Having Faith, Even at Home

Lent starts February 14, and so does the RESCUED Blessed is She Lent devotional. This year, you’ll be receiving an excerpt from the Lent devotional every day in your inbox (in lieu of our regular daily devo). We want to pray with one heart and one mind as the BIS sisterhood. If you prefer to have the book, purchase the 2024 Blessed is She Lent devotional RESCUED right here. Right upon purchase, you’ll receive a link to come into the free Blessed is She app to walk through the Lenten season with us in daily live prayer, small groups, and more. Together let’s look to the Lamb of God who came to rescue each one of us.

 

“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. // Mark 6:4-6

“No it’s not!” My four-year-old self yelled at my older brother. “It’s the same, and you can wash your hands with it!” I stubbornly insisted, refusing to agree with his differing stance. For some reason, my young little mind had decided that the goat’s milk moisturizer my mother had next to the sink in our farmhouse kitchen was a beautiful alternative to hand soap. My brother tried to school me that the two are different, but I would not hear it. 

“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place” (Mark 6:4).

Whether in humorous situations of a young child refusing to accept the truth that lotion is not used for cleaning purposes or in serious conversations that matter—our family members can sometimes be the most closed to hearing the truth of what we say, or we ourselves refuse to listen to what they share with us.

But the question is not whether we are listening to older brothers so we stop using the fancy moisturizer to wash our hands, but rather, the real question is whether we are hearing Jesus speak His truth into our lives so that we may truly be cleansed and healed.

Our insistence in believing what we think we know, rather than opening in faith to the ways God is leading us deeper, blocks Jesus from doing His mighty deeds in our lives. 

Faith is the gift that softens our hearts to be receptive, opens our minds to accept what may feel difficult, and strengthens our wills to choose to take the steps forward with God even in uncertainty. In that beautiful surrender and trust, God can work. 

May we never be so blocked by lack of faith that Jesus is only able to perform the minimal in our lives and moves on to others who are more open. 

Consider truthfully: How are you blocking God’s work in your life? What do you need in order to soften and receive? What is your next step to move forward in trust and faith as Jesus does His work in you?