often give into doubt and scepticism? How does God want me to practice “mustard seed” faith in my life?

Pause and Pray

Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me, guide me, teach me, and encourage me. I invite you into my life and circumstances and ask you to move things, change things. Increase my faith and expand the limits of my understanding. I put my trust in you and your amazing power that is at work in my life today and always. Amen.

Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:22-24

As I leave this time of prayer and go throughout my day, I go with renewed faith looking for mountains and mulberry trees that need to be moved.

Amen.