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A Growing Faith – Lectio Divina

August 14, 2011 By Jean Wise


Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. Romans 4:20


His faith grew stronger

Lord I always think some of Your spiritual giants – Abraham, Moses, David – were born with a deep faith.

Lord, sometimes when I read their stories I think they had it easier because of they knew instinctively how to trust in You.

You just gave them more and that is why I struggle with less.

Yet in today’s reading, Abraham first believed in Your promise, then his faith grew.

I spend too much time longing for the end results and missed the main ingredient.

Like making bread without leaven, in my faith I forget Your promise.

Lord, I accept Your promises as true.

May Your sacred assurances ferment within my soul nurturing my faith.

And the last words of this verse: “and in this he brought glory to God.”

Remind me once again, Lord, it isn’t about me. Your gift of faith isn’t for me to feel better, to think I am now holy, or to be some grand accomplishment due to my efforts.

No, my life is only for Your glory. The sole and soul purpose of any drop of faith I gain by clinging to Your promises is to give it back to You.

My hands rest open in Your hands. I am Yours.

    

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Filed Under: lectio divina

Comments

  1. blankjourneytoepiphany says

    August 16, 2011 at 3:45 am

    I love this thought! Sometimes we take the faith of our fathers for granted. We think it was somehow easier for them, mostly because we know the end of the story. We know the end of our story too! We just need to believe.

  2. blankConnie@raise your eyes says

    August 16, 2011 at 12:37 am

    How often I forget the words my LORD has spoken…

    LORD help us remember that all is all about YOU.

  3. blankNancy says

    August 15, 2011 at 11:34 pm

    I’ve been thinking about this idea of growing up into faith since reading Eugene Peterson’s book Practice Resurrection. He talked about growing up into the full measure of the stature of Christ and how we expect other believers, and ourselves, to leap from professing faith the maturity. We need to learn to extend grace to one another, and ourselves, as we’re learning to walk (and falling down a lot in the process)

  4. blankPhather Phil Malmstrom says

    August 15, 2011 at 11:24 pm

    Amen Jean! We all tend to look for the end result before the “ingredients” are properly added now and again. Thankfully, our Heavenly Father is ever-patient, ever-faithful… He guides us to the proper recipe and makes sure it’s fully prepared for His table.

    🙂

    Have a Blessed Day!

  5. blankJean Wise says

    August 15, 2011 at 2:10 pm

    All of your comments blessed. me. I love the community of fellow bloggers and readers sharing our journeys together.

    Yes, yes wouldn’t it be great to interview ABrahma or any other ‘great witnesses” and learning from them.

    In my spiritual direction class, we picked ( or they picked us) someone to read and study for two years. You really do learn from another life. Makes me hungry to pray and spend some time with another ‘giant”

  6. blanktcsoko says

    August 15, 2011 at 11:03 am

    Abraham is a guy I would love to sit down & chat with – how did he do it – leave his homeland not knowing where he was going, trust God when asked to sacrifice his only son.

  7. blankPatti Hanan says

    August 14, 2011 at 11:29 pm

    It is good to be reminded that our faith grows as we step out. We grow one step at a time. Thank you.

  8. blankMichelle DeRusha@Graceful says

    August 14, 2011 at 10:10 pm

    I often forget the order of things, too, Jean. This reminds me: “Yet in today’s reading, Abraham first believed in Your promise, then his faith grew.I spend too much time longing for the end results and missed the main ingredient.”

    I love how you write through His word.

  9. blankIrene Cortez says

    August 14, 2011 at 8:51 pm

    I feel blessed after reading your words, Jean. Thank you so much for sharing this heartwarming post. It really nourished my soul.

    God bless. 🙂

    Irene

  10. blankJen says

    August 14, 2011 at 8:33 pm

    This: I spend too much time longing for the end results and missed the main ingredient.

    You are not alone, my friend. You are not alone in this.

  11. blankAnonymous says

    August 14, 2011 at 7:22 pm

    It occurred to me one day that reading about Abraham and others in Scripture is like looking at a snapshot. You see the final result but not the whole story behind the picture. Getting behind the picture to get the whole story helps me to realize that struggle is part of everyone’s life, Just as God was with Abraham, God is with me at my Moria and God will provide!

  12. blank*****Shelly***** says

    August 14, 2011 at 6:34 pm

    Beautiful, inpiring words. Thank you for speaking to my heart today…

  13. blankDesiray says

    August 14, 2011 at 3:09 pm

    And just like Abraham our faith grows stronger as well..great post sis.

Healthy Spirituality – a sacred space to nurture your faith, grow closer to God, and belong to a community, walking together on life’s journey. This blog is written by author, speaker and retreat leader Jean Wise

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