Biblical Steps To Develop And Have Faith In God
It is common for people to say they have faith in God. Before our faith can be rated as genuine, it must meet biblical standards as seen in this post.
Christianity is called “The Christian Faith” because being a Christian revolves around believing in the birth, life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. But is that all there is about faith in God? Join us today as we learn how to have faith in God.
I believe that none of us reading this article were present when Jesus Christ manifested in the flesh as a new born baby in Bethlehem. None of us were privileged to witness His life and times as a human on earth. Neither were we present during His death and resurrection. How then do we know these things were true? We know because we believe!
John 20:29 BLBJesus says to him, "Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those not having seen, yet having believed."
What is written in books honestly isn't enough to make anyone believe anything. Besides, there are many who do not believe the holy Bible. But what about those of us that believe? There is something extraordinary behind it. True faith is extraordinary and mysterious. It doesn't conform to societal norms.
Yet, faith goes beyond knowing that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, was nailed to the cross, died and rose again on the third day. It is not enough to believe that God exists—even Satan knows and believes this. The Bible says that even the devils believe and tremble:
James 2:19 NLTYou say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.
This kind of faith is the literal and conventional faith that is common among many. You can imagine that even agents of darkness have this level of faith towards God. Interesting, isn't it? But I'm sure that you as a child of God doesn't want to exist with demons within this same dimension of faith. You were made for more. There is more when it comes to having faith in God.
In this teaching, we will be dealing with the following:
- How to build faith and trust in God
- How to revive your faith in God
- How to strengthen my faith in God
- How to regain faith in God
- How to renew your faith in God
If asked whether we have faith in God or not, I'm certain that nine out of every ten Christians will quickly respond that they do. But the undeniable truth is that most of us [consciously or unconsciously] daily exhibit behaviours that reveal there are many lapses in the faith we have in God.
How then can we have faith that meets biblical standards and God's requirements? We will learn as we progress.
How To Build Your Faith In God
Genuine faith is like a seed planted in man by God Himself—at the point of salvation. That is why Jesus said that no one can come to Him except the Father draws him (John 6:44).
True faith in God is faith from God. No one wakes up one day to start believing and following God without God's intervention. No man can create and begin building faith in God by their own effort. We only grow in what God has already deposited in us.
1. Faith Is From God
God believes in Himself more than anyone else believes in Him. That is why He can call things that are not as though they were, and they come into existence (Romans 4:17).
2 Timothy 2:13 NKJVIf we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.
Faith is spiritual. Faith is divine. Faith is powerful! If God doesn't give out faith, no man can have faith in Him.
2. Faith Is Imputed To Man By God
The scripture tells us in Ephesians 2:8 that we are saved by grace “through faith”—and this is not our doing but “a gift” from God.
Ephesians 2:8 BSBFor it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God.
In 1 Corinthians 12:9, it is clearly stated that faith exists as a spiritual gift. A portion of it is imputed to man at salvation—which enables him believe in Jesus in order to get saved.
Luke 17:5 ESVThe apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
Also from the Apostle's request to the Lord, we learn that more faith can be given; hence, faith can be increased. This is one of the secrets to having more faith in God. If we lack faith, we can ask the Lord to give and increase our faith and He will do just that.
3. We Grow In Faith As We Yield Ourselves To God
There is the possibility of building more faith in God. We can grow further and deeper in our faith in God. This is made possible by yielding ourselves to Him. Apostle Paul made this plain when he made this declaration:
Galatians 2:20 ESVI have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
In other words, because Paul was crucified with Christ, he could bypass the familiar to access more in God. Through his yieldedness, he got to that place of absolute trust, resonance and unison with God.
We as well can experience such dimension of faith in God as we yield ourselves to Him and die daily (1 Corinthians 15:31).
How To Have Faith In God Completely
Like I earlier said, a good number of Christians may think they have great faith in God, whereas they keep exhibiting traits that prove the opposite. If we truly believe in God, then we should go ahead to demonstrate it. And here is how to go about it:
1. Do Not Fret
Everyone who frets becomes anxious and worries about the littlest things—even when those things are really no sweat. Worrying isn't a sign of faith. It only proves faithlessness.
Matthew 6:26-27 NIVLook at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
When we worry, we make it evident that we don't trust God enough to see us through our challenges. Even after worrying, observe that problems still remain. Worrying can't solve a thing, but faith definitely can!
At times, there are challenges we can't handle by ourselves. Except God intervenes, they persist. So what's the need for worrying in the first place?
Since fretting doesn't provide the needed solution to our life problems, we should learn to trust God more—knowing that He will always come through for us. By so doing, we can be sure we have and demonstrate complete faith in God.
