Dear Friends,

March 20th marks the beginning of spring. After this past historical snowfall, most of us are ready for spring and warmer weather! There is one thing about seasons that is certain both scientifically and experientially…we know that winter will not last forever. As dead as the landscape appears, we know by experience that the foliage will bloom again. This is what hope in Christ is like. Hope is not wishful thinking; it is KNOWING that no matter how bleak our situation appears to be, it will not last forever—there is always a new season and new life on the horizon! And faith is the action we take that brings our hope to realization!

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen.”  Another version says, “…faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) In early times, before the introduction of coins, metals used to be weighed. So, substance in this verse means something of weight and value.

Recently, a news reporter shared a story about the U.S. gold stored at Fort Knox, KY. On the table before her was a pile of solid gold bars representing millions of dollars. As she struggled to pick up one of the gold bars, she stated that each bar weighed over 27 pounds and was worth almost 1.1 million dollars! No doubt those gold bars were dense with valuable substance! Our faith is also like pure gold, a substance that, when activated, brings into existence what we hope and pray for!

Faith comes to us in seed form by listening, reading, and studying the Scriptures. Romans 10:17 states that, “…faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.” (NLT) Then we must plant and water our faith if we want it to grow!Jesus uses a mustard seed to illustrate how our faith in Him grows… “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32 (NLT)

Our faith will not magically grow on its own—we must participate in developing our faith and relationship with the Lord. Our faith actually grows in proportion to our relationship and knowledge of God! Allow the following words to ignite a greater passion to know the Lord and increase your faith in Him!

In His Loving Name,

Life With Father Ministries

CLOCKWORK FAITH

“I wait for the Lord to help me, and I trust his word. I wait for the Lord to help me more than night watchmen wait for the dawn, more than night watchmen wait for the dawn… put your hope in the Lord because he is loving and able to save. He will save Israel from all their sins.” Psalm 130:5-6 (NCV)

Two very elementary things stand out in this Psalm. First, when David was in trouble, he called out to God. He poured out his heart to the Lord. Second, he waited for the Lord to respond. And David’s waiting was never in vain because he prayed and waited in full EXPECTATION. David’s hope was not a “wish” as in “I hope God responds to my prayer” but a knowing that God would help him without delay. David was more confident in God’s response to his prayer than the night watchmen expecting the sun to rise the following day! What could be a more solid faith in God’s response to our heartfelt prayers than knowing the sun, like clockwork, will rise the next morning?

Too many times, we “wish” God would do something. But our wishes will never accomplish anything because God responds to FAITH. Hebrews 11:6 says, “It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.” (GNT)

Our faith wavers when we do not know the scriptures, the mind of God, or how He works in our lives to bring conclusions to our prayers. Other times, when we pray amiss, God cannot approve it. Because He is a good Father, He does not always give us what we want but what we need and what is best for us in the long run! Even Jesus prayed, “Not my will but thine be done”. (Luke 12:42) All these things are learned through an ongoing personal relationship with Christ.

INCREASE OUR FAITH!

“The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Show us how to increase our faith.’ The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it would obey you!” Luke 17:5-6 (NLT)

“Show us how to increase our faith!” the disciples pleaded with Jesus. Isn’t that what all believers desire—more faith and less doubting? Jesus illustrated how just a little faith can go a long way! In Matthew 17:20, He said, “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even 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.” (NLT)

NOTE: It’s not the “smallness” of the seed we should focus on but what we do with that seed!It takes some focus and effort to develop a deep, rich faith in the Lord, but the rewards are worth it!

How can you demonstrate your faith in God today? Remember, your faith is in the person of Jesus Christ and grows as you get to know Him. Our lives are healed and restored as we activate our faith in the Lord— doing what He instructs us to do in His Word. He directs us into a life that is free from every spiritual, mental, and emotional bondage and blessed on every level! Here are some ways to activate your faith today!  

• Read your bible every day. Choose a translation that is easy to understand. (Remember, this is the way you FEED your faith!)

• Pray honestly and with sincerity! “He is near to those who call to him, who call to him with sincerity.” Psalm 145:18 (GNT)

• Tell God how you feel and ask Him to give you the power to do what’s right. Ask Him to guide you in making the right decisions for your life. Jesus said, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” John 14:16-17 (NLT)

• Ask God for the ability and strength to behave in a Christ-like manner. “Ask the Lord to help you! Ask him to give you strength. Always try to be near him and worship him.” 1 Chronicles 16:11 (EASY)

• Pray for others, not just yourself and your family. For instance, when someone pops into your mind, take the opportunity to pray for them! “So then, this is what I want to ask you first. Please pray for all people. Ask God to supply what they need. Ask God to help them. Thank God for what he does for everyone.” 1 Timothy 2:1 (EASY)

• Think of ways you can help others and be a blessing to them. When you bless others, you will also be blessed! “We should think about how we can help one another. We want everyone to show love to each other. We want everyone to do good things to help one another.” Hebrews 10:24 (EASY)

• Forgive everyone, and don’t blame anyone else for your own actions (or lack of action.) Take responsibility for your own life. “Do not become angry with each other. If you think that someone has done something wrong against you, forgive them. Remember that the Lord has forgiven you. So you should also forgive other people.” Colossians 3:14 (EASY)

• Don’t speak negatively or critically about anyone, and don’t complain about your current situation. Ask the Lord what He wants to teach you about life right where you are. There are vital lessons to learn in every season of life! “Whatever you are doing, do not complain. And do not argue. Then you will not be guilty of anything that is wrong. You will be clean inside yourselves. You will be living in a completely good way, as God’s children should…” Philippians 2:14-15 (EASY)

• Don’t worry about anything—practice releasing your worries, concerns, and anxieties to God and ask Him to help you daily. Thank Him for who He is and for the eternal work He is doing in your life (as uncomfortable as it may seem!) “Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ.

Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always. Put into practice the example of all that you have heard from me or seen in my life and the God of peace will be with you in all things.” Philippians 4:6-9

All of these things may not seem important or even doable. Yet God’s grace gives us the desire, ability, and power to change how we think and live so that we can enjoy His favor and blessings!  

BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)

We are saved, healed, and restored because of God’s amazing gift of GRACE and through our FAITH in Jesus! Romans 3:22 says, “We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.” (NLT)

“There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them.” Acts 4:12 (NLT)

If you died today, do you know where you would spend eternity? All anyone needs to do to have eternal life is to call on the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 2:21), repent of your sin (be sincerely sorry for your sins and change your mind and actions (Acts 3:19), believe that Jesus died on the Cross for your sin, (1 Thess. 4:4) and ask Him to save you. If you are uncertain of your eternal destiny, then pray the following prayer with all sincerity of heart:

PRAYER FOR SALVATION

Dear Jesus, I acknowledge that I am a sinner and I have not always done the right things or made the right decisions. I ask you to forgive me now. Jesus, I accept your sacrifice on the Cross as payment for my sins. Jesus, come into my heart, make me a new person, and give me eternal life. I ask you to be my Lord and Savior. Give me strength, Jesus, to live for you every day! Help me to live a life that is honest, honorable and full of faith. Now lead me forward and shower me with your grace and glory. Thank you, Lord, for giving me newness of life! Amen.