Faith In God: Achieving Absolute Trust And Devotion

Faith is a gift from God, and not something you have to create on your own. The Bible teaches that God is the creator. He made everything, including us. The Bible also says that God wants us to have faith. In Mark 11:22, Jesus says, Have faith in God. While it can be hard to believe in something that you can't see, touch, or hear, having a relationship with Jesus requires having faith and trusting in him.

Read the Bible and learn about Jesus

The Bible is a powerful tool for strengthening your faith and drawing closer to God. Reading the Bible and learning about Jesus can be a transformative experience, providing guidance, encouragement, and blessings. Here are some ways that reading the Bible and focusing on Jesus can deepen your faith:

Understanding God's Word

Reading the Bible allows you to immerse yourself in God's word and gain a deeper understanding of His teachings. It is a source of wisdom and knowledge that can guide your life and shape your beliefs. The Bible is filled with stories of faith, such as the birth of Jesus, his crucifixion and resurrection, and the lives of Moses, Abraham, Job, and King David. These stories inspire and strengthen your faith, showing you that God is always with you, even in life's challenges.

Increasing Faith and Trust

The Bible teaches you about the importance of faith and how to increase it. For example, in Luke 17:6, Jesus tells his disciples that even a small amount of faith, like a grain of mustard seed, can accomplish great things through God's power. This shifts the focus from the quantity of faith to the power of God, encouraging you to trust in His initiative and strength. Additionally, the Bible reassures believers that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

Applying Faith in Your Life

The Bible provides practical guidance on how to apply faith in your daily life. Faith is not just an abstract concept but a driving force for action. James 2:17 reminds believers that "faith without works is dead." By reading the Bible, you can learn how to put your faith into practice through love, deeds, and perseverance. For instance, 1 Thessalonians 1:3 highlights how faith can inspire labour prompted by love and endurance inspired by hope in Jesus Christ.

Finding Strength and Encouragement

The Bible is a source of strength and encouragement when facing life's challenges. It reassures believers that God is faithful and will provide a way out of temptation and trials (1 Corinthians 10:13). Passages like Philippians 4:13 remind readers that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." The Bible's message of God's faithfulness and the power of faith can give you the courage to face difficulties and persevere.

Building a Personal Relationship with Jesus

Reading the Bible helps you develop a deeper relationship with Jesus. Learning about His life, teachings, and sacrifices allows you to connect with Him on a personal level. As you read the Gospels and see Jesus' love, compassion, and miracles, your faith in Him and His message will grow. Jesus is the ultimate example of faith in action, and by following His teachings, you can strive to live a life that pleases God.

Remember, reading the Bible and learning about Jesus is a personal journey that can vary for each individual. Take time to reflect on the passages that resonate with you and seek guidance from pastors or fellow believers if needed. May your faith be strengthened and your relationship with God deepened as you explore His word.

Pray often and follow God's teachings

Prayer and obedience are central to the Christian faith. Praying is perhaps the most important thing a follower of Jesus can do. The Bible says that we can increase our faith, and prayer is a key way to do this.

Jesus spent a lot of time talking to his followers about prayer. He encouraged it, taught them how to pray, and told them parables about it. The first and most important commandment is to love God, and we do that through prayer.

Jesus warned his followers against praying with empty words or to impress others. We should not pray to be seen or heard by others, but to communicate with God. Prayer is a way to praise God, to confess our sins, to thank Him, and to ask Him for our needs and desires.

Jesus made prayer a priority in his life. He often went to quiet places to pray, and he told his followers to be persistent in prayer. We should pray regularly, continually, and persistently.

Praying is a way to strengthen ourselves against temptation. Even when you feel weak, prayer can give you strength and courage to persevere and make the right choices. God's guidance comes in many forms, and prayer is one of them. We can ask God for wisdom, and He will provide it.

Through prayer, we can participate in God's will being accomplished on earth. We can ask God for anything, and He will answer. We can ask for forgiveness, for protection from evil, for daily bread, and for anything else we need. God will fund our plans and businesses if we seek His purpose and plan for our lives.

Prayer is a way to deepen our relationship with God and to increase our faith. It is a privilege and a powerful tool for believers.

