I wonder if by hanging around Jesus certain things will rub off. This quite often happens with our friends that we spend time with. Their expressions, attitudes and even decisions are imitated. I often hear one of my older children say something in a certain way and instantly I think of the friend from which that expression originated.

As I read this next passage, I realized I was quite desperate. It didn't take long before I remembered my trip two weeks ago to Indianapolis. I forget what I was doing, but suddenly I received a revelation on my prayer life. It is rather embarassing, but I'll tell you anyway. I often ask for things but don't believe God.

Some might say that one doesn't pray for such things. We do. When we have a need, we bring it to the Lord in prayer. Jesus said three things which seemed to indicate that praying for things like tables would be okay.

• Firstly, we have Jesus illustration of cursing a fig tree and having it die the next day. This did not seem to be a spiritual matter. And if it did provide the basis for a spiritual lesson, that is what I thought our table would be for our children.
  
  Secondly, we have Jesus' extreme example of telling a mountain to be taken up and cast into the sea. I see absolutely no spiritual significance in this illustration. It only emphasizes that the content is not as important as the faith.
  
  
• Lastly, we note Jesus' words 'all things.' He really does seem to emphasize that He is not merely speaking about some spiritual matter nor excluding it of course. Our faith makes things spiritual.

The fact that no big dining room table was there at my house forces me to conclude that I didn't really believe. I doubted. Jesus could not have spoken more clearly on these matters. As a good technician He pinpoints where the problem lie. Fortunately, I have seen answers to prayer. My faith, or the lack of it, was not shaken. What does disappoint me, though, is my readiness to forget about my newly found discovery. I seemed to drop right back down to dull ineffective prayers.

This passage woke me back up again and is stimulating a review of my experiences of prayer and faith and the results. I remember that one time during an evangelistic meeting that we were hoping for a real big turn out. I don't remember. This one brother worked so hard preparing a large number of supplies and was praying so hard. I felt for him. It was as if the Spirit of the Lord came upon me and gave me the faith to believe that though there were fewer attending, that we would still see a big turning of hearts to the Lord. I believed and with my brother we saw the fruits of those prayers.

A study on Elijah, Abraham and others will help clarify the nature of faith. One can simply look for the answer to the question, "Where does faith come from?" Here are three starting points. I sense they interrelate.

• Faith comes from being with God. It rubs off. Faith is a special anointing from God.
• Faith comes with training - step by step one believes and grows in faith.

For now, I have begun to cry out for more faith. I have confessed my poor faith. I am hardly concerned with my dining room table as with having my prayers be pleasing and glorifying to our good God. I can eat off the floor, but I don't want my prayers to be faithless. =>>Next