Prayer for Strength in Weak Faith

O gracious God, I know from Thy Holy Word that faith alone saves, and that without faith it is impossible to please Thee. But because I am anxious to please Thee and to be saved, I am alarmed at myself when I find at times so very little faith in my heart. Therefore do Thou kindle within my spirit the light of true faith, that I may know Thee, the only true God, as Thou hast revealed Thyself in Thy Word; and that I may from the heart believe Thy revealed Word, and accept with firm trust and unshaken confidence the promises of Thy grace and of the forgiveness of sins which Jesus has acquired for me.

At times I think that I do not pray aright; that I have no faith at all; or that I shall not continue in the faith to the end. And I bring this complaint before Thee, my God, because I know that every good gift and every perfect gift cometh down from above. Because not all men have faith, and faith is Thy gift, I pray Thee, strengthen my weak faith. The bruised reed Thou wilt not break, and the smoking flax Thou wilt not quench. My God, engrave in my heart this comfort, that a prayer based on the merit, blood, and death of Jesus is a true prayer; and that a weak faith which clings to Thee, O Triune God, namely, to Thee, O heavenly Father, as our Creator, to Thee, O Jesus, as our only Redeemer and Saviour, and to Thee, O Holy Spirit as our Sanctifier and Comforter, is also a faith which is pleasing to Thee, and which saves.

Grant also, if it be Thy will, that I may perceive the presence of faith in me through joyfulness in prayer, a comforting sense of Thy grace, and a joyful hope. O my Jesus, intercede for me as Thou didst for Peter, that my faith fail not. Seal in me the consolation, that I have been purchased with Thy precious blood, and have been adopted as Thy child in Holy Baptism; that my weak prayer is acceptable to God for the sake of Thy holy intercession; that Thy blood was shed for me also; and that I am justified and saved by Thee.

And do Thou, O blessed Holy Spirit, work in me the true fruits of faith; prompt me, sanctify me, rule me; yea, dwell in me, and bear witness with my spirit that I am truly a child of God. Blessed be Thy holy name, that I find in myself a repugnance to sin, that I mourn over it and fight against it in prayer; and that, on the other hand, I have a heart-felt desire to live for Thee alone, to serve and obey Thee; for from these things I see that Thou still dwellest in me. Increase and preserve in me these fruits of faith, and cause them to become each day more sweet and precious to me. If Thou wilt grant me this, O Triune God, I will gladly be satisfied with my weak faith. Amen.