The key to faith
This week in the Dispatch:
A look at The Answer Is by Alex Trebek
A “Jeopardy” Trivia Question
The Awesome Marriage Podcast and A Better Man Podcast both have new episodes this week!”
Another look at faith and a lie many of us believe!
Taking steps that can truly change your prayer life!
Books:
The Answer Is by Alex Trebek
Many of us feel like Alex Trebek is a good friend. He has entertained us and was our virtual teacher long before we knew what that word even meant. Since 1984, Alex has hosted Jeopardy. (Bonus question: How many hosts has Jeopardy had over the years and who were they?*) Alex announced last year that he was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer and because of the amazing outpouring of support from fans, he finally agreed to share his story. The book is a series of personal anecdotes as he talks about marriage, parenting, education, success, and much more. Each chapter title is given in the form of a question! If you listen to the audio book as I did, most of it is read by Jeopardy's legendary winner Ken Jennings. If you like Jeopardy, you will love this book.
*So who were the other hosts of Jeopardy? There have been three hosts. Art Fleming for the first three versions, Pat Sajak for one show, and Alex Trebek. Sajak and Trebek traded places on April Fool’s Day 1997. Sakai was host of Jeopardy and Trebek was host of Wheel of Fortune. Another interesting fact, Sajak’s wife, Lesly, co hosted Wheel that day with Trebek.
Podcast:
Awesome Marriage
Last week’s Awesome Marriage Podcast was “So You Want Your Husband To Lead Spiritually.” This week we continue on that topic with “So Your Wife Wants You To Lead Spiritually” as we talk about why so many men struggle to lead spiritually and what it looks like for a husband to be the spiritual leader in their home.
A Better Man August 2020
Colby Taylor and I talk about “Ego” and what that means for a man. How do we handle our ego? When can our ego get us in trouble? What part does God play in our ego? Join us for this great discussion!
Insights:
Last week I talked to you about “a diluted faith” and how that can affect us in our daily lives. Then this past weekend I heard Pastor Robert Madu speak and he mentioned something concerning your faith that really jumped out at me. He said, “It is not the size of your faith, it is the object of your faith” that is important. Let that sink in. How many times do people think that God didn’t answer their prayers because they didn’t do it right? They didn’t have enough faith or they did not pray hard enough. Plus, many of us have been told that by other Christians. That has always bothered me that some people tell others that if God did not act, it’s their fault. Yet, I have seen God answer so many different prayers from so many different people with so many different levels of faith.
Here is my take on this:
If God answering my prayers depended on my level of faith, then it would be more about what I do or don’t do than about what God does. That way leaves grace and mercy out of the picture.
Jesus said you don’t have to have much faith when he talked about the mustard seed. In Luke 17:6 NIV, Jesus talked about faith. “He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.”
A woman touched Jesus’s cloak and was healed from a 12-year disease.
A man on a cross next to Jesus on the cross was given eternal life at the last minute before his death.
The blind were given sight.
The lame walked.
The key is not how much faith you have or do not have. The key is the object of your faith.
The key is Jesus. He is the one in charge. He is the one who can do everything. My faith may be smaller than the size of a mustard seed or as big as a mountain. it does not matter as long as my focus is Jesus.
Is your marriage struggling? Are their relationships that need healing? Are the burdens of 2020 weighing heavily on your shoulders? Take your mustard seed of faith and take your concerns to Jesus. He can do anything. He can heal anything. He can quiet the storms in our lives. If you ask Him, He will answer. Will it always be exactly like we want Him to answer? No, not necessarily. It might be, but however He answers will always be what is best for us. Always!
So do not worry about the size of your faith. Instead, focus on the object of your faith.
Challenge
What does it mean to you to make Jesus the object of your faith?
What do you want Jesus to do in your life today? Ask Him!
Final Thought
Sometimes as a Christian, growth comes not from adding on but from letting go. Has your perception of “your lack of faith” prevented you from embracing the object of your faith? If so, why not change that today?
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