When we pray for God to “Increase Our Faith”, we often focus on the word increase. But God wanted me to look at the word OUR.
There is a massive difference between a borrowed faith and a personal faith. A borrowed faith is when you believe because your parents do or because you grew up in a certain church. But a personal faith is forged when you start asking the hard questions, trying new things, and sharing what you believe. One of our goals at Wildfire is to move from “This is what I’m told” to “This is what I know.”
Think about the things you love doing. For some, it’s music. In the early days of youth group, many leaders started by “jamming” together—playing in stairwells, basements, and foyers. They took the 1:00 AM worship slots when no one was watching.
Through those “unconscious” hours of practice, a shift happened: They stopped playing because they had to and started playing because they wanted to. They weren’t just following a script; they were following their hearts. They weren’t just worshipping the God of their grandparents or parents —the Lord became their God.
In 1 Samuel 17, we see an entire army “dismayed and terrified” by Goliath. Even King Saul, the leader of the nation, was paralyzed by fear. Then comes David—a teenager. He looks at the same giant and asks, “Who is this… that he should defy the armies of the living God?” How did a teenager have more faith than an entire army?
The answer is found in the Shepherd’s Field. Before David ever stood on the battlefield, he had “private victories.” He had faced the lion and the bear alone with God. His faith wasn’t a suit of armor he borrowed from someone else; it was a history he had built with God in private.
When David stepped up to fight, King Saul tried to dress David in his own heavy tunic and bronze helmet. David tried to walk around but said, “I cannot go in these, because I am not used to them.”—(1 Samuel 17:39). You cannot fight today’s giants using someone else’s experience.
If you try to mimic someone else’s prayer style or use someone else’s testimony as your only foundation, you’ll find it doesn’t “fit” when the giant is standing in front of you. David took off the borrowed armor, picked up five smooth stones, and used the tools God had already trained him to use.
At Wildfire, we see kids at different stages: some are just starting to ask questions, others are testing the waters, and some are stepping out in leadership. No matter where you are, God is calling you to own your journey.
Here’s a challenge for you: David’s training happened in the quiet field, not the loud battlefield. Where are you practicing? Think of a time God helped you with something small. Those “private victories” are the fuel for your future courage. David didn’t need a sword to win; he needed what he was already good at. Don’t try to be a “mini-version” of a leader, but use the unique gifts God gave you.
Faith becomes powerful the moment it becomes yours. When the battle is the Lord’s and that Lord is your God, a single stone is enough to bring down a giant. What is one step you can take this week to make your relationship with God your own? Is it picking up your Bible on your own? Is it praying for a friend without being prompted?
Lord, thank You that You are not just a God of history or a God of our parents, but You are OUR God. Help us to shed the “borrowed armor” and step into the unique faith You are building in us. Give us the courage to face our lions and bears in the quiet places so that we are ready to stand for You in the loud places. Amen.