Growing Faith: Trusting God's Plan

how to grow your faith in god

Faith is a gift from God, and it is our response of trusting in Him. It is a lifelong commitment to be in an active relationship with Him. But how do you develop a strong faith? How does our faith grow? Here are some ways to cultivate a stronger faith and grow closer to God.

Characteristics Values
Read the Bible Read the Bible in a year, read it daily, study it
Put the Word into practice Obey the Bible, follow the example of Jesus
Surround yourself with people of faith Spend time with people who believe in God and believe He is at work in the world
Read great books Read books by authors such as C.S. Lewis, Brennan Manning, Thomas à Kempis, Dallas Willard, John Eldredge, John Piper, and Ruth Haley Barton
Trust God in the pain Trust God during difficult times and pain
Ask God for more faith Ask God for Jesus Christ's faith
Focus on obeying God Obey God and live by His word
Put God's Word into your mind Memorise Bible verses
Pray Pray continually
Trust Him in the storms Lean on Jesus for comfort, guidance, protection and answers during hard times
Serve Serve others

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Ask God for more faith

Asking God for more faith is a crucial step in growing your faith in God. It is important to recognise that success in this endeavour does not come from our own human attempts, but from God. We must learn about His love, justice, mercy, and plan. We must form a relationship with Him so that we can know Him personally through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Asking God for more faith involves a few key aspects:

Trusting God

Trusting God with your whole soul is essential when asking for more faith. This means having complete trust in Him, believing that He will answer your prayers and increase your faith. It also means striving to act as He would in all circumstances, following His commandments and living according to His word.

Humbling Yourself

To increase your faith, you must be willing to humble yourself before God. This involves dying to your old self and letting go of pride and selfishness. It means recognising that God is in control and that you are dependent on Him. It also means obeying God and living according to His commandments, not your own desires.

Seeking God

Seeking God is a vital part of asking for more faith. This means spending time in prayer, studying His Word, and immersing yourself in the Bible. It also means seeking to understand His promises and His plan for your life. As you seek God, He promises that you will find Him (Matthew 7:7).

Praying for Faith

Regularly asking God for more faith is essential. Don't assume that He will automatically give you more faith if you're not specifically asking for it. God wants to see how important it is to you, so you need to ask for it. Pray for Him to reveal Himself to you, to change you, and to increase your faith.

Obedience to God

Obeying God is a natural outcome of growing faith. James 2:14 asks, "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?" True faith leads to action and obedience to God's commands. As you obey God, your faith will grow and become more complete.

Putting God's Word into Practice

Reading the Bible is important, but it is also crucial to put God's Word into practice. This means applying the instructions and commands found in Scripture to your daily life. When you put the Word of God into practice, you will see your life change, and your faith will grow as a result.

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Focus on obeying God

Faith is a gift from God, and it is up to us to nurture and grow it. Focusing on obeying God is a crucial aspect of growing our faith.

Obeying God's Commands

James 2:14 asks, *"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?"* Our faith must be accompanied by obedience to God and living according to His word. We must put our faith into action and let it guide our behaviour and attitudes.

Obedience as Proof of Faith

Obeying God's commands is how we prove our faith. For example, the Bible tells us that complaining is a sin. When we obey God and refrain from complaining, we demonstrate our faith through our actions. This is how our faith becomes more than just words.

Obedience as a Test of Faith

Our faith is tested daily in countless ways, and it is through our obedience to God that our faith grows. For instance, when we forgive others, refrain from anger, give thanks, and are kind to others, we are obeying God and strengthening our faith.

Obedience as a Result of Faith

When we truly believe in God, we will obey Him. If we are not obeying, it is a sign that we do not fully believe. When we focus on obeying God, our faith will naturally grow as a result.

Obedience as a Reflection of Faith

Our faith should lead us to obey God's commands, and our obedience, in turn, reflects our faith. James 2:18 says, *"Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."* Our actions are the manifestation of our faith, and through our obedience, we show that our faith is real.

Growing Faith Through Obedience

When we focus on obeying God, we are actively growing our faith. By putting our faith into practice, we allow it to become a living, active force in our lives. This is how we move from faith to faith, constantly growing and drawing closer to God.

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Read the Bible

The Bible is a book intended to produce faith in you. It is a testimony to God's character and work in this world. Reading the scriptures means taking in the truth about what God is like and what He has done. If you want to strengthen your faith, you must have a regular diet of reading the Bible.

God's Word

God's Word is an entire book filled with the way God thinks. The Bible is preserved so that as we study the written Word, our faith would grow. Our faith grows when we plant the character and promises of Jesus as seeds in our hearts. We are soaking in the absolute truth about what God is like and the majestic things He has done for us. Just as we water and fertilize our plants, we nourish and grow our faith by reading and studying the Word.

Hearing the Word

If you want to grow in your faith, it starts by hearing, and that means feeding yourself with God's Word. When you hear God's Word, it changes you. It affects your worldview and alters the way you think. You want to see things the way God sees them, and you want to think the way He thinks.

Believing the Word

It's one thing to hear the Word, but it's another to believe it. You may have heard for years that Jesus is Lord, but something happens the day you believe it. Everything changes. When you read God's Word, don't hesitate to believe it. If God said it, it doesn't matter how you feel about it or what you've heard that's contrary to it. God's Word trumps everything else.