2. Fear Not
What is your first response in the face of an “impossible” situation? The average man responds with fear whenever he finds himself in a storm. But as people who have faith in God, our response in such scenarios should be different.
Mark 5:36 BLBBut Jesus, having heard the word spoken, says to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not fear; only believe."
Fear does the direct opposite of what faith should do: instead of breakthrough and victory, fear brings failure, frustrations and disappointments.
When David found himself before Goliath, it would had been easier for him to shudder in fear, run and hide. But he demonstrated faith in God right in front of his giant—and we know what the result was. His victory was neither in the stone nor the sling, but in his trust in God.
Mark 11:23 ESVTruly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.
Faith always works—even though it sometimes demands we take the bold steps. Whereas, fear is easier, but it helps execute the enemy's plans against us. When we demonstrate fear in any given situation, we prove that we don't trust God's ability to deliver us from that situation.
3. Do Not Doubt God
Do you know one of the things that irritates God the most? It is unbelief!
Doubting God starts with doubting His Word. One of the primary means for growing our faith in God is by studying and digesting His Word (Romans 10:17). It is not enough to believe the Bible is true—even most unbelievers already know it is true. If truly we believe God's Word, then we should demonstrate, put it to practice and then wait for the results. The letters are only meant to be a guide. It does not all end at studying and knowing.
Doubting God is like thinking He isn't the One who created the large expanse of the entire creation. Within the physical universe, the planet earth is smaller than the tiniest dot you've ever seen. Yet God sustains everything within the palm of His hands. He still takes care of us daily.
If by peradventure an error occurred in the universe at any given time, the earth (with all that is in it) would be the first to snap out of existence within a split second. But God never sleeps. He exists to maintain equilibrium in all that He created. Meanwhile, we live and eat from the earth, make money and doubt God. How ungrateful and unwise that is!
John 20:24-27 NIVNow Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
It is true that most of us pray a lot. Some of us have a long list of things we want God to do for us, and we continually submit it to Him in prayer—while at the same time doubting He will answer those prayers.
Prayer not said in faith is a waste of time and energy. If people don't believe in God's power to make the impossible happen in their life, then instead of praying, they better use that energy to work or use the gym. It's a complete waste of time and effort spending hours in prayer to the God you even doubt while praying.
James 1:6 NASBBut he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord.
Doubting doesn't in any way prove faith. It proves that we don't believe God is powerful enough to help us.
The unspiritual man is fond of sensing things with his five physical senses first, before he can believe them. That's exactly what Thomas did. He relied on his physical sense of sight and touch to validate the resurrection of Jesus Christ: “except I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
It is not uncommon to hear Christians say, “I've prayed a lot, but why isn't God answering me? I've not seen any sign of answered prayer.” Funny enough, they are looking for physical signs, not a spiritual one. You'll even be surprised to discover that to some of them, God has given several visions and revelations so many times concerning what they've been praying for. But so long it doesn't yet manifest in the physical, they can't believe.
4. Don't Be Impatient With God
The litmus test for the overall quality of our faith is patience. And the good thing is that, while God loves this test so much, humans hate it. Funny enough, right?
People want to receive from God and they want things they ask done for them immediately. If possible, humans would want to order God around for their own benefits. But God is the Boss here and He has His own way of doing things. We can't manipulate or use Him. We can only play according to the rules or lose out completely.
James 1:3 NKJVknowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
If truly our faith is real like we profess, we should be able to wait patiently for the things we ask from God—not waiting and nagging.
The fact that God promised that He will do it doesn't always mean it we happen instantly. Concerning Joseph, the Bible makes us understand that before the promises of God manifested in his life, those same promises were used to test him (Psalm 105:19).
At least you know that Joseph was sold by his brothers. He was later accused of rape by Potiphar's wife. Then he went to prison, and from prison to palace. Joseph didn't go straight from being the little shepherd boy to the palace. Between God's promises and the manifestations of the same, there was a process.
In most cases, the patience test is very necessary—because man's character is very unpredictable. The moment some people receive the thing they asked from God, they instantly disappear, return to their former prayerless life and forget God.
Sometimes, the very thing people receive from God becomes their excuse for not having time for God anymore. God knows man can be that unreliable, that's why He intentionally makes some wait in order to test their character.
Romans 12:12 ESVRejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
One of the reliable proofs that we truly have faith is by being constant in prayer—continually praying and trusting God—even when we neither see physical nor spiritual signs. When God finds real patience, He's always pleased to release the visible evidence of our answered prayer.
