Have you ever heard someone say, "I wish I had faith like you do. For some reason I just can't seem to believe." They may sense something inside that prevents faith. For them it's a struggle to believe God exists or that they could have a relationship with Him. Faith is a remarkable quality. For some it comes as naturally as breathing while others find it hard to even imagine a spiritual realm exists. Why is this? Are some people "wired" by nature to perceive spiritual realities and others not? Actually, I suspect there is some truth to that statement, but in the passage we'll study today Paul says faith is available to all. He says when the gospel is preached, faith is present. God offers if to us as a gift. It Isn't something we can produce naturally; it's a miracle that's given to us, but we still have a part to play: that gift must be received. And that's where the problem lies. There are powerful forces at work in the human heart that can prevent people from receiving faith. Real faith is a miraculous change of mind implanted in us by the Holy Spirit, so any human being, regardless of their background, can believe and be saved when they hear the gospel. Yet many don't. Today let's listen to Paul explain why, and then let's reflect on how a believer can pray effectively for someone who struggles.

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