Pray for our faith to have a ripple effect

Women's Prayer Team - Week #28

My family, along with dear friends of ours, have had the annual tradition of traveling to Hanging Rock State Park every summer for a week of vacation. We stay in cabins and have the best time. We swim in waterfalls, go hiking, tubing, eat around a campfire, make s'mores, and so much more. One year, the park's lake was closed due to the pandemic, so we weren't able to go out on the canoes like we wanted. My two sons decided to skip rocks and we did this for at least an hour. We lost track of time and were simply enjoying competing with who could do the most skips in the lake with a rock, the biggest splashes with our rocks, and whatever else we could think of as a competition. Our oldest son, by the way, won for the most amount of skips. It came up in my memories not long ago on social media and immediately reminded me of the effect that our faith can have on those around us. Just like the rock that Ermias threw rippled through the water, our faith can make eternal impacts on those that the Lord puts in our circles of influence. It's up to us as children of God, what kind of impact, ripple effects if you will, our faith has. Are we living out our faith?

Prayer Tip # 28 – Pray for our faith to have a ripple effect on those around us.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,

which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:10

"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,”

Philippians 1:9-10

Am I abounding the love of the Lord in my every day choices and decisions, like Paul mentions in the verses above? The choices we make throughout life determine where we are and who we are becoming. Little choices from what gas station we use to significant choices like the person we choose to marry. Every choice we make creates a ripple effect on our lives as well as on the lives of others. When I'm at that gas station of choice, am I being Christ's hands and feet? In my relationships, like my marriage and my friendships, am I putting on Christ's attributes? The choices we make throughout life determine who we are and what we are becoming. Choices also tell a lot about our hearts. What we really want, love, and think shows up in the choices we make. It’s no wonder then that Paul urged us to make “excellent” choices—choices that are illuminated from a heart fully surrendered to Jesus. Paul also stated that when our love abounds in knowledge and discernment, we are able to understand what is best, so that we may “approve the things that are excellent.” Excellent choices are the proof of a life that is deeply committed to Jesus and His ways. They have the ripple effect of filling our lives marked by the actions we take, because we are motivated by a love for the Father.

Effects on friends and family to co-workers and neighbors, and from extending forgiveness to offering friendship, to spreading the Gospel and living a life of faith. What kind of ripple and waves are you setting into motion by your words and works for Christ? We may never get to see this side of eternity the effects that a ripple from our own faith might make, but we do have the choice to freely make Jesus' Name known and renown by the decisions we make - the ripple that we make by serving Him well.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works

and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:16

Prayer Points: Please pray over these requests:

• Lord, thank You for using me as part of Your plan.

• Please help me to choose to use the life You have given me to make lasting eternal effects for You and Your kingdom.

• Lord, increase my faith through Your Word.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I come before You in the Name of Jesus and thank You for using me, even in spite of myself and my failures. Help me to choose to use the life You have given me to make lasting eternal effects for You and Your kingdom. Help me to put away things that You are not in or that don't bring You glory. Please continue to increase my faith through Your Holy Word and Your Spirit. Help me to remember that the choices I make affect those around me and affects how they see You. Thank You for the instruction of Your Word and Your guidance that the Holy Spirit gives us. You are so kind and so good, and I ask that You help me live my life in light of You and Your goodness. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Because of His Grace,

Amanda Dyson