If the devil tried to bribe or intimidate you to give up your faith, many of you would not do it. The devil will sometimes then try something much more subtle. Satan knows that we will eventually lose our faith if we don't make it a priority to grow in faith.
"Faith is first of all a personal adherence of man to God" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 150). It "is a lived knowledge of Christ" (Splendor of Truth, Pope St. John Paul II, 88). Faith is based on our relationship with Jesus. Because we are human beings, our relationships continually change for better or for worse, and so does our faith. Therefore, we must decide to try to grow in faith (see Jude 20). Otherwise, our faith will automatically erode and eventually be lost. Pope St. John Paul II taught that if prayer does not fill our whole life, we "run the insidious risk of seeing" our "faith progressively undermined" (Novo Millennio Ineunte, Pope St. John Paul II, 34). Our faith is growing or dying.
Jesus wants to say to each of us: "You have great faith!" (Mt 15:28) He does not want to ask the question: "Why are you so terrified? Why are you lacking in faith?" (Mk 4:40) Therefore, let us cry out to Jesus: "I do have faith! Help the little faith I have!" (Mk 9:24, JB)
| PRAYER: | Father, may I do anything to accept Your grace of deeper faith. |
| PROMISE: | "But they were searching for a better, a heavenly home. Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." –Heb 11:16 |
| PRAISE: | Ellen forgave the driver who recklessly caused an accident which killed her husband. Her forgiveness led the young man to surrender his life to Jesus. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College