The same Spirit gives great faith to another. 1 Corinthians 12:9a
When you pray for a need, just how confident are you that God will hear and answer?
God said it. I believe it. And that settles it for me. That was an old Christian saying. But what if we’re not always confident in our faith? Who doesn’t need more faith and stronger faith?
We need the faith of Jesus-followers like George Muller, who cared for hundreds of orphans in 1800s England. One morning there was nothing in the orphanage to eat for breakfast. Muller sat the children down to eat and prayed, “Dear Father, we thank Thee for what Thou art going to give us to eat.”[1] At that very moment, a knock at the door brought fresh bread and milk. A deliveryman had ended up with an extra order of food. Passing by the orphanage, he suddenly decided to stop. Yes, the spiritual gift of faith is exercised through prayer.
Here’s the good news: we can ask God for this gift. In the Bible book of 1 Corinthians, the gift of faith is listed as one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:9). This is faith that is given to some to “encourage and build up other believers in their confidence in God. Someone with this gift expects God to move and is not surprised when He answers a prayer or performs a miracle.”[2]
God gives His gifts according to the unique plans and purposes He has for the life of each Jesus-follower. The book of Romans says we should each operate “according to the measure of faith that God has assigned” (Romans 12:3).
Longing for great faith? Ask for it from the giver of good gifts today! (James 1:17)
[1] Kids, C. H. F. (2010, July 16). George Mueller, orphanages built by prayer. Christianity.com. Retrieved July 14, 2022, from https://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/church-history-for-kids/george-mueller-orphanages-built-by-prayer-11634869.html
[2] Stewart, D. (2020, June 9). What is the gift of faith? Blue Letter Bible. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
