Growing Faith

And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” (Luke 17:5)

Faith is an ever increasing foundational part of our walk with God.  Truthfully, faith grows as we recognize His faithfulness.  A person says to us, "just trust me."  We can say that we do but until that faith statement is tested we aren't really proving our trust.  In essence there is a trustworthiness required to having trust.  A person has to prove themselves to us by their performance of trustworthiness.  There is "the Faith" and then there is daily faith.  The Faith, is the foundation of all Christendom.  It is a confidence in what Jesus did, His performance, on the cross to complete the redemption of all who believe.  Thereby are we saved.  Then there is the topic of daily faith.  There is a point to be made that daily faith is no stronger than our "The Faith".  Yet, experientially we know that our faith has grown as we look back over our lives of walking with Jesus.  Our relationship with Him has changed and hopefully matured.  

A part of the Lord's guiding of our steps is leading us a way of growing faith.  Our faith grows as we walk beside still waters until the day comes when we can walk successfully by troubled waters. The late Ken Sumrall used to say, "today's faith won't conquer tomorrow's mountain.  We need a new faith for a new mountain."  Yet, it is God who "increases our faith" as we walk hand in hand with Him.  It is true that "faith comes by hearing" but hearing comes in close proximity to the Lord.  As we simply live in Him our faith grows.  Like a tender plant placed in warm fertile soil, the plant grows.  So is our faith growing.  When we go through seasons of difficulty we may struggle in faith.  Don't despair.  This may only prove to be an exercise leading to a great victory ahead!

'When God is going to do something wonderful, He begins with a difficulty. If it is going to be something very wonderful, He begins with an impossibility." - Rev. Charles Inwood