Taking God's Word

Once you've heard God's Word and made the decision to believe it, you need to make the decision to take it. Take hold of the truth and never let go. Taking it means putting God's Word before your eyes and keeping it before your eyes. Every day, speak that truth. When you want to receive something from God, search through the Bible and find verse after verse about how God wants to provide for you. Highlight those verses. Print them out. Tape them on your mirror. Add them as the home screen on your smartphone. Speak them every day.

Acting on God's Word

It's one thing to read, believe and take hold of something. It's another to act as though you believe it. When you know that God has provided for you, it's time to act like it. Wake up in the morning and thank God for His provision. You may feel sick; you may feel like not moving a muscle. But don’t let your feelings stop you from acting on God’s Word.

Faith's Hymn: God's Power and Grace

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Trust God in the pain

Trusting God in the midst of pain is a challenging yet crucial aspect of growing one's faith. Here are some reasons and ways to "Trust God in the Pain":

God is with Us in Our Pain

God assures us of His presence and comfort during times of suffering. Isaiah 43:2 states, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you." Similarly, Psalm 23:4 reminds us, "Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me." Knowing that God is with us in our pain can give us strength and hope to persevere.

Surrender and Dependence on God

In our pain, we are called to surrender fully to God and depend on Him. This means acknowledging that we cannot control our circumstances but choosing to trust in God's plan and timing. Romans 5:3-5 speaks about this, stating, "...we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame..." Surrendering to God in our pain allows Him to shape and refine us, drawing us closer to Him.

God Empathizes with Our Pain

Jesus, referred to as the "Suffering Servant," experienced deep suffering and anguish during His time on earth. He understands our pain and can empathize with our struggles. Hebrews 4:15 says, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin." Knowing that God understands our pain can give us comfort and assurance that He will see us through.

Purpose in Our Pain

Our pain and suffering are not meaningless; they serve a purpose in our lives. God uses these experiences to prepare us for future challenges and to shape our character. Jeremiah 12:5 asks, "If you have raced with runners and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in a peaceful land, what will you do in the thickets of the Jordan?" Trusting God in our pain means believing that He is using these experiences for our growth and transformation.

God's Promises and Faithfulness

Throughout the Bible, God promises to be with us, to provide for us, and to give us hope. He is faithful and will never leave nor forsake us. Deuteronomy 31:8 assures us, "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." When we trust God in our pain, we are reminded of His faithfulness and the certainty of His promises.

Growing Closer to God

Pain and suffering can be opportunities to draw closer to God and deepen our relationship with Him. It is in these difficult times that we may seek Him more fervently, pray with greater earnestness, and rely on His strength. Our pain can lead us to a place of surrender and dependence on God, which ultimately brings us into a deeper knowledge of Him.

God's Timing: Trusting the Divine Plan

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Pray for more faith

Praying for more faith is a great way to strengthen your relationship with God. Here are some ways to pray for more faith:

Ask God for More Faith

Asking God for more faith is a powerful way to start your journey towards spiritual growth. Recognise that faith is a gift from God, and He desires for you to have a strong and unwavering belief in Him. In Luke 17, the disciples asked Jesus to "Increase our faith!" (Luke 17:5). Similarly, you can present your desire for stronger faith before God.

Pray for Faith to Believe

If you are struggling to believe or are facing a crisis of faith, pray for the strength to believe. Ask God to help you see Him at work in your life and in the world around you. Pray for spiritual discernment and a deeper understanding of His Word. Ask Him to open your eyes to His glory and His presence in your life.

Pray for Faith to Trust

Faith is not just about believing but also about trusting God. Pray for the faith to trust in God's plan for your life, even when you don't understand it fully. Ask Him to help you surrender your worries and anxieties to Him, and to strengthen your trust in His timing and His ways. Remember, faith is about taking that leap of trust, knowing that God has your best interests at heart.

Pray for Faith to Obey

Faith without obedience is incomplete. Pray for the faith to obey God's commands and to live according to His Word. Ask God to help you align your life with His will and to give you the strength to follow His path. Pray for the wisdom to understand His commandments and the faith to put them into practice in your daily life.

Pray for Faith to Persevere

Growing your faith is a lifelong journey, and there will be challenges along the way. Pray for the faith to persevere through trials and difficulties. Ask God to give you the resilience to face hardships and the courage to keep trusting and believing, even when it seems hard. Remember, faith is strengthened in the fires of adversity.

Remember, prayer is a powerful tool to deepen your connection with God and grow your faith. As you pray for more faith, be open to the ways God may answer your prayers and guide you towards spiritual growth.

Frequently asked questions

Faith is a gift from God and it grows through a personal relationship with Jesus. You can grow your faith by reading the Bible, putting God's word into practice, surrounding yourself with people of faith, and trusting God in times of pain and hardship.

Faith is defined as trusting in Jesus, His teachings, and that His work on the cross redeemed us from the penalty of our sins. It is a lifelong commitment to an active relationship with Him.

You must believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and accept Him into your heart. This is also known as being saved or born again.

Faith is not something you either have or don't have. The Bible describes different degrees of faith, from little faith to great faith. You can always grow your faith by asking God for more.

God always listens to our prayers. The Bible says, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matthew 7:7, KJV).

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