How To Grow Your Faith In God
It is a possibility to grow our faith in God. The Bible gives us many clues on growing our faith in God, which we will learn in this article.
How do I grow my faith in God? This question is often misdirected to Christians we think do not have faith at all. But as a matter of fact, it is an important question all Christians should ask themselves.
Hebrews 11:1 KJVNow faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
No matter how spiritually-mature a Christian is, none can say that they have enough or too much faith to not need more. How do you know and believe in a Diety you cannot see with your physical eyes; someone you cannot interact with using your physical senses? Naturally, I know it just doesn't make sense. We can only relate and rapport with God through faith.
Hebrews 11:6 KJVBut without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Christianity wholely relies on faith; that is why it is called “the Christian faith”. Christianity simply entails believing in the One and only begotten Son—Jesus Christ.
John 1:12 KJVBut as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
Faith in Jesus Christ is what makes one a Christian. Without faith, a Christian is not different from a heathen: “he that does not believe in the Son is already condemned” (John 3:18). Faith is what makes us stand out from the people of this world; it is what gives us victory over the world and Satan.
1 John 5:4 KJVFor whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
The world lives in fear of the unknown; in fear of evil, diseases and pandemics. But faith in the Name of Jesus Christ makes a person exceptional. Any Christian who lacks faith in God has set up theirself for a life of defeat and depression.
1 John 4:4 KJVYe are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
How can we know that greater is the One in us than the one in the world if we do not have faith? How can we appropriate and harness the victory that is evident in this scripture, to live out the overcoming life if we do not believe? There is no victory with God in the absence of faith.
Many questions have been asked by Christians concerning improving their faith, thus:
- How can I increase my faith?
- How do I grow my faith in God?
- How can I grow stronger in my faith?
This alone makes us see that faithlessness is a real disease plaguing the Church — especially in the end times. There is no reason to feel awkward if you are also asking a similar question as above, because even the Apostles asked the Lord to increase their faith:
Luke 17:5 KJVAnd the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
Why We Should Grow Our Faith
There are numerous reasons why we should grow our faith in God. This blog space may not be enough to expatiate on all of them.
1. Faith Means A Lot To God
Man is yet to grasp in full, the extent to which faith matters to God. Lacking faith in God is same as saying He doesn't exist. And the Bible makes us understand that it is the fool who says in his heart “there is no God” (Psalm 14:1). Who then is the fool? It is the one who lacks faith in God. Understand that no one can ever please God by being this way.
You'll notice that during His ministry on earth, our Lord Jesus often reproved lack of faith but in turn, commended the manifestion of faith.
Mark 9:19 KJVHe answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
Matthew 8:26 KJVAnd he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Matthew 8:10 KJVWhen Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
We are told that Abraham pleased God (James 2:21-26), but what exactly made him this spectacular? What did he give to God that won God's heart? The answer is simple: he had faith — great faith. The easiest way to make God become pleased with us and act on our behalf (even swiftly) is to have and demonstrate great faith in Him.
2. Faith Is The Adrenaline That Drives Prayer
Effective prayer is faith-filled prayer. One of the reasons why some can't get their prayers beyond the roof is lack of faith.
Some are often quick to lay blames on God and say things like,
“I've been fasting and praying for years now and nothing seems to be changing.”
“It seems God is not hearing my prayers. I've not seen any sign that my prayers are being answered.”
Yet, they still go ahead to pray even more with all these doubtful thoughts in their minds. In such a scenario, why would anyone expect their prayers to be effective? I don't get it.
God is unchanging; He's a constant. It depends on man [not God] whether or not he has what it takes to connect with and draw from God.
A good way to make our prayers more effective is to work on increasing our faith. If you've been doubting God but still praying to Him, it's high time you take a break from such unproductive prayers. It's either you pray with faith and stop praying completely. Prayer not done in faith is a waste of time and energy.
3. Faith Is A Ministry Tool
The place of faith in effective ministry is non-negotiable. You'll notice that every effective, genuine minister of the Gospel in the kingdom of God is always a man/woman of faith.
Acts 6:8 KJVAnd Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
The Bible makes us understand that Stephen was full of faith; and that was one of the principal things that guaranteed the level of impact and success he recorded in ministry.
