Today, a reply is shared on the character and nature of faith as well as on the practice of Christian believers praying for “more faith.” Prayer fosters the development of spiritual consciousness; and is a turning of ones awareness and self-will away from the operations of sin to exist having oneness without sameness through the active presence who is GOD. Often, healing, miracles, signs, and other sacred events thought to be answers and outcomes that follow prayer also may appear following periods of fasting, re-dedication, praise, sacrifice, and unselfish service. The sacred process of prayer is best understood as the emanating and receiving of sacred substance more than one of dialogue and verbal exchange. Believers must experience a joining with divine person more than multiple language events to make detailed confessions of need, register complaints, or make requests to satisfy fleshly desires and lusts. (It is written: Romans 8: 26, King James Version (KJV): 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.) For developing believers, prayer should result in assurances and acceptance of divine decisions, rulings, and warnings that can be discerned within their own circumstances and life events. Prayer will not change, influence, or manipulate the immutable, incorruptible mind of divinity; however, the natural law that governs cycles, episodes and mechanical process can be suspended, or applied in rarely seen and unique combination. Because angry decisions announced by GOD also are proclaimed in language that is “conditional”, and that may state specific criteria that will trigger the occurrence of a divine deed, prayer can change conditions and levels of readiness among men such that GOD will delay, “repent” and “reschedule” the expression of his wrath. It requires faith to ask for “more faith;” the great need, then, can be for ability to correctly direct, recognize, and respond to faith that already is in place. Thus, it was the faith Abraham displayed that GOD acknowledged as his righteousness, and not Abraham’s circumcision. A fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” forum using the ID “Dan” (Level 3 with 1,906 points, a member since October 27, 2012) posted the following:
Praying for more faith?
I'm not a christian, but I recently came across the idea where some christians pray for "more faith". Could someone explain this to me?
From an agnostic position, this seems kinda silly as I would like to operate on more evidence (which seems impossible) and less faith. Having more faith that the moon is made of cheese seems to do nothing to make the moon more likely to be made of cheese --- yet there's a definite practice of christians praying not to have wishes granted, but to experience yet more faith because it is through faith they can achieve great works (mustard seed stuff).
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephesians 6: 10-17, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Knowing What To Believe? (12/31/2017); The Answer From GOD (05/19/2017); The GOD Who Answers? (04/04/2017); Divine Delay and Prayer? (03/22/2017); Teach Me To Pray (03/21/2017); Simple and Mature Faith (09/05/2016); The Silence of GOD (01/31/2016)
“Dan”, GOD is a spirit, yet, in academic and worldly settings, we often speak of divinity as though the Creator is one of us—another individual who is carnal, material, secular, and social. Among mature Christian believers, “faith” may be understood as an aspect of the full, inseparable spirit content (where you find one, you find them all in varying proportion) that is imparted from the makeup of divinity when a sinner repents and turns to Christ to become “born again.” Included are faith, forbearance, forgiveness, holiness, joy, longsuffering, lovingkindness, personhood, righteousness, wisdom, and wrath against sin.
Water baptism depicts the unseen sacred process wherein the inborn spirit dies, is buried, and is raised from death. A “developing believer” results who is a new creation through Jesus Christ, a child of GOD, and a joint-heir with the saints of the kingdom. All Christians are to display their own endowment of the seed from GOD (one might say, their divine DNA). Those born-again also must “grow up again,” and become mature by answering life challenges and “growing pains” along with the shared hardships and suffering of life on the earth.
Faith that is a spiritual gift is provided and received as a “double portion,” or second outpouring of divine inheritance. Petitions and requests ought be made through prayer that faith within the church as a body be edified (built up), nourished, and permitted to complete its purpose and work of salvation without interruption. Faith must reside within all leaders and on every level throughout the community of faith (e.g., choir members, deacons, parents, prayer warriors). Faith is not a “coin” for acquiring and purchasing things we may covet and desire that are in the world (e.g., the house, the car, the good job, the spouse). Faith does not have measurable dimensions (e.g., amount, depth, height, length, weight), for faith is a spirit substance. With this in view, as little faith as a mustard seed is not diminished in its divine authority and power.
Because our growth as believers does not go forward unopposed, we speak of the “good fight of faith.” Certainty, holy boldness, and duration are established through the operations of faith; and our capacity to remain focused having godly expectation (we say, hope) is buttressed and reinforced. Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible:
(1.) 1st Corinthians 12: 1-11, King James Version (KJV): 1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
(2.) Romans 4: 3-12, KJV: 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. 9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
There is a lot more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually understood. (For example, (3.) Ephesians 2: 8-10, KJV: 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
Washington, DC
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