A Prayer to Grow Strong in Our Faith
By Kristine Brown
“Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.” Romans 4:20 NLT
I once knew a precious elderly woman at a church we attended. She was strong in her faith. So much that I’d watch people get up from their seats, walk over, and ask her to pray for them— before, after, and even during service. And this woman knew how to pray! Her passion for the things of God was evident. She’d press her eyelids closed and wrap her hands firmly around yours, committed to not letting go until God said so. I saw her as an example of what our faith should look like. I’d love to have faith like hers. Yet I’ve hesitated to pray for stronger faith because I’ve also wanted to avoid the growth pains associated with it. Thankfully, God gives us inspiration for our faith journey in Romans chapter four. Through this powerful passage, God is teaching me to view my life experiences as opportunities to develop a deeper faith in him.
Abraham’s story reminds us of what strong faith looks like. He was no stranger to adversity, but he chose to believe “God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants.” (Romans 4:13). It’s hard to keep believing as time passes and we don’t see any hope. Sometimes we feel weak, and our faith can follow. So, what set Abraham apart as a man of strong faith? Romans 4:18 says, “Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping….”
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines faith as “belief and trust in and loyalty to God.” In my own life, there have been times when I believed in God, but I didn’t fully trust him. I held onto control instead of holding onto God’s goodness. But God has always been faithful. He taught me how to hope in him, even when my situation appeared hopeless. My faith began to grow when I chose to believe, trust, and hope in Jesus.
I’m thankful today for those faith pioneers who’ve shown us the way. Wouldn’t it be amazing to have that level of faith? To be a person who others come to for prayer and encouragement? Let’s be like Abraham and never waver from our beliefs. Let’s wrap our hands firmly around God’s promises and commit to not letting go. May we grasp every opportunity to grow stronger in the faith.
Let’s pray.
Dear God,
Your Word tells me that “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” (Hebrews 11:1) I want to grow strong in the faith, but I’ve struggled to ask for your help. Forgive me for avoiding opportunities you’ve given me to develop a stronger faith. Open my eyes to the path you’ve set before me. Help me grow strong in the faith and show a passion for your Word that draws others to you.
Father, I believe, trust, and hope in you alone. I understand that faith begins with trusting you in difficult circumstances. Help me to change my perspective on the challenges I face. Through adversity, my faith can grow. When I see obstacles ahead of me, help me overcome my fear. I know you are with me through it all, and with you, nothing is impossible.
When someone comes to me for prayer or encouragement, remind me of your promises. Give me the words to pray and the boldness to believe for big things. Thank you for the struggles I’ve gone through in the past that have helped me to be the person you created. When my faith is weak, I will turn to you. Above all, I pray my faith journey will bring glory to you, Lord. In the name of your Son Jesus, I pray, Amen.
Photo Credit: © Unsplash/Richard Felix
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 Friday, 09 June 2023.
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