Recognise that doubt is natural

It is important to recognise that doubt is a natural part of the human experience, and even those with faith in God struggle with doubt from time to time. Doubt is not always a bad thing and can be an opportunity for growth and a stronger faith.

Doubt in the Bible

The Bible is full of stories of doubters, and oftentimes the "heroes" of the Bible are those who had faith despite their doubts. For example, Abraham and Sarah doubted God's promise of a child, and Thomas, one of Jesus' disciples, doubted Jesus' resurrection.

Dealing with Doubt

When dealing with doubt, it is important to bring your doubts to God and seek answers. This can lead to growth and a deeper understanding of your faith. It is also important to remember that doubt can be destructive if it is not dealt with properly. Hiding or suppressing doubt can cause it to fester and eventually explode into unbelief. Instead, embrace your doubt and use it as an opportunity to strengthen your faith.

The Opposite of Faith

It is important to note that doubt is not the opposite of faith. As Paul Tillich puts it, "Doubt is not the opposite of faith; it is one element of faith." The opposite of faith is certainty, and where there is certainty, there is no room for faith. So, rather than trying to replace doubt with faith, recognise that doubt is a natural part of the faith journey and use it as an opportunity to grow closer to God.

Understand that God loves you unconditionally

The Bible describes God's love for mankind as unconditional. This means that God's love is not based on any conditions or expectations; He loves because it is in His nature to do so. As 1 John 4:8 states, "God is love".

The sun rises and the rain falls on both the evil and the good (Matthew 5:45). God's love is not dependent on our actions or disposition towards Him. Instead, it is a reflection of His inherent benevolence and mercy.

The gospel message is a powerful illustration of God's unconditional love. Despite humanity's rebellion and sin, God, motivated by love, sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from our sins (John 3:16). As Romans 5:6-8 says, "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us". This act of self-sacrifice demonstrates God's love for us, even when we were alienated from Him due to our sins (Romans 1:18-20).

God's unconditional love does not mean that everyone will be saved or that He does not discipline those who disobey. It also does not imply that He loves Christians and non-Christians in the same way. Believers who have faith in God's Son are saved by His unconditional, merciful love (2 Peter 2:1).

Understanding God's unconditional love can be challenging, as it may seem to contradict the conditions and demands placed on mankind in the Bible. However, it is important to recognize that God's love is separate from His expectations of moral conduct and righteousness.

God's love is often compared to the unconditional love a parent has for a child. Even when a child makes mistakes or strays from the path, a parent's love remains. Similarly, God's love is unfailing and constant, even when we may face consequences for our actions or need to seek forgiveness.

By recognizing and accepting God's unconditional love, we can begin to build a stronger foundation of faith. We can trust that His love is not dependent on our actions but is a reflection of His inherent nature. This understanding can bring comfort, hope, and a deeper connection to God, strengthening our faith and guiding our actions.

Dedicate yourself to a life following God's teachings

To dedicate yourself to God, you must be willing to put aside worldly pleasures and instead focus on God and God alone. This means not loving the world or anything in it, as the Bible says that "you can't truly love God if you 'take pleasure' in all the things the world wants to do".

To dedicate yourself to God's teachings, you must be willing to put God first in your life. This might mean making changes to your lifestyle or the way you interact with others. It involves regularly reading the Bible and other religious texts, and incorporating prayer into your daily life.

For Christians, this could mean attending church services and worshipping with others. It also involves sharing your faith with others and living according to God's standards. This includes saying no to anything that conflicts with God's will, such as "the works of the flesh" and sexual immorality.

For Catholics, this could also mean getting to know a religious community and reading about the saints. For example, Saint Teresa of Avila wrote a lot about contemplative prayer and being united with God. Her books "Interior Castle" and "Way of Perfection" are recommended reading for those seeking to deepen their connection with God.

Ultimately, dedicating yourself to God's teachings requires a personal commitment to follow God's word and to live a life that reflects your faith. It is about more than just going through the motions of religion; it is about a deep, intimate relationship with God and striving to live according to His teachings in every aspect of your life.

Frequently asked questions