How to Increase Faith
According to the book of Hebrews chapter 11, faith is a firm belief in things that are yet to be seen. The bible has various examples of people who exhibited tremendous faith in God. They were ultimately rewarded for believing in things that they had not seen. One of the most prominent examples of faith in the Bible is the story of Abraham. He was regarded as the father of faith due to his trust in God. Abraham had immeasurable faith that he even accepted to sacrifice his only son Isaac. This portrayed how much he believed in God given that he had waited for many years to get a son. Other people in the Bible who had great faith include Job, Moses, and Enoch. Enoch was so faithful that God took him to heaven.
Christians today are expected to live an upright life that is in line with Jesus’ teachings. This is only possible if one possess adequate faith. Without faith, it is impossible to practice what God requires a man to do as directed by the Bible. There are many ways through which one can increase his or her faith. They include:
1. Reading the Bible regularly
The Bible is regarded as the holy book that is the foundation of all Christian teachings. It’s the holy book of God upon which Christians are expected to base their beliefs. The Bible has numerous stories of individuals who were faithful to God for all their lives. They were immensely rewarded for their faithful actions. It is through reading the Bible that one can learn about the legends of faith like Abraham, Moses, Rahab, and other people who lived in the past. The Bible also advises on how to live an upright Christian life.
It is advisable to read the Bible actively while taking short notes. This enables you to grip the teachings better. You can also use the sermon notebook when you attend the church service. Active reading of the Bible will help you to grow spiritually, and your faith will be more developed. Different religious denominations have various Bible study guides. These study guides enable the learner to have a more organized and simplified way of studying the Bible.
A believer who rarely studies the Bible will experience difficulties in remaining faithful to God when temptations arise. The Bible is the God-given shield that is meant to be used by all believers in times of hardships. It explains situations whereby the faithful were tested yet managed to overcome the difficulties. Every Christian is expected to follow the example of these people to remain steadfast in faith and character.
2. Following the teachings of the Bible
There is no point reading the entire Bible without adhering to its instructions. A believer who strives to apply the Bible in all his/her undertakings becomes stronger in faith than one who is ignorant. The Bible is supposed to act as the mirror that highlights the flaws of a Christian believer. After the Bible reveals where you fall short in its requirements, it’s up to you to change your habits.
One of the primary reasons why most people have limited faith is because they rarely practice what they profess. Religious friends and fellow believers can be of immense help to one who has difficulties in applying the biblical teachings. Also, if you feel that you don’t understand the Bible teachings easily, consider consulting your preacher. This way, you will be able to apply its lessons without ignoring the crucial bits. It is through actions that the biblical heroes of faith gained reward. Therefore, your actions matter most in portraying what you believe.
3. Test the teachings
A faithful person is one who believes that God will fulfill even things that are unimaginable. In the book of Malachi 3:9, God asks humans to test him by giving tithes and offerings. By testing God, you should not contest his teachings and embark on disapproving what the Bible says. Instead, you should do all the right deeds as dictated by the Bible and other religious books.
In a nutshell, we can only increase our faith in God if we actively seek him by reading the religious books such as the Bible. After reading, we are then required to follow his instructions without question. This will enable us to grow stronger in faith. Consequently, God will also reward us as he did with the faith heroes in the Bible.
