Faith must be planted in the right environment for it to grow.  Just like a natural seed is planted in the ground, so too is faith planted in the ground, the ground of our heart. The Word of God is the “miracle grow” substance that is needed in your heart to grow your faith seed that is within you.  It’s the Word that reveals the qualities necessary for the soil of our heart to grow great faith.  Let’s begin by looking in Luke chapter 17.

And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”

Luke 17:5

The disciples asked this question in response to a teaching that Jesus just gave.  Let’s review this story and uncover the first quality of the heart that grows great faith.

¹ Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! ² It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. ³ Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. ⁴ And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” ⁵ And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”

Luke 17:1-5

His response to them was…..

⁶ So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

Luke 17:6

The first quality needed for the soil of your heart to grow great faith is “forgiveness.”

Forgiveness is the greatest gift you can give to others and to yourself.  Forgiveness is the greatest act of generosity. Forgiveness gives freely from a heart, a heart which has received freely from the Lord that which it did not deserve.

Forgiveness is not just an emotion or action, but it is also a character quality that affects the state of your heart- or as it where, the soil of which the seed of faith is impacted by.

When Jesus taught the disciples regarding the reality of offense and our need to forgive, they responded, INCREASE OUR FAITH.  Then Jesus replied, if you had faith the size of a mustard seed, although ever so small you can speak to your obstacles and they will be uprooted and removed.

We were given a measure of faith, a measure that has great potential.  It was deposited into a heart that has received unconditional forgiveness. As recipients of this deposit, we are called to cultivate this seed of faith, and a forgiving heart provides the soil that grows great faith!!

As you Forge Ahead In Trustful Hope, allow the forgiveness of God to transform the soil of your heart as it grows the kind of faith that will move the mountains in your life!