To Focus on What Builds My Faith
Dear Jesus,
I know the acts of faith that are important for strengthening my faith: reading and studying your Word, gathering regularly for worship and the Lord’s Supper, spending time in prayer, etc. Nevertheless, even though I know how important these are, they also require a measure of commitment and sacrifice. To prioritize these spiritual disciplines means having to say no to other things in life that I enjoy and appreciate, so sometimes I convince myself that they are too inconvenient or too much for me.
But what I don’t realize at the time, is that avoiding them in the short term because of a perceived inconvenience always results in more pain in the long term. Then, during the times when my life seems to be going off the rails, when things are falling apart, or when trials arise, I can often look back and see that I have been neglecting those faith-building disciplines in my life.
Why do I always think I know better than you??? Forgive me for distancing myself from you, and draw me back to you through your Word. Guard me from ever believing the lie that time spent in your Word, in worship, in prayer, etc. is ever inconvenient or wasted time and instead use them to fortify my trust in you more and more.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.