“Are you ready Susan?” asked David. “Not really,” replied Susan frowning. “You didn’t tell me what to pack.”  He pulled her into a hug, “Don’t worry. I will get anything you need along the way.”  Susan shrugged her shoulders, “Ok. At least tell me where we are going.”  David’s eyes twinkled, “You’ll see. “

Once in the car, Susan fell into a peaceful sleep. Wherever they were headed, she trusted David to take care of her.  Awakened when the car stopped Susan looked around and panicked. “David, why are we stopping here?  This area doesn’t look safe!”

Soothingly he said, “It’s ok Susan I’m with you.  This journey takes us through rough places before we reach the beautiful ones.”

“Do you trust me?”  “Yes,” Susan mumbled anxiously. David took her hand in his, “I love you and I won’t leave you.”

The next day they drove to a beautiful seaside resort. “See,” said David, “Because of your faith in me, we could journey together to this beautiful destination.”

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Would you go to an unknown location & not pack anything?

What craziness is that?  Alan & I travel with so much luggage that I can’t imagine taking nothing with me! Much less to an unknown destination!

But Susan wasn’t the only one who took a journey without packing. Jesus sent the 12 disciples out to preach telling them to take nothing with them.

 These were His (Jesus’) instructions: 
“Take nothing for the journey except a staff—
no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 
 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt,”
 Mark 6:8 NIV

The disciples had no clean clothes, no toiletries and no hotel reservations. They had to walk in faith that Jesus would make provision for them along the way, even though He wasn’t with them.

For we walk by faith, not by sight,
2 Corinthians 5:7

WHAT IS FAITH?

Faith is the complete confidence or trust in someone or something. ¹

DO WE HAVE THAT KIND OF FAITH IN JESUS?

DO YOU HAVE THAT KIND OF FAITH IN SOMEONE ELSE?

WHO DO YOU TRUST IMPLICITLY?

Why do you trust them?

Is it because you know they love you and will do what is best for you?  Believing that about Jesus gives us that kind of faith.

Susan had that faith in David’s love for her. Without knowing anything about their journey, she fell peacefully asleep in the car. When they were in an unsafe location, she trusted David’s decision and promise for a better destination.

It’s not that Susan didn’t have moments of anxiety, but she chose to dwell on her faith in David’s love for her rather than the source of anxiety.

That’s how the disciples must have felt about Jesus. They had no way of knowing what they would face on their journey. They probably had moments of anxiety regarding who they would meet, where they would sleep and when they would eat.

Amidst all the unknowns, there was one thing that they did know: how much Jesus loved them. They must have chosen to dwell on their faith in Him and His love rather than anxiety. That gave the disciples faith for the journey even though Jesus was not with them.

Jesus wants to pour His love into us
so that we too can have that kind of faith
 wherever our journey leads.

HOW DO YOU DEVELOP THAT MUCH FAITH IN JESUS?

By understanding
how much He loves you.

HOW DO I UNDERSTAND HIS LOVE?

Through our relationship with Him as well as reading, meditating and memorizing scriptures about God & Jesus’ love like the ones below.

#1 HIS LOVINGKINDNESS SURROUNDS YOU.

#2 HIS LOVE FOR YOU IS UNLIMITED AND LASTS FOREVER.

#3 YOU ARE HIS WONDERFUL CREATION

#4 BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU,
HE UNDERSTANDS & PAYS ATTENTION TO EVERY PART OF YOUR LIFE.

#5 YOU ARE OF GREAT VALUE TO HIM

#6 HE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU

As we journey through life, we can have the same faith as the disciples to face the unknown.

OUR FAITH IS MORE THAN THE MEASURE OF OUR LOVE FOR GOD & JESUS,
IT IS OUR BELIEF IN
THE DEPTH OF THEIR LOVE FOR US.

This belief grows our faith to do anything and go anywhere that He leads.

REFLECTION

Do you believe Jesus’ love for you?

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, as I write _(select a verse from above)_ and say it aloud, fill me with Your love. Help me to understand how very much You love me. Help me to release the control over my life and let You lead my way wherever the journey goes.  In Jesus name, Amen.

BY FAITH BELIEVE & RECEIVE JESUS’ LOVE

Comment!

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*For information on making Jesus Christ your Savior, email me or visit, http://www.peacewithgod.net/

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Photo’s only;
Hummingbird, Carl Downing
Rainbow, Yulia Gadalina
Waterfall, Christian Joudrey
Goldfinch, Ray-Hennessy