You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith. ~ Mary Manin Morissey

Years ago, when I was in that awkward stage known as the 20's (which are only marginally better than the teens), I used to rant at God. I was miserable, lonely and had no idea how to change my life. One major problem was that, like most graduates, I figured I was done with books and learning!

Of course, life has a way of pushing you forward, and I settled into a routine, even if it wasn't a particularly happy one. It wasn't until my late 30's or even early 40's that I figured out there really could be more to life than the day-to-day drag. Someone pointed me back to books, including the Bible, for wisdom. I accepted the challenge, and I've been a student ever since.

One of the most important things I found on this life-long journey for wisdom was the power of faith. Jesus said that faith the size of a mustard seed would move mountains! Of course, that mustard seed doesn't question, argue or doubt. It simply does what it was created to do - grow. Our faith is designed the same way, but we've got to supply the 'nutrients' it needs to develop into mountain-moving faith.

If you've ever studied the healing miracles of Jesus and the Apostles, they have one thing in common. Whether lame, blind, ill or invalid, each person connected with the anointing by faith. Jesus didn't go looking for people to heal. He didn't pick out the neediest or the ones he liked the most. The people He healed came looking for Him, believing that what they had heard about Him was true.

Jesus told the centurion, "As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee." (Matt. 8:13) The woman with the issue of blood, said, "If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole." (Mark 5:29) Jairus affirmed his faith when he besought [Jesus] greatly, saying... I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her... and she shall live (Mark 5:23). Jesus told the blind man, "Your faith has made you whole" (Mark 10:52). All of them received exactly what they were believing for.

Expect to receive. Most of Jesus' ministry was among the multitudes. People followed Him and thronged Him because they heard about His miracles and sought healing and restoration. They followed Him because they believed the Gospel He preached.

Jesus knew His mission: The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised (Luke 4:18). He delivered that same message everywhere because He understood that they had to hear before they could believe. As He taught, people latched onto the promise - healing, deliverance, recovery, liberty and prosperity - expecting to receive.

Measure well. Jesus taught about receiving in the Parable of the Sower. He said that those who received the word into good ground - those who hear and understand, would receive some an hundredfold, some sixty and some thirty (Matt. 13:23) They key to receiving was hearing the Word and believing it. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given (Mark 4:24).

The Bible says the people followed him, presumably from place to place, listening to a similar message each time. The more they heard, the more they believed. Mark 12:37 says that the common people heard him gladly. They receive His teaching with faith. In other words, they measured it well.

That wasn't true of everyone, however. The scribes and Pharisees feared Him and sought to destroy Him. They didn't allow themselves to hear with ears of faith. They measured Jesus' message as a threat instead of a blessing. They refused to believe despite all the evidence.

Repetition is good. The more you hear, the stronger your faith becomes. How do I know that? Because God said "Faith comes by hearing" and He doesn't lie. So the more Truth you hear, the stronger your faith will grow. Never assume, "I've heard that before" or "I know that already". Dig in. Immerse yourself in His promises. Meditate on them.

When I was a kid, my dad decided I needed to learn how to play an instrument. He bought a spinet organ and hired a teacher. I remember practicing for an hour every day after school. Dad's schedule - not mine! Although I haven't seriously played for decades, I can still pick out the notes on a keyboard and play some of those old songs. Why? Repetition.

In those days, that's how we learned in school. We wrote spelling words 20 times on a page; then if we missed any on the test, we wrote them 50 more. We repeated multiplication and division tables - until they stuck. After we recited them a few dozen (or hundred) times, we finally 'got it!' I may not be able to do an algebra equation, but I can still tell you what 9x6 is.

Faith works the same way. As you dig into the promises, focusing on His Word, there comes a time when it quickens in your spirit. Those words on paper suddenly become revelation in your heart. It's that aha moment when you know that you 'got it!' That is the point when faith becomes effective.

Fear dilutes faith. Why? Because you are hearing the wrong thoughts. When you give attention to fear, faith departs. Jesus asked His own disciples, "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?" (Matt. 8:26) The acim  had been listening to the storm blowing around them and the sound of the waves and the wind instead of believing Jesus' own words when he said, "Let us go to the other side."

Another time, the disciples were on a ship and saw Jesus approaching across the water. Peter, being either braver or brasher than the others said, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." When Jesus said, "Come", Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus (Matt. 14:229). How awesome is that! But the very next verse says when he [Peter] saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid. Fear cancelled his faith and he began to sink.

Take heed what you hear. Your hearing is connected to your mind and spirit. For example, if you are around grumpy people, you'll soon find yourself on edge. If you spend time with happy people, your attitude will mirror theirs. The common denominator is what you're hearing.

If you want strong faith, you're going to have to pour The Word into your eyes and ears. (Yes, your eyes are important too, because as you read, you 'hear' the words in your head.) Like physical food, your spirit needs daily nourishment. Faith comes by hearing. The more you hear, the more your faith will grow.

Start building your faith with this thought: whatever you need, Jesus is still in the miracle business. As our High Priest, He is anointed to bring our words of faith to fruition. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it you (John 16:23). Verily means truly. Jesus said it twice! Truly, truly... faith will connect you with the miracle you need just as surely as it did in Jesus' time. All you need is faith as a grain of mustard seed. To get that, all you have to do is hear... and hear... and hear.

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