Humbling Our Pride: Praying for Sustained Faith in God's Grace

In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul addresses the issue of pride among believers. He urges them not to think of themselves more highly than they ought to think. Paul recognizes that pride can be a stumbling block in the Christian walk, hindering our ability to serve and glorify God effectively.

To combat this pride, Paul reminds us that both our spiritual gifts and the very faith with which we use those gifts are given to us by the grace of God. He writes, "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned" (Romans 12:3).

This truth has significant implications for our prayer life. Jesus sets an example for us in Luke 22:31–32 when he prays for Peter. He says, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."

Notice that Jesus prays specifically for Peter's faith to be sustained, even through the upcoming denial. This reveals an important aspect of our faith: it is a gift from God. Just as we cannot boast about our spiritual gifts, we cannot boast about our faith. It is not something we muster up on our own, but rather something that is given to us by God's grace.

Understanding this truth should shape the way we pray. Rather than relying on our own strength and willpower, we should humbly acknowledge that without God, we cannot believe as we ought to believe. We should pray daily, "O Lord, thank you for my faith. Sustain it. Strengthen it. Deepen it. Don't let it fail. Make it the power of my life, so that in everything I do, you get the glory as the great Giver."

One biblical example of this kind of prayer is found in the story of the man with the epileptic son. In Mark 9:24, the man cries out, "I believe; help my unbelief!" This simple yet profound prayer demonstrates the man's recognition that his faith is not perfect, but he relies on God to help him in his areas of doubt and weakness.

As we pray for ourselves and for others, we can have confidence that God hears our prayers and desires to sustain our faith. He is the one who gives faith, and he is faithful to continue the work he has started in us. We can take comfort in knowing that our faith does not rest solely on our own efforts, but on the grace and faithfulness of God.

In conclusion, pride can be a hindrance in our Christian walk, causing us to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. To combat this pride, we must recognize that both our spiritual gifts and our faith are gifts from God's grace. We should pray for the sustenance and strengthening of our faith, acknowledging that without God, we cannot believe as we ought to believe. Let us humbly come before God, thanking him for the faith he has given us and asking him to sustain and deepen it in our lives.