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Mustard Seed Therapy
"You didn't have enough faith,” Jesus told them. "I assure you, even if you had faith 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).
Without realizing what’s happening, many of us daily deny Christ the opportunity to demonstrate His power in our lives. With conviction we say, “Yes, I believe God can do anything,” then start to waffle when asked, “Do you believe God will do it in your life?” Most folks begin avoiding the path of deep faith after some heart-felt prayers aren’t answered with heaven’s resounding, “Yes, that will be done immediately.” Dejected, we give up on what seems to be an unpredictable God.
The truth is we need “mustard seed therapy.” It’s a three-part antidote to wavering faith. First, we have to abide in God, learning the mind of Christ and God’s will for our prayers (John 15:7). In daily Bible reading and prayer, we hear God’s voice on specific matters. I recall a day when I was preparing dinner for 40 guests. As I prayed, the same thought kept coming to my mind, “Go to the dry cleaners and pick up your items.” That meant a trip just short of an hour, and I really didn’t have the time, so I kept putting the thought out of my mind. However, it immediately returned. About 30 minutes before the cleaners closed, I finally gave in and went to pick up what I thought was Sunday clothing. Imagine my shock to discovered that the five tablecloths I needed for that night were waiting along with the suits and dresses. That day I realized that God is very practical, and that God wants to give me direction as I pray.
Second, we need to get a new grip on how God answers. Sometimes God gives the favorite, “Yes, right now.” Other moments, God says, “Wait” and we are put on hold until the appointed time. At still other times, God says, “I’ve got a better idea.” Too often believers are crushed because the desire of their heart doesn’t transpire, and they believe that God is hurting them. If our Lord says “no” to your idea, it’s because God “is able to…do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]” (Ephesians 3:20 Amplified).
Finally, we have to develop mustard-seed faith. In Mark 9:24, a loving dad says, “…Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.” That takes us full circle to the prayer of our hearts: “I know you can do it, but help me believe that You will do it.” May God help us remove our cloak of pride in order to ask for help in our unbelief and begin watching our all-powerful God do awesome work in our lives. Grab God’s coat-tails with new faith, and get ready for the ride of your life!
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Gail LaForce
Member, FBC/Sterling, CO
Gail is a teacher, prayer ministry director, grant writer,
and editorial columnist for her local newspaper.
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