September 2026 Reflections From Dave's Corner of The World

Big Faith Comes In Little Steps

I tell our guests that I usually meet them at their bottom, or certainly somewhere in need.  It doesn’t feel or seem good, but it’s a good place to meet their God.  Those who see that they are in need will have their needs met.  Those who believe they have no needs are in the greatest need of all.  Luke 4:18 says;  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,”   What an amazing promise and gift, particularly for those who feel they have nowhere to turn and no one to turn to.  When you are struggling, and your decisions and efforts have only resulted in heartache, when you feel like you have nowhere to turn, turn to Jesus.  You may have rejected Him for decades, turn to Him now, in sincerity, and He will meet you.

It’s those who think they don’t have any needs who don’t get their needs met.  They may have things and money, but it’s only God who can restore the soul (Ps 23:3; Matt 5:6) and quicken our spirit.  They may think that they have it good, but we all know, in our heart of hearts, that only God can bring the joy and peace we all long for.  So often, the wealthy are most miserable, because their wealth cannot fill the void of the absence of God.  He is not acquired by wealth or inherited by name or blood, He is a free gift available to all who simply see their need and realize that Jesus is the only one who can meet it.  And we don’t have to get our lives in order or be perfect for Him to accept us, He’ll take us as we are, where we are.  He’ll clean us up and change our heart after He forgives us- His is unconditional love, He’s not like us or those we know.

He does require faith on our part, repentance and a lifelong pursuit, but He meets us where we are, even when we’re in the wrong place, and helps us move into His place.  Our heart must be sincere, but even that grows over time.  It takes faith to turn to God, and we all have that available.  But the faith to walk with God is a slow growth, of small steps that grow bigger and stronger as we grow in experience and familiarity in God.   It doesn’t start big, it’s like any discipline that we learn and train in: at first we lack understanding and skill, but persistence and determination prove our faith and love to God.

Faith pushes toward an intimate relationship with God.  Seeking His heart in His Word and way.  Trying to understand Him and His desires.  Pushing past our doubts and fears and showing Him that we’re trying to surrender that which is familiar or desirable by embracing His desires.  We will stumble and fall often, but it’s the determination and effort that please Him.  If the Father were looking for perfection, only the Son would pass.  From us He desires pursuit, a pursuit that is a lifelong investment, but a pursuit that will bless your life like no other investment you can make.

The following is an excerpt from the forward of “An Hour With George Muller”, which is a very short read, but is one of the most convicting and powerful booklets I have ever read, and I have read it over and over.

“If one reads this little book one is inclined to agree with the author that George Muller is "the mightiest man, spiritually considered, of modern times, a man specially raised up to show to a cold, calculating, selfish age the realities of the things of God, and to teach the Church how much she might gain if only she were wise enough to take hold the Omnipotent Arm."

The crying need of the hour is faith, the faith of a George Muller!

His faith was not a special kind of faith, it was not a miraculous faith. Says he, "My faith is the same kind of faith that all God's children have had."

How can we, you and I, increase our faith? If we would ask George Muller, he would answer on this wise:

Be willing to pay the price. What price?

 Study the Word of God and believe its blessed promises.

Be ready to say, "My whole life shall be one service to the living God."

Walk uprightly and don't regard iniquity in your heart.

With the simplicity of a child confide in God.

George Muller's faith was not a Jonah's gourd. It was of slow growth. It grew with increased familiarity with the Word of God; it flowered in an increased personal fellowship with God; and it came to fruition through trials, obstacles, difficulties, and defeats, all of which he welcomed as so many stepping stones which his Heavenly Father affectionately placed in his life's pathway.

We would encourage the reading of this booklet. It contains a message for our "cold, calculating, selfish age." In one sentence this message can be stated thus:

Feed your soul upon the Word of God and you will have an increase of faith in the measure that you exercise it.” [Bold added]

Our guests, and you, dear reader, have before us, access to the heavenly throne and all the grace needed to be a mighty person of faith.  The obstacle to be overcome is our -Self!  I’ve been fighting it for decades, and George Muller sums it up in four small sentences.

Study the Word of God and believe its blessed promises.

Be ready to say, "My whole life shall be one service for the living God."

Walk uprightly and don't regard iniquity in your heart.

With the simplicity of a child confide in God.

Whether you are in need at A Ray of Hope, or elsewhere, or you are a person of wealth and power, you have an equal opportunity before God to gain the most beautiful and powerful life changing blessings, by simply thinking and determining to seek and follow God with each small step.  We’ll make our poor judgments along the way, but let each poor judgment strengthen your resolve to love and honor our Father! 

Amen?  Amen!  Dave