Pray to build our faith

We pray to build our faith. Faith – so important to our walk with Jesus, but, oh, it seems so elusive to us when we need it most. Some mornings we wake up and we feel faith arising; that is, until we receive a disheartened phone call, or a letter from the IRS stating we owe ten thousand dollars in penalties and back taxes. At these times of needing faith the most, it is nowhere to be found. If we are completely honest with ourselves, during these moments, it is really hard to walk by faith and not by sight (or sound) as we are admonished in 2 Corinthians 2:5 – but we must. Faith is a very important concept in Scriptures as it is mentioned in the King James Version two hundred and forty-seven times. We are told in the Bible there are at least three ways to receive faith. We are told faith is a gift in 1 Corinthians 12:9; and in Romans 12:3 it says we all have been given a measure of faith; and Romans 10:17 informs us that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. The first two need to be accepted, acknowledged and received, in faith, but the last one, well, that is something we can do every day by reading, speaking, singing, or praying His Word out loud. Faith is very important to God as He says in Hebrews 11:6 “Without faith it is impossible to please Him…”, and I would imagine we all do want to please our Jesus. And in Luke 8:25, Jesus asks His disciples “Where is your faith?”. I do not know about you, but I really do not want to hear Jesus ask me that. Years ago, I learned that if I start my mornings with praying the Word of God, out loud, every day, I sense faith building up in my inner man—and my day just goes smoother. That is sure a lot better than feeling fear and anxiety overwhelming our soul and ruining our day. Agreed? So, I pray out “I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles” (Ps. 34:4). He hears our prayers, He delivers, and He saves; oh Hallelujah! I cry out: The Lord is the One who goes before me. He will be with me. He will not leave me nor forsake me, so I will not fear nor be dismayed (Deut. 31:8 paraphrased). Then I might shout out: I will hold fast the confession of my hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful (Heb. 10:23 paraphrased) and He will do it (see 1 Thes. 5:24). I also like to pray out Romans 4:18-21 which tells us “Who, contrary to hope, in hope believed…And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.” Let us stand on this and be fully convinced that what our great God has promised – He is quite able to perform. So, in the morning, let us open Lamentations 3:21-23 (NIV) and pray out loud “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Oh LORD, You are my portion and You are good to those whose hope is in You. You are always faithful and good to us, so we gladly pray Your Word out loud to build our faith daily – which pleases You.