5. Be Dependent On God
Man was originally created to depend on God—and not independent. What transpired in the garden of Eden was man striving for independence from God; probably because he assumed God was enslaving him and not allowing him enjoy the full privileges of being in the garden.
We still see the same attitude manifested even by Christians today. People want to go out of God's will to do things their own way; unruly. They don't want God to dictate for them what they should do or not do.
Man believes he has power over himself and knows what's right and what's not right for him. Man wants to be the author of his own life. But the reality remains that man doesn't even know himself to the fullest. It takes walking with and being dependent on God for man to start discovering himself.
Genesis 5:24 ESVEnoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.
The only person we can say discovered himself to a great extent was Enoch. And because God taught him that much, Enoch attained a level of enlightenment where the world no longer deserved to have him. God had to take him out alive.
How many of us have reach such a level as Enoch? Yet we think we know everything; we think we know what we want. We want to do things our way, instead of depending on God.
Proverbs 3:6 NASBTrust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
Whenever man takes absolute control over his life, it often happens that instead of living right, he ruins himself.
There are times that certain troubles come to sweep man off his feet; he's left helpless and clueless on what to do. That is when most people remember they were suppose to rely on God. But wow, didn't you think you could solve all your life problems before now, and doesn't need anyone to tell you what to do? May the good Lord have mercy on us!
True faith is made visible in our total dependence on God—not independence. We must learn to lean completely on God.
All I'm saying in essence here is, if you truly have faith, go on and exhibit it. Let God see it and prove you. It is not enough to profess it.
What we just discussed here are some of the most important ways we can demonstrate our complete faith in God. Let God see your faith and commend you for it.
How To Have Faith In God During Hard Times
Difficult times are one of the perfect moments for us to demonstrate and grow our faith in God. We must learn to see them as opportunities to grow and advance more in God—and then go ahead to make the most out of them.
1 Peter 4:12-13 NLTDear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.
We can learn from Job. He experienced almost all the woes that could befall a man in his lifetime—all at once. The most interesting part of it is that job was being used as a test apparatus between God and Satan.
It's easy to say that Job was able to hold on because God made it so. But from the beginning of the book of Job, we learn that he was a righteousness man who pleased God.
Righteousness and “pleasing God” in the old testament was often attributed to those who had faith. It is said that Abram believed God, and He credited it to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6).
Job was indeed a man of faith, and he held on to his faith in God even while going through the worst—and despite the fact that everyone around him were being negative about the situation. Job held unto God in the midst of his fiery trial and the end result was beautiful!
It is common for us to want results without going through hard times and challenges. But life on this present earth is not that yet perfect.
When hard times hit, always remember that God is not unaware. He is watching. What you are going through isn't meant to kill; it may just be the perfect test required for your next elevation.
How To Regain Faith In God
Are you currently in a place where you totally lost faith in God? I believe this article must have propelled you into desiring to reactivate your faith in God.
You can start by praying this Salvation Prayer.
Next, read these articles:
Anyone can regain their faith in God no matter how long they must had lost it—if they are willing. The Lord is always waiting with open arms to welcome back the backsliden.
Prayer For Faith In God
- Thank You Father for revealing to me today, areas where I had been slacking in my faith towards You.
- Father, I ask that You forgive me for every time I may had doubted and demonstrated faithlessness in You.
- Father, I ask that You enable me for greater faith in You. Teach me to demonstrate faith even when everything around me seems not to be working.
- Lord Jesus, just as the Apostles asked, I also ask today that You increase my faith in You.
- Lord, I want to grow my faith in You. Teach me new ways to have and demonstrate faith towards You.
- Father, take away from me the persistent attitude of doubt and fear. Give me a heart that can believe and trust completely in You.
- My desire is to have faith that meets Your requirements and standards, dear God. Help me make this become a reality in my life, in Jesus Name. Amen!
Key Points On Having Faith In God
- True faith comes from God. You must be saved to receive faith in which you can begin to grow.
- We can grow deeper in faith as we yield ourselves to God daily.
- More faith can be received as “a boost” and a spiritual gift from God.
- Demonstrating faith in God is the only way we can be sure we have faith in Him.
- See hard times as opportunities to grow your faith in God and make Him happy.
- Patience is one of the best litmus tests for faith.
- Grumbling while waiting on God still proves lack of faith.
Final Thoughts On Having Faith In God
Beloved, you see that having faith in God is not that complicated. We can all have and grow in our faith towards God.
Remember, it is easier to say that we have faith in God than prove it. I believe in this article you learned ways we can ascertain whether we have faith or not—and possibly make improvements where necessary.
If you were blessed reading how to have faith in God, go ahead and share this article with someone else. Let them also get blessed.
Thanks and remain blessed!