Mark 16:17-18 KJVAnd these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; [18] They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
The Bible says, “these signs shall follow them that believe”, not them that doubt. If we don't have adequate faith to command and obtain answers to our own prayers, how then can we obtain jaw-dropping results in ministry? If a Christian cannot pray off their own sickness, how then can they have enough faith to heal the sick?
Luke 10:17 KJVAnd the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
When the 70 disciples whom the Lord sent out returned, they came with a good news, that, “Lord, even demons were subject to us through Your Name.” The disciples were able to cast out devils through the Name of Jesus Christ, only by faith.
4. Faith Is A Spiritual Warfare Weapon
Faith is a powerful defensive weapon in spiritual warfare. It shields us from the fiery darts of the enemy.
Ephesians 6:16 KJVAbove all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
How can we confront the kingdom of darkness and destroy their works while at the same time doubting God? There is no victory in spiritual warfare in the absence of faith in God. No Christian has power of their own, it is only through faith that we can draw from God and win our battles. We can't victoriously war against the works of darkness while doubting God. That's not going to work.
How To Grow Your Faith In God
Below we will look at the basic and principal ways through which we can grow our faith in God.
1. By Studying And Meditating On The Word
The Word of God (the holy scriptures) is not an informational book that tells us about a diety who lives in outer space. It is the closest medium of revelation about the Almighty, that is left at our disposal.
The Word of God works in such a way that, the more the nature and truth about God is revealed to us, the more our faith in God increases.
Romans 10:17 KJVSo then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
The words of God quicken; they are spirit and life (John 6:63). The more we feed on and absorb God's words, the more our spirit is built to align and walk with God. In such a state it becomes difficult to doubt God.
When we know and speak what God says in His Word concerning every situation, there is left no place in us for doubt to creep in.
A man's level of Word intake goes a long way to determine his level of faith. The faithless are always those who avoid the Bible and neglect studying God's Word, while wallowing in self-pity and negativity.
What am I saying in essence? If you want to increase your faith, keep the Word of God close. Feed on it as much as you eat your physical food daily, and watch your faith skyrocket on a daily basis.
2. By Asking For The Gift Of Faith
When the Apostles asked the Lord to increase their faith, they were literally asking for a quick “boost” in their faith, which can only come through the supernatural gift of faith.
1 Corinthians 12:6,9 KJVAnd there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. [9] To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit.
God understands that man needs help in his walk with Him, and He hasn't failed to make provision for us to get that help. Gifts of the Holy Spirit are gifts of grace—we do not deserve them. As we can see in the above scripture, there is an amount of faith that exists as a spiritual gift. Every Christian can ask and receive this gift, just as the disciples did.
3. Through Trials
Here comes the part that many Christians would not want to hear: God also increases our faith through trials. But in most cases, this is often used on those who have a stubborn doubt about God.
It is better a man lets go of whatever is preventing him from believe God, than to allow God teach him faith the hard way — through trials.
James 1:3 KJVKnowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
If there is a Christian who has a hard time believing God, the Lord might choose to allow them go through challenges or find themselves in situations where they would be left with the options of trusting God or getting consumed in their fiery trials.
Some persons need this sort of hard pressing before they can learn to trust and believe in God. No one should wait until God uses this on them; let's not be a doubting Thomas. It is always better we do things with God the easier way, than being stubborn and ending up learning the hard way.
Final Thoughts On Growing Our Faith
Beloved, now you see that we all can [and should] grow our faith in the Lord, and there are very important reasons why we should do so. It is something we can't avoid as Christians. Hence, it is better to embrace this growth than resist it.
There is no substitute to growing one's faith in God. If there is any, I would say, just focus on building a better relationship with Jesus Christ. You cannot grow your relationship with God without seeing a growth in your faith. No one can have a better relationship with God while remaining stuck in doubt and unbelief.
Many have given up on being a Christian, and that is often caused by losing one's faith in God. It is easier to lose one's faith than to grow it.
If we focus on all that is happening around us and in the world — instead of fixing our gaze on God, that will often become a shortcut to losing faith. So be careful about making the right choice. Let's not be like those who do not believe and are destroyed.
Hebrews 10:39 KJVBut we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Choose to believe God and grow even more in your faith in Him.
God bless you!