Lord, Increase Our Faith.

​Step #1: Lectio / Read

Click the link below or open your Bible to the passage and read through the reading at least once, paying attention to what is happening in the text. 

Luke 17: 5-10

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​Step #2: Meditatio / Meditate

Use the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again).

I used to think that faith was something only “old people” had. At my home parish the “old people” always talked about how they needed to “hand on the faith to the next generation”. I guess I figured that if faith is something they needed to hand on then it must be something that I don’t have yet. 

But honestly, faith is a gift. People can teach us about faith, but no one can force faith upon us. I cannot increase my own faith. I mean, I can learn about my faith but I can’t make faith happen. I cannot receive faith from anyone but God—it’s a gift….and it’s a gift that God desperately longs to give us! God has beautiful plans for our lives. All He desires is that we realize how much we are loved by Him. And when we realize how much we are loved we can open our hearts to receive this gift of faith. 

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I fool myself into thinking that faith applies to everyone but me and I end up persuading myself that I’m hopeless. I run myself into vicious trains of thought, like: Obviously, I can’t move mountains or anything so OBVIOUSLY I don’t have even a speck of faith… so thanks for trying, God, but I don’t count. 

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my journey through life is that God can do great things with very little. 

As a religious Sister, I am often asked to do things I don’t know how to do or I don’t feel that I am qualified to do or I feel like the task at hand is too huge and overwhelming….BUT Jesus is always at work in these situations—asking us to trust Him—hoping that we will become open to His grace. In these situations I’ve learned to pray, “Lord, you can do a lot with a little…increase my faith.” 
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So whenever you're feeling lost or overwhelmed about school, or work, or family, or just life itself, ask Jesus to increase your faith. This little prayer can be your “mustard seed” for today: “Lord, you can do a lot with a little…increase my faith.”

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Step #3: Oratio / Pray

These questions are to be used to talk to God; have a conversation with the Lord about these questions and what is going on in your heart as you pray today.

Do you see faith as a gift?

Do you limit God only to what you think He can do? 

How can you open your heart to God today to receive the gift He wants to give you? 

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Step #4: Contemplatio / Contemplate

In this step, you listen. Stop talking, let God speak to your heart. You may repeat one of these short phrases to focus your mind on the Lord.

“Lord, you can do a lot with a little…increase my faith.”
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“Lord, increase my faith.”

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Step #5: Actio / Act

In light of today's reading and your time spent in prayer with the Lord, what concrete action or actions will you take to let this encounter with Lord bear fruit in you today?

A priest once told me, “It’s okay to doubt, but it’s not okay to dwell in doubt.” When we dwell in doubt it’s because we do not trust God. Today take some time to concretely tell God of your doubts and fears. Be real. He is listening and He loves you. 

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Smartphone Lock Screen

The following image is here for you to save and use as a background or lock screen on your smartphone or device to help you carry today's Lectio Divina with you the rest of the day.

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Sister Bethany is a religious sister for the Daughters of St. Paul.