Faith
All of us have faltered in our faith at some point. We may admire the great faith and works of Jesus’ apostles. At the same time, we need to remember that they too struggled with doubt and fear – but they did not hesitate to ask God to increase their faith. Here is a prayer for God to increase our faith, so that we hold on firmly to Jesus during the storms of this life and follow Him wherever He leads us. God is good and will never allow us to be tempted or tested beyond what we can bear. In times of trials, we can rejoice that He considers our faith worthy of being tested and refined like gold.
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Luke 17:5-6 ESV The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Peter 1:5-9 NLT And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.
A prayer to ask God for more faith
“Dear Heavenly Father,
Like the apostles, I ask for You to please increase my faith. Thank you that You do not condemn me for my doubts and fears. Even Jesus struggled to obey You while He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, yet He remained faithful to Your will. I wish to follow Jesus’ example too.
1 John 3:21-2 ESV Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
Matthew 26:39 ESV And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
Thank you that You know all my weaknesses and love me all the same.
Psalm 103:13-14 ESV As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
Although I cannot see what the future holds, I desire to obey Your will. I determine to place my faith in what You are doing in the unseen, rather than what mankind is doing in the seen. Your Word reminds me that my present troubles won’t last very long and that it will produce a glory that will last forever! Therefore, I choose to place my faith in Your invisible and eternal power, rather than my limited human wisdom.
2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
1 Corinthians 2:5 ESV That your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Thank you that You, oh God, promise to be generous with all the wisdom I need to discern what is the truth and what is Your will, whenever I ask by faith in Jesus’ name.
James 1:5-8 ESV If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
However, I confess uncertainty still makes me nervous. My fears can sometimes drown out Your kind and gentle voice. I really need Your reassurances please. Comfort my anxious heart and give me renewed hope and cheer!
Psalm 94:19 NLT When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.
Thank you that You never abandon me, even when I walk into the fiery trials. Your Word reminds me that no one can stand against me when You are for me. Thank you that You are for me, for my good and not my harm.
Daniel 3:25-26 ESV He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire.
Romans 8:31 ESV What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Jeremiah 29:11 ESV For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Holy Spirit, I submit my heart before You and confess how much I need Your gentle conviction, direction, and embrace right now.
John 16:13 ESV When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
May I taste Your loving goodness deep in my spirit. Please show me all the ways Satan tries to distract and discourage me with his lies, as I study Your Word and follow the Holy Spirit, so that I can hold the shield of faith and defend my heart against his darts of unbelief, fear, doubts, worry, and dismay. Your Word reminds me to not be afraid or dismayed because You are with me wherever I go.
Ephesians 6:16 ESV In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
Joshua 1:8-9 ESV This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
So today, I turn away from the temptation to be fearful or mournful, and tell my “mountain” of questions about the future to be thrown “into the sea.” I choose to live a life filled with power, love, and self-control that comes from following Jesus’ words, ways, and works.
Matthew 21:21-22 ESV Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
2 Timothy 1:7 ESV for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
I will fight the good fight of the faith! I can do all things through God who strengthens me. Thank you, God, for Your everlasting promises and love!
1 Timothy 6:12 ESV Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Philippians 4:13 ESV I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
In Jesus’ name, amen.”