A Prayer to Cultivate a Spirit of Adventure in Faith
By Megan Evans
Bible Reading
“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” - Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)
Is your faith walk ready for an adventure with God? Where would you go? What things would you like to see and do? From time to time, God stirs our hearts to step out from places we have grown too comfortable and into brave new areas to serve and worship Him. Will you go? Maybe you struggle to say yes to God like I do sometimes. You are not alone if your mind tends to wander along trails of uncertainty and questions. Trying out new patterns of activity in our lives can feel scary at times. Certainly, wondering if we are equipped and fearing failure is common to all. However, with our faith anchored in Christ, we can learn to walk in new paths one prayerful step at a time.
God intends for our faith to be active rather than stagnant or dormant, and nothing pulls our heavy feet from miry clay like shaky new steps of faith—and what a comfort it is that we never have to be brave without Jesus! Our Good Shepherd will lead and steady us through every adventure. Adventures can come in all shapes and sizes. Missionary work, starting a gospel conversation, or leading in discipleship might come to mind. What about starting a new job, school, or relationship? Maybe it’s learning a new skill or hobby or finally pursuing a dream that’s been in your heart for years. God is fun, and He invites us into His great work. What holy nudges have you noticed in your life lately? It just might be the Holy Spirit, and we are wise to listen.
Our faith action shows the reality of our secure hope in Jesus Christ. As it says in Hebrews 11:1, “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” Other Bible versions use words like confidence, assurance, or certainty. Each of these terms calls us to build our attitudes and actions upon the foundation of Truth. Tethered to Jesus, we can take bold steps of faith, holding firm to His Word. God will never ask us to do anything that contradicts His commands, which is a healthy guardrail and starting place for all discernment.
The first step to cultivating a Spirit of adventure in faith is learning to say “yes” to God even when we don’t have all the answers. Faith action reflects an obedient heart, and obedient hearts emerge from quality time spent with God in prayer and His Word. Obedience sometimes feels challenging because it requires us to choose God’s ways over our flesh. However, when we battle sins, such as doubt and selfish desire, a powerful place to start is to ask God for a pure and willing heart (Psalm 51:10-12).
As we seek to obey the Lord, we can fully rely on God to show us when, where, and how to follow Him. As Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Psalm 32:8 reminds us that we can count on God for wise counsel and direction, and John 15:5 reminds us that we can be confident branches attached to Jesus, our Vine, for we can do nothing apart from Him!
Hebrews 11 is often called the “hall of faith” and records many lives remembered for their examples of faith in action. Brave names like Noah, Abraham, Moses, and more fill this list (Hebrews 11:4-34). They are remembered not because of their human strength and merit but because of their faith in God. They were ordinary people like you and me whom God equipped for adventure in faith. We are told that Moses “kept his eyes on the one who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). Let’s choose to do the same.
Whatever adventure God invites you to take with Him, bathe it in prayer and Scripture. Journaling can also be helpful for recording how God is at work in your life. Ask God to cultivate a spirit of adventure in faith and commit to following where He leads. Lastly, enjoy the process. Like any adventurous vacation or fun trip, we sometimes forget to savor God’s pace and experiences in the blur of our itinerary.
Let’s pray:
Father God, I trust you and want to follow you wherever you call me. This is hard sometimes, and I ask you today to cultivate a spirit of adventure in faith in me. Reveal areas of my faith that need action or brave new steps in my life. Free me from ruts that have grown too comfortable. Forgive me for letting fear and doubt dictate my answers to your calling. Remind me often that I get to stay anchored to Jesus as your child. Therefore, I can be brave and follow Him as my Shepherd. Show me the next step you would have me take, whether big or small. Forgive me for needing all the answers, and help me rest today in your plan for my life. Help me stay at your side with my eyes on you always.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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Editor's Note: We're proud to announce we've just launched a new nighttime companion to Your Daily Prayer: the Your Nightly Prayer devotional. You'll soon be able to subscribe to receive Your Nightly Prayer via email, or as a podcast, but for now you can find it on the website at crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer. We hope it's a relaxing and soothing way to wind down your day with rich meditations on who God is.
Related Resource: Jesus Calling - Stories of Faith
Kerry Washington. Andrea Bocelli. Reba McEntire. Mark Wahlberg. Tony Dungy. Matthew McConaughey, What do all of these people have in common? They are all people of faith who have leaned on God in both the good and challenging times—and they’ve shown up to tell their story of faith on The Jesus Calling Podcast. The Jesus Calling Podcast provides a place for people from all walks of life to share the heartaches, joys, and divine moments that keep them going.
Inspired by Sarah Young's classic devotional book, the Jesus Calling podcast has brought encouragement and peace to millions. New episodes drop every Thursday! Listen today on LifeAudio.com or wherever you find your podcasts.
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Originally published Wednesday, 11 September 2024.
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