Exercise Increases Faith

But let them ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. James 1:6.
Faith … reaches out to grasp the hand of Christ, knowing that He will hold more firmly than it is possible for the human hand to hold, and that He will never let go. While the human agent is willing to be led, Christ will lead him….
Faith is the very lifeblood of the soul. Its presence gives warmth, health, consistency, and sound judgment. Its vitality and vigor exert a powerful though unconscious influence. The life of Christ in the soul is as a well of water, springing up unto everlasting life. It leads to a constant cultivation of the heavenly graces and to a kindly submission in all things to the Lord. It enables us to reveal that Christ is abiding in the soul….
“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Have we not proved this in the past as we have moved out in faith to produce the things now seen? … Faith is not only to look forward to things unseen; it is to be confirmed by looking at past experience, at tangible results, the verification of God’s Word…. Pray, “Lord, increase my faith.” Faith quickens the senses to work diligently to produce results. Faith elevates and ennobles the powers of the soul, enabling it to lay hold upon the unseen….
Entanglements in secular business are sometimes permitted by God to stir the sluggish faculties to more than common action, that He may honor faith by the bestowal of rich blessings. This is a means of advancing His work. But those who are without faith will never learn. By unbelief they dishonor their Lord. Unless they are converted, they will make shipwreck of their faith. They stand in the way of advancement, and this the Lord will not tolerate. He desires His people, even in the darkest shadow, to trust in Him.
Satan is permitted to throw his shadow across their pathway that their dormant faith may be aroused to pierce the cloud, and find light and courage and life beyond….
Looking unto Jesus, not only as our Example, but as the Author and Finisher of our faith, let us go forward, having confidence that He will supply us with all the strength that is needed for every duty. Eternal life is presented to us. Let us do all in our power to gain it.—Manuscript 18, February 27, 1901, “Canvassing for Christ’s Object Lessons.”
The Upward Look p. 72
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Prayer Requests
—-Prayers for my oldest daughter Candice. Cindy
—-Please pray for my dear friend Milt that God will heal his eyes. Arlene
—-My wife, Cyslin will be undergoing open heart surgery today. I request your prayers, that God will guide the hands and decisions of all the medical professionals who will be attending to her, and that according to His will the surgery will be successful. Errol
—-Please pray God will give us wisdom in a decision we need to make. Rose
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Dear Friends,
One day after church some years ago, Ronnie Jay, a friend of his who was visiting for a few days, Eileen, and I decided to go walking in a nearby park. I was thinking we were going to the area of the park that has nice cement walkways, so I wore my church clothes. As we were driving to the park, Eileen asked if we could go to the other side. Now that area has tiny dirt trails. I said, “Well, I’m not dressed for it, but I like that area better too, so let’s go there.”
After we had started down the trail, I realized that few people had been there since a flood in that area almost a year before. There were places where the path had been washed away and other areas where it was barely visible because grass and thistles had grown over it. To add to my troubles, it had rained the night before, so most of the way was muddy. Church shoes and mud just do not go well together! I slipped and slid along the trail and almost fell a few times.
Still, the walk was enjoyable. We saw many birds, a couple of deer, and stopped occasionally to watch a spider on its web. As we neared the end of the walk, the trail was no longer visible. It was covered with grass. That does not sound like a problem, but here in Kansas the wild grass is over six feet tall! That’s about a foot taller than Eileen and I. We felt like we were in a jungle. If we had not been going fairly close to the trees, we would have become completely disoriented. That stand of trees was our guide. (Ronnie Jay and his friend, who was as taller than the grass, were far ahead of us. They were no help at all.) Finally the trail was visible again and soon we were back to the car.
As I was sliding along, I was thinking how like life our little walk was. We have two paths to choose. One is broad and smooth. One is narrow and hard to travel. Jesus says, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matt 7:13,14
Which path are we traveling? The easy path seems like the best choice, but if we choose that one, we will perish. The difficult trail will take us through sorrows and heartaches and many trials, but we have a Guide Who has promised, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Ps 32:8 ”I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Heb 13:5 Most often He teaches us through His Holy Word. David declared, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”Ps 119:105 Just as seeing the treetops guided Eileen and me when we were surrounded by grass high above our heads, so following the Scriptures just as they read without holding to preconceived ideas guides our feet on that pathway of life.
May we choose the steep and rocky path to the Heavenly Kingdom. May we ever look to our loving Savior for the help that we need to stay on that path. May we listen to His gentle voice as He says, ‘This is the way, walk ye in it,’ when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” Isa 30:21
Rose