Jesus, since faith is like spiritual “money” for me to get Your help, what would it take for me to start believing, trusting, relying on, and respecting You? Teach me that like it takes money to be exchanged for products and services, I understand that if I don’t have the money, I can’t have the products or services. However, teach me that the ways of getting money are totally different from getting faith. Once again, help me understand that faith is free; it can’t be earned, traded for, stolen, or demanded. Show me that faith is a gift that I can turn right around and USE to get all the other free gifts of God.

Jesus, show me that when I play a game that uses play money, the play money is freely distributed to all the players in the beginning. When the game is over, all the play money is put back in the box. It was just used to make proper exchanges and to be able to keep track of the value each person had. Teach me this meaning through Romans 12:6 (NIV) We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. I have seen times in the gospels where You talk about LITTLE faith. Help me see that little faith brings little results.

Jesus, take me back to the illustration about getting a huge rock removed from my backyard. If I start building a relationship with my neighbor, it will help me trust them. If I start out slow by doing some simple things with them, it will be much easier to grow in trust. If I just go over and get acquainted with them, if I talk about the weather, sports, and tell them a little bit about myself, we will start building a relationship. If I do a few small things for them and they do some small things for you, we will get to know each other better. I would gradually get to know them and find out they weren’t anything like I thought. That would help me learn to trust them. Show me that, that is how I can grow in my trust relationship with You.

Jesus, it is true I have this big “rock” in my life called spirituality issues. But, if I am having any difficulties with trusting You, that lack of trust will create a wall in our relationship. Help me realize that, that means I need to put this issue up as a priority. Show me that just like I have some things to do before I earn enough money to buy products and services, there are some things I must do to get the free gift of trust and faith in You.

The thing about You, Jesus is, You do know everything; and, because of this, I can’t hide even the smallest particle of a lack of trust. But, another great aspect about You is, You are gracious and loving. Teach me this principle through Hebrews 12:2 (NIV) Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Teach me that, as with everything required of me in Christianity, You will provide me with it. I am required to have faith; so, You author it and perfect it in me.

Jesus, teach me that for You to be gracious means You will go to great lengths to help me have the faith I need. Show me that it means I may be somewhat hurtful in my attitudes with You by not being able to believe like I should; but, You will use Your grace to keep helping me. Help me be patient with You, You will gently take me through the process of developing a complete trust in You.

Jesus, if a dog showed up in my yard and I wanted to gain their trust. If they were a very shy and cautious dog, it would take a lot of patience and careful advances for me to become their friend. But, if during my efforts to win them over, they bit me, if I am going to continue to try to establish a good relationship with them, that is going to require grace. I am going to have to go on trying to be their friend even though they don’t desever it. Show me that, that is what You are doing with me.

Jesus, I will, knowingly and unknowingly, do things that are offensive to You. But, help me see that You will show me incredible grace, love, and forgiveness, as You continue to try to help me get the type of faith I need. As I go through this process, help me not misread Your attitudes and character; let trust start to develop through this relationship.

Jesus, in changing the dog illustration a little bit, if the dog was too friendly, that would require a different type of relationship. Instead of being cautious and shy, they would run up to me, jump up on me, and get my new clothes all dirty. That too would take a lot of grace on my part. Help me see that sometimes I am too shy and sometimes I am too agressive in my approach to You. But, I thank You for being gracious and loving with me no matter how I make mistakes in my relationship with You.

Jesus, You give grace, love, and forgiveness to every type of person with every kind of personality, every kind of problem, and every kind of attitude. It doesn’t matter to You how big or small my problems are, whether I am shy or aggressive, lack a little bit or a lot of faith; You are still willing to graciously work with me and help me get the faith I need. BUT, help me notice and appreciate this grace, love, and forgiveness. If You treat me in a wonderful way in spite of my mistakes, offenses, sins, and failures, help me always notice and appreciate it.

Jesus, if I am going to get Your help, let me be willing for it to take awhile for my issues with spirituality to be healed. As I learn how to be helped with my faith, the process of healing will start; but, help me accept the fact that it will take time. Show me that once my faith gets where it needs to be, that faith will then help me get all the other things I need from You. Show me that faith is my way into a close and intimate relationship with You.