The Overwhelming Importance of Christians having Faith in God and Knowing how to Use It Properly!

18 Jun 2026 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s Scrip-Bit   18 June 2026   Matthew 17:20b.

Matthew 17:20b.        If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove (move);

And after a rainy, rainy night, Thursday, the penultimate day of our work week, by mid-morning has blossomed into a bright and somewhat shiny day, with only a minimum of cloud cover. However it’s beset by a strong windstorm, one of those things that just magically appeared in our lives some five or six summers ago. Before that we never had so many summer windstorms, but with climate change and all the other stuff that’s happening in and around our besieged world, anything’s possible.

Now, we might not be able to change the world, but we can certainly change ourselves, so here’s some good news. I don’t remember where I got this information from, or if I’ve even shared it before, but recently I found it among the numerous pieces of paper sitting on my desk, and since we have nothing to lose, but so much to gain by trying what it suggests, I decided to share it. (smile) It’s about the healing of our body.

So please read with me: ‘Your Intelligence can guide the Life energy in your body – I began to teach my body and got marvellous results. Speaking words of Strength and Power – Praise the life in every part of your body. Pray, asking for strength to think only kind, LOVING and sincere thoughts about your body. Release all thoughts of weakness or disease. In steadfast faith, praise and bless the life energy, the cells of your body and mind. Realize Wholeness!!! See Wholeness!!!’

Wow! What a unique way to heal one’s body. But if it worked for the author, there’s no reason why it cannot work for us. However, we need to pay serious attention to these three words, ‘In steadfast faith…’ I believe that’s where the healing power comes from, and as supposed Christians we should have no difficulty in doing that, although many of us have a hard time mounting even a little faith. But remember what Jesus said to the disciples when they unsuccessfully tried to cure a child stricken with epilepsy, and they asked Him why.

‘And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove (move); and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.’ (Matt. 17:20-21) Yes friends, it’s like this overview tells us: ‘It illustrates that even a tiny amount of genuine, living faith—when rooted in God—has the power to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles and achieve profound results.’ And that’s the living truth!

And the overview further breaks down the scripture into three basic parts, that allow us to better understand it. Size vs. Potential: The mustard seed was known as one of the smallest seeds in the ancient Near East. The metaphor emphasizes that you do not need perfect or giant faith to experience God’s power. Faith That Grows: A seed isn’t a static, lifeless object; it contains life and the capacity to grow. Discussions across communities like Reddit Christianity, highlight how this faith can start small and continuously deepen through action and adversity.

Moving Mountains: Jesus stated that if you have faith this size, you could say to a mountain “Move from here to there,” and it would move, symbolizing the removal of impossible life barriers rather than literally changing geography. Ultimately, the teaching is an encouragement to look past your own doubts and focus on the immense power of placing even your smallest, struggling beliefs into God’s hands.’ And do we ever need to do that in these very crucial and critical times, when life seems to be speeding along the highway, seemingly ready to crash at any time.

Ah mih people, even a little faith is better than no faith, once it’s rooted in Almighty God. And there are so many examples in the scriptures where Jesus either applauded someone for their faith or admonished them for lack thereof. Let’s look at one instances of each. First off, remember when Jesus was on His way to heal the daughter of Jewish synagogue ruler, Jairus, and this woman who had suffered with an issue of blood for twelve years, got a Zeppo that if she could only touch Jesus’ garments she would be healed. Thus she fought though the crowd surrounding Him and most likely touched the hem of His prayer shawl, and was immediately healed. (Luke 8:40-44)

Simultaneously, Jesus began enquiring who had touched Him? The disciples were amazed, that He would ask that question with the crush of people around Him. But Jesus replied, ‘Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue (power) is gone out of me.’ (Luke 8:46) Eventually the woman, being afraid, fell down before Jesus and confessed that she had touched Him. Jesus then said to her, ‘Daughter, be of good comfort (cheer): thy faith hath made thee whole (well); go in peace.’ (Luke 8:48)

So yuh see what a li’l faith can do, it can work miracles if it’s rooted in God. And right after that some of Jairus’ people came and told him his daughter was dead, but Jesus said to him, ‘Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.’ (Luke 8:50) That’s the important thing my brethren, true belief in Almighty God that drives our faith.

Now here’s an interesting scene of the opposite reaction. This one we all know about Jesus and the disciples crossing the Sea of Galilee in a boat and a serious storm suddenly arising and the agitated water filling the boat. Obviously the disciples were afraid for it was possible that few if any of them could even swim. So they went looking for Jesus, who was asleep in the stern of the ship. They awakened him and said, ‘Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace be still. And the wind ceased, and there was great calm. And he said unto them, why are ye so fearful? how is that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, what manner of man is this (who can this be) that even the wind and the sea obey Him?’ (Mark 4:38-41)

Ah friends, it’s hard to fault the disciples, when we also have so many doubts and fears, especially when life is so uncertain these days. But the only way to conquer whatever is troubling us is by having true faith in our heavenly Father. And to show how wonderful He’s been to us, let’s declare our Thursday Blessings, undeserved blessings so generously bestowed on us by God to help us do His earthly work. So, in one strong and sincere voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! 

I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’ 

And that declaration now behooves us to go out and use those blessings to help others, just as generously as the Lord shared them with us, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him, like we do! Much LOVE!

