“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1
Have you ever felt like your faith is a flickering candle in a stormy night? Or perhaps it’s more like a tiny seed struggling to break through the hard ground of doubt? If so, you’re not alone. Many of us experience seasons of spiritual dryness, where our faith feels weak and our hope dwindles. But what if you could transform that flickering candle into a blazing fire of faith within your heart, or that tiny seed into a towering oak? The good news is, we all can!
In this blog post, we’ll explore three practical steps to increase your faith and unlock the incredible power that resides within you. Let’s embark on this journey together and discover how to cultivate a faith that moves mountains.
Why is it important to increase our faith?
I like how Joseph Prince explains faith. He says “Faith is like a window that brings in light that is already there. The window itself is not light, but it allows the outside light to come inside the room.” So if a dark room has a small window, the light will shine no matter how small it is, but the larger the window the brighter the room will be.
Faith opposes fear, because fear breeds doubt, anxiety, unrest, negativity, etc. Let’s imagine light as all the promises of God, and darkness that occupies the room as fear. Increasing your faith is more like bringing more light in a dark room while driving out darkness. Without faith we cannot access the promises of God. Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God,…” but instead we will attract a dark cloud in our lives. Job 3:25 “For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.”
How do you increase your faith in God?
1. Surrender all to God.
Faith is not just about believing in God’s existence, but it’s also about trusting Him completely, even when circumstances seem depressing. It’s about believing His promises are for you and expecting them to manifest in your life. As a result, it’s important to have a deep and personal relationship with God for a thriving faith.
Listen to the Word:
Romans 10:17 tells us that faith comes by hearing the message of Christ. This means you need to expose yourself to the teachings of God through sermons, podcasts, and Bible studies, and allow the Word to penetrate your heart and mind in order for any measure of faith to be deposited in your spirit. (Romans 12:3)
Receive the Measure of Faith:
The starting point of a life full of grace is to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9). This opens the door to a life of grace and abundance.
2. Nurture Your Relationship with God
A good personal relationship with God requires us to be intentional and consistent in maintaining it. It’s like cultivating a garden; it requires consistent care and attention.
Spend Quality Time with God:
Just as you invest time in building relationships with loved ones, prioritize spending time with God through prayer and worship. Imagine your relationship with God as a precious friendship, the one you have with your best friend. The more time you spend together, the deeper your bond becomes. In my journey with God, I’ve realised that the love of God is like fire, everyone can see it but only the ones who come close will feel the impact.
Be Grateful:
Cultivate an attitude of gratitude by thanking God for everything, as this strengthens your faith and draws you closer to God. As the scripture says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
3. Meditate Upon the Word of God.
Meditating on God’s Word is a powerful tool for increasing our faith. It involves pondering, reflecting, and internalizing the promises of God.
Fill Your Mind with God’s Word:
To cultivate a deeper faith, immerse yourself in God’s Word through consistent reading of the Word of God and listening to sermons. As you discover more of His promises, your faith will grow stronger. Joshua 1:8 reminds us, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you obey everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
The Holy Spirit is our ultimate guide and comforter, offering divine wisdom in our times of need. As Jesus promised in John 14:26, the Spirit will bring to our remembrance the truths we’ve learned. However, this divine reminder can only be effective if we’ve filled our minds with God’s Word through consistent reading of the Word of God and listening to sermons.
Transform Your Mind With The Word of God:
Romans 12:2 tells us to renew our minds with the Word of God. As we meditate on His truths, our thinking patterns shift, and we become more aligned with His will. Just as an immigrant immerses themselves in a new country’s laws and customs to thrive, we must also immerse ourselves in God’s Word to understand and align with His Kingdom principles.
By studying the Bible, we transform our minds, exchanging worldly perspectives for a heavenly worldview. Picture the Word of God as a powerful sword that cuts through the lies and doubts in your mind. As you meditate on His promises, you replace negative thoughts with truth, empowering you to stand firm in your faith.
Activate Your Faith:
The bible says faith without action is dead (James 2:17). Therefore, receiving God’s blessings isn’t spontaneous as most of us think, it requires intentionality. We must actively claim and pursue His promises through our active faith and confessions. This activates your faith and releases its power. “And without faith it is impossible to please God…” Hebrews 11:6. Faith is the catalyst that transforms God’s promises into reality in our lives.
Overcoming Obstacles
Building faith is a journey, and it’s natural to encounter challenges along the way. Remember, God is faithful, and His promises are sure.
Don’t Compare Yourself to Others:
Everyone’s faith journey is unique. Focus on your own growth and progress. Often, we find ourselves falling short of our hopes and dreams because we cling to outdated mindsets and worldly principles. We’ve become citizens of God’s Kingdom, yet we still yearn for the familiar ways of the world.
As Jesus pointed out, “They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.” John 17:16. To fully experience the blessings of our heavenly citizenship, we must surrender our old ways of thinking and embrace the new life offered by Christ.
Embrace Discouragement as an Opportunity:
When you feel discouraged, use it as an opportunity to draw closer to God and seek His strength. The truth is our journey is not only different but sometimes seems more difficult than others. As a foreigner in a new land, it’s important to understand that your journey will differ from the locals. You can’t expect to navigate life using the same rules and expectations as those who were born and raised there. Embracing this unique path is crucial.
Instead of comparing ourselves to others and coveting their experiences, we must focus on deepening our relationship with God. As Proverbs 23:17 reminds us, “Do not be envious of sinful people; let reverence for the Lord be the concern of your life.”
Surround Yourself with Faith-Filled People:
Connect with believers who can encourage and support your faith journey. Visualize your faith as a fire that needs to be constantly fed. When you’re surrounded by faith-filled friends, you’re constantly adding fuel to the fire, keeping your faith burning brightly.
The truth is, God’s ability to bless us is limitless, yet our faith acts as a container for His blessings. As God promised Abraham, our blessings can expand as far as our faith can see. “Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west. I am giving all this land to you and your descendants as a permanent possession” (Genesis 13:14-15). Jesus also echoed this truth, saying, “According to your faith let it be” (Matthew 9:29). Ultimately, our faith determines the capacity for God’s blessings in our lives.
In Conclusion
Increasing your faith is a deliberate choice. By immersing yourself in God’s Word, nurturing your relationship with Him, and meditating on His promises, you can ignite a flame of faith that burns brightly in your heart.
The bible says in Psalms 86:6 “you are god’s; I said; all of you are children of the most high”. Since we ourselves are god’s the children of the most high, like our father, we speak things that are not as if they are and they become (Romans 4:17). We cannot have faith and fear at the same time. Feed your faith and starve your fears.
Remember, faith is not about perfection; it’s about trust. Trust in God’s love, His goodness, and His plan for your life. As you step out in faith, you’ll experience His incredible power and provision.
Let’s continue to grow in faith together!
Do you have any other ways to revive your faith when you feel discouraged? Please share with us on the comments below. Also check out our bible quiz about faith or learn more about faith in our guided meditations – all about faith according to the bible.
