Growing Your Faith!
Today, I took the “State” portion of the Real Estate Sales Person Exam. This was the second time, having ‘Failed’ the test three weeks ago by 2 question. I got 19 correct answers, but the passing mark was 21. Failed by 2 points. What a disappointment!
The Receptionist said, people do not pass the test by just one (miserable) point. He said I would have felt worst if I failed by one point. My sorrow should be less because I lost by 2 points. Thanks for the encouragement. In other words, if I had three wrong answers I would be much less disappointed. Okay.
Back to today. - There were 35 questions and all I had to answer correctly was 21. It is a multiple choice type of test, wherein 4 choices pops up every time you press, NEXT in the computer keys.
You feel happy when you see the question and the answers and you know the answer. But what happened this morning was not good. When the first question came up, I eliminated two of the possible answers but could not be sure which of the two remaining options was correct. This is when you start twisting in your seat and PRAYING to the Holy Spirit for help.
Anyway, I had to choose one option and then pressed “Mark” so I can come back and review it later. Then I went on to the question #2 by pressing NEXT.
The same thing happened, - I was not sure which one of the two options I chose was correct. So, I was now begging the Holy Spirit to help me, otherwise if this keeps on, I am done again for the second time, which was a very, very bad thought.
By then I was now recalling about what Jesus said about the Vine and the branches. I am just a branch and can accomplish nothing if I am not connected to the Vine. So, I affirmed to the Lord that I am only a branch and I needed some sap of wisdom from Him the Vine, the source of all things in this planet. That I am committed to stay connected to Him always. But please send some sap of correct answers.
Out of the 35 questions, I Marked 18 questions. This meant that I was not sure of half of my answers. It was an agonizing one hour. I answered #35 and still had 12 minutes to review the marked answer.
My Conversation with the Holy Spirit.
I said . . . ‘Jesus, Holy Spirit, I know you are the Vine and I am just a branch and without you I can do nothing. This is one occasion when I need you to guide me to the correct answers. If you don’t, then I am a goner. I admit that I can do nothing without you. If I pass this test, I now believe more than ever before that it was You, Holy Spirit, that did the test for me. Thank you in advance for showing me the right answers, Amen (and so be it)”.
Then I proceeded to review the 18 ‘marked” questions. I read and re-read the question and the two possible answers. I pretended that I was a high government official who had the knowledge and authority to decide which one was the right way to go. I kept on saying, “If I were to decide which way to go,- this is where I will go”.
PASS
My time was up. The hour ended and I had to press the final word…”END” and then
The screen popped up the results. “…………..PASS. . . . .
Wow, thank you Jesus, thank you Holy Spirit. The Real Estate Commission does not release your score. Some of the States do, but this state does not. So I will never know whether I made 21 or more. The point is the Holy Spirit helped me to PASS.
My Faith.
Guess where my faith is now? Way up! The rest of the day, today, I have been walking on clouds. I have my Real Estate License for the next two years, until the next test.
So what is my message?
Everyone has a measure of faith. The Bible says – even if your faith is as small as a mustard seed, it will grow, if you use it, like you use your muscles. If you do not use your muscles, you lose it. And so it is with our faith. We need to use it as often as possible.
Remember, we are just a branch and the Lord is the Vine, - without Him we can no nothing. Amen.
p.s. Please do not test the above. You will not make it. You may make it for a time, but sooner or later you will stumble. You may not like what I just said. Better forewarned than sorry.