…life is all about hope…belief…faith…and trust in Jehovah God…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

The Healing Ministry of Jesus. Part 2.

09 Jul 2025 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Luke 8:50b.      ‘Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.’

And it seems like our second wind day, Wednesday, is going to be another warm but cloudy day, with the possibility of rain later in the day. But once the stuff that’s falling isn’t white and cold, I don’t think we really care. (smile) And it’s certainly nicer to be playing in the rain than in the snow. I remember having fun doing that as a child. But I guess those simple joys of life no longer appeal to today’s sophisticated children, who refuse to leave their televisions, computers, video games and cell phones to go outside to play.

Oh no! Playing outside is not de rigueur, not fashionable in these modern times. That’s why the children are so sickly and obese; too much rich food and sedentary activities, not enough physical stuff. But who am I to tell these modern day wonders how to raise their children eh? (smile) So, since our good God has granted us the privilege of enjoying another day on His wonderful earth, let’s keep our promise to continue looking at some of the individual healing miracles that Jesus performed.

We stopped yesterday where Jesus was asked to leave the country of the Gadarenes on the other side of the lake after healing a demon possessed man called ‘Legion,’  then putting the demons into a herd of nearby swine, who promptly ran down a steep hill into the lake and drowned.  (Luke 8 -26-33) But when he returned home, He found another crowd there waiting for Him, and amongst them was one Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, wanting Jesus to come and heal his twelve year old daughter who was on her deathbed.

But while Jesus was making His way there, with the crowd surrounding Him, a woman who had been sick with and issue (flow) of blood for twelve years, decided that if she could just touch the hem of Jesus’ garments she would be healed. And so she fought her way through the crowd ‘Came behind him and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue (flow) of blood stanched (stopped).’ Then Jesus asked who had touched Him? The disciples were astounded that He could ask such a question with the crowd surging all around him.

But Jesus said, ‘Somebody hath touched me: for I perceived that virtue (power) is gone out of me.’ Then the woman realizing what she’d done came and fell down before Jesus and confessed it all. ‘And he said to her, Daughter, be of good comfort (cheer): thy faith hath made thee whole (well); go in peace.’ However, while she was still speaking to Jesus someone from Jairus’ household came and told him to stop bothering Jesus, because his daughter had died. But when Jesus heard it, he said to Jairus, ‘Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.’

Then Jesus went to Jairus’s house with Peter, James and John, and everybody wept and wailed over her death, But Jesus said to them, ‘Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn knowing that she was dead.’ But He put everybody out of the room, took her by the hand, and called, saying, ‘Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat (food). And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.’ And all of that friends, you can find in Luke 8:40-56.

What a busy and unpredictable day that must have been for Jesus. First the demon possessed man on the other side of the lake, then back home, the woman with the issue of blood, and Jairus’ daughter. All one after the other. Oh my people, there are so many individual healings that Jesus did we cannot talk about them all, and we’ll have to be very concise with those we share.

Like this one when Jesus came down from the mountain after the Sermon on the Mount, followed by great multitudes, ‘a leper came and worshipped Him, saying Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, See, thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded for a testament.’ (Matt. 8:1-4)

And the scholars note some interesting things about that healing, like when Jesus touched the leper, instead of it bringing uncleanness to Jesus, as it would to any other person who touched him, it caused the total cleansing of the leper. And the purpose of Jesus telling him to tell no man was to draw attention away from the miracle itself and appeal to the spiritual need in man. In the gospels the crowds were often attracted  by Jesus’ miracles, but not always by His message.

Shew thyself to the priest is in obedience to the Mosaic Law regarding cleansing. Offer the gift that Moses commanded. Those can be found in Leviticus 14:2-32, where a whole slew of things was laid out for the cleansing of a leper. The scholars say they are typical of Christ’s atonement and the cleansing it provided. For a testimony unto them: that is evidence to the priest that the leper had indeed been cleansed. Brother! It was a rather thorough interrogation, and took some eight days to work through all the stuff.

Then there was the miracle of Jesus in Capernaum when the Centurion asked Him to heal his servant sick of the palsy, (paralyzed and greatly afflicted). Jesus said he would go and heal him. But the centurion replied that he wasn’t worthy for the Lord to come under his roof. He could just speak the word and his servant would be healed. Then he explained about his authority over soldiers who obeyed his orders, and likened Jesus unto himself in that regard. ‘When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great a faith, no, not in Israel. …And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. and his servant was healed in the selfsame hour. ‘(Matt. 8:5-13)

Ah mih bredrin, Jesus was amazed at the strong belief in His healing ability that the Roman unbeliever possessed. Meanwhile His own Jewish people, ridiculed Him and treated His miracles more as a magic show than a real message. And those are just a few of the individual healing miracles Jesus did. You can read about others like the resurrection of Lazarus (John 11:17-44), the opening of the eyes of the blind beggar Bartimaeus in Jericho (Mark 10:46-52) and several others if you read and study the life and soul-saving Word of God! (smile)

Now let’s go home declaring (chuh!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

And we’ll be wise if we hold on to the promise that all who endure with Jesus to the very end will enjoy a future more glorious than they can ever ask or imagine. See you there! Much LOVE!

…miracles can only happen…where there is strong belief or true faith…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien