Let It Grow, Part 1

January 5, 2023

Melissa Valerio

Funny story… the other morning when I was getting ready to shower, I had it in my mind to shave my legs. But when I was done, I realized I completely forgot to shave! Oh well, since it’s long-pants weather anyway, I thought “Meh, let it grow.” And instinctively, I started singing the Lorax’s song “Let it Grow” 

Let it grow, Let it grow 

You can’t reap what you don’t sow

Plant a seed inside the earth 

Just one way to know it’s worth 

Let’s celebrate the world’s rebirth 

We say let it grow! 

Which then got me thinking about what else we can grow. Besides our leg hair, I thought…. we can grow our faith! So, I asked “Lord, how can we grow our faith?” Here’s what He showed me. 

 The first thing we need to establish is what our faith is anchored in. Jesus says in John 14:6 “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; The only way to the Father is through Me.” (NCV) Once we recognize that the only way to God the Father is through a Person (Jesus), then we have confidence that our faith is rooted in the right thing. Faith in anything or anyone else is misplaced and ultimately won’t produce anything.  That’s why you can have faith as small as a mustard seed and still do incredible things (Luke 17:6) It’s not so much the amount of faith you have, it’s about placing in the right Person. So, it’s ok to start small. Just start in Him and watch Him grow it. Here are some ways He grows it: 

1. Through His word, the Bible. Psalm 119:105 gives us a beautiful illustration of what God’s word (scripture) does for us: “Your word is like a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.” (NCV). The more we read the Bible, the more He speaks to us. We often ask God to speak to us in tough times and He’s often responding with “I already have!”. If we’ll only take the time to read what He has already written, we will hear from Him. See how active God’s word is in Hebrews 4:12 “God’s word is alive and working and is sharper than a double-edged sword. It cuts all the way into us, where the soul and spirit are joined, to the center of our joints and bones. And it judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts.” (NCV) Don’t think the Bible was only good for the people in the past. It’s good for YOU, right here and now. Whatever you’re facing, your answer is in the Bible. We will never grow in faith if we never hear Him speaking. And we will never hear Him speaking if we never read His word. 
2. Through prayer. God speaks to us primarily though His Word (the Bible). But guess what? We can actually speak back, through prayer! This exchange of dialogue is essential for our spiritual growth. The more we talk with Him, the more our faith deepens. Why? Because the more we pray, the more real God becomes in our hearts and minds. Think about it… who talks to no one? Even if no one is around, you talk to yourself, don’t you? Well consider this…. even when you’re talking to yourself, you’re actually talking to God. So, if you’re already talking to Him when you talk to yourself, just think about Him whenever you’re talking to yourself. And then start inserting Him into each conversation. For example, if you’re driving on the highway and you hit a patch of traffic that REALLY makes you angry, instead of saying to yourself “$#%&, this is gonna make me even MORE late!!” say this “LORD, this is gonna make me even MORE late. But now I have more time with You!!” See how you turned that conversation from yourself to Him? Now you’re including Him in your thoughts. Another example… you’re trying to figure out what to make for dinner that evening. Instead of saying to yourself “What am I gonna feed the kids tonight?” say to Him “Lord, what can I feed the kids tonight?” See how you’re putting Him in each thought? That’s all part of prayer. Talking to Him versus talking to yourself. See, prayer is good for crying out to Him in anguish, and praising Him when He’s blessed you, but it’s also good for everyday conversations. The more you talk to Him, the more He’ll talk to you. The more real He becomes to you, the more your faith will grow.  

In the next post, we’ll talk about more ways in which God grows our faith. Come back soon! 

Prayer: Lord God, before You increase our faith, we need it placed in the right thing, and that’s in Your son, Jesus Christ. I pray for each of Your people reading this prayer that their hearts would be open to You. That they would come to You and place their faith in You, small as it may be. Help them to understand their need for You and to recognize that their only hope of eternal life with You is through Your Son. I pray this in Your Son’s holy name, Amen. 

Action: If you haven’t placed your faith in Jesus Christ, and you want to, invite the Lord Jesus to come into your heart today. Ask Him to forgive your sins, and to send His spirit to live in you. Ask Him to give you a heart of flesh that beats for Him. Then and only then will you be able to see your faith grow.