I’m so excited to introduce you to my special guest blogger, Elder Tyler Lewis. He is a young man who loves God and has the gift of faith! I hope you will enjoy his post today as much as I have!

Asking With Faith vs. Asking In Faith.

SheVictory! What’s up? My name is Elder Tyler Lewis and I just want to tell you all that my aunt, Dr. Dee, publishes this blog, and she’s phenomenal. I must admit to you, I was supposed to submit this post over six months ago, however, I’ve been so nervous. I’m on a new road in my walk with Christ, and I was recently ordained as an elder in my church.  Sharing my devotional thoughts in writing is a new arena for me. One thing I am definitely learning is that obedience is everything. 

For the past 60 days, God has been teaching me to ask in faith instead of asking with faith. Now I asked God what’s the difference since I’m still asking and it still involves my faith?  He asked, “Why would you be so unintentional with your asking and your faith? Why would you be so careless in the things you are asking me to do for you?” His response threw me for a loop and me being me, I asked again what’s the difference? I just didn’t understand, so God being God, had to teach me in the area that honestly, I didn’t want to be taught. I recently coordinated an epic “Back 2 School Rally” with my church, Divine Love Christian Center. When I first came to the church, they were giving out school supplies in plastic bags.  When one child’s bag ripped, he looked as if his whole world had ended. God spoke to me and said we have to do better. I decided then that if I joined Divine Love, I wanted to make a difference. This year I ordered 300 backpacks and was able to get Walmart, Staples, and Office Depot to donate supplies. We offered the community free haircuts, food, gently worn shoes, and free backpacks full of supplies. As with any event of this magnitude, finance and support are necessary for success. I began my campaign of asking for support, and for 20 days I was getting denied. I asked God why? He told me to stop asking WITH faith and ask IN faith. In my frustration, I said whatever that means. and I put it back on him. I prayed and said, “Lord, if you want this ministry to happen, You make a way.” He told me again to “ask in faith.” I thought, “Okay bruh! You Got Jokes!” 

 One of our church mothers preached a message on faith. As she handed out bags of mustard seeds, she gave me one and said, “ask in faith.” I sat with this bag of seeds in my hand and began to think. If I take the bag of seeds back and forth WITH me to a garden, I’ll never get a mustard plant.  If I take this bag of seeds and plant them IN the ground and nurture them, then I expect them to grow. It was at this point where I chuckled and just smiled because I was given simple instructions, and I didn’t understand until I got a bag of seeds. I simply told God, “That’s all you had to say.”

I get it now!  If I ask with faith, it leaves room for doubt; but If I ask IN faith that means I have already planted the outcome! Because it takes some nurturing to raise a seed, I can expect growth.  You can’t just put a seed in the ground; you have to till it and fertilize it. Sometimes you have to add soil, and sometimes you have to take away some soil. When you plant the seed, you must water it, and pluck up the weeds so the seed won’t get choked out. You may have to cover it from violent storms so it isn’t washed away. The same is true of our faith. We have to take the necessary steps of cutting things and people out of our lives who mean us no good. There are times when it’s necessary to remove ourselves from negative situations to preserve our identity and our character. Just like a seed, we can only grow and thrive in an environment that has been cultivated with balanced nutrients, positive vibes,  and a stable atmosphere.

I began to ask for school supplies, money, and support for the Back 2 School Rally IN faith! The amount of times I heard “Yes” was overwhelming. The donations we received were tremendous. In addition to the support of my leaders, Pastor Alphonso and District Missionary Marti Hawkins, help poured in. One donor gave $1, 000 while a family from the church gave food for the event. God took care of every detail, down to the weather. When the clouds began to form, I exercised my faith by openly asking God to hold back the rain and send the children. The clouds went away, and the children were blessed. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 17:20, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” 

I want to tell you to start asking IN Faith instead of With Faith. Though we are still asking, and our faith is involved, the verb prior to your faith matters. A verb is what you do.  You can’t expect your God to be intentional with your unintentional actions. Faith makes you unlimited in all things and areas of your life. I didn’t limit God to the business of the church.  I asked him to bless me personally in my career, and I’ve been in contact with three companies that would like me to assist in their growth. I even asked God to let me travel more, and that’s happening, too! I’m not bragging on myself.  I’m just trying to show you how to be blessed. My Yes came when my confession matched my heart’s posture. Don’t put restraints on God. He wants to answer your prayers and meet your needs.

Take a little more care with the most powerful seed in our possession. Faith. Plant it, and watch it grow! — Elder Tyler Lewis

Featured Image by Abcdz2000


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