He said, "What is God's Kingdom like? To what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and put in his own garden. It grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the sky live in its branches." Luke 13:18-19 WEB.

I can look at the magnificent oak tree in our yard and remember what it looked like forty years ago when we first moved here. It was a small, skinny thing then. Now it's a huge tree, and you could park several cars in its shade.

Yet, it didn't happen overnight. This magnificent oak took decades to get where it is now. When it was small, it could have easily been crushed or uprooted. There was a time when it was frail and weak, but it became a mature oak tree over time using what God provided each day.

Like that oak tree, the faith that is in you starts small but grows over time. As you walk with the Lord, talk with Him, and rely on His provision, the little seed within you will grow into something unshakable. So don't try to rush it. You will just become disappointed. Take it one day at a time, and someday when you look back on where you are now, you will laugh. Faith and oak trees both take time to grow.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please be with me this day, and provide the things I need to grow. Strengthen my faith, and guide my steps with Your Holy Spirit. May Your will be done on Earth and in my life as it is in Heaven. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Note: Today is Thankful Thursday at the Ministry Events group! This event gives us an opportunity encourage each other by posting thoughts, moments, and prayers of gratitude for Him, His creation and all that He does in our lives. All our welcome! To join, just click on the group name and then the join link on the page that will follow. As always, if you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network.