Thursday, November 14, 2013

By: Gwen Hitt

"A Measure of Faith Series"

Day 1: Are You Working Out Daily?

Romans 12:3 God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

In previous devotions, I have mentioned that exercise is not my forte. I have never looked forward to exercise nor have I excelled in this area. Although I am guilty of neglecting exercise in my life, I do realize that it is extremely beneficial for my health. In fact, regular exercise is attributed to controlling weight, combating health conditions and diseases, improving moods, boosting energy, promoting better sleep, and providing a chance to unwind.

Thankfully, our bodies have been designed by God to respond to exercise in a remarkable manner - even if we have avoided physical activity for a long time. I once read that "a 90-year-old has nearly the same capacity to create new muscle fiber as a 30-year-old." The secret to creating this new muscle fiber is to USE what we have been given. I am sure we have all heard the saying, "use it or lose it!" There may be hope for me after all - LOL! I just have to start USING those muscles that God gave to me.

Today's verse tells us that God has also given us a measure of faith. However, faith is like muscles .... we all have a measure of faith but we do not all USE our measure in the same way. Just as 90-year-olds have almost the same capability of building up their muscles as 30-year-olds, we can do the same with our faith.

For a moment, I want you to consider Mother Theresa and Billy Graham - two modern day spiritual icons. As of 2008, it was estimated that Billy Graham's lifetime audience including radio and television exceeded 2.2 BILLION. Likewise, in 2012, Mother Theresa's Missionaries of Charity organization consisted of 4500 sisters and was active in 133 countries.

These two individuals did not allow their faith to waste away - they purposefully worked out their faith daily. Thankfully, building our faith does not require huge gym memberships or the purchase of multiple "How-To" books. Rather, the key to increasing our faith is revealed to us in Romans 10:17 "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ."

My challenge to you today is to make a daily commitment to working out your measure of faith by listening to, studying, and immersing yourself in the Word of God. Acts 10:34 promises that "God is no respecter of persons." What He did through Mother Theresa and Billy Graham, He can do through you!

Dear Lord, I thank You for making Your Word so readily available to me. My desire is to increase my faith by spending time with You each and every day. 

I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.