In the Gospels, we find instances where Jesus’ disciples and others exhibited little faith. (See Matthew 6:30; 8:26; 13:58; 16:8.) But there were other times when Jesus commended people for their great faith. (See Matthew 8:10; 9:2, 22, 29; 15:28.)
Certainly, in our relationship with Jesus Christ, we want to grow in our faith. We long to increase our faith and to trust the Lord in all things. But how? How do we increase our faith? Below are 7 ways to increase your faith in Christ.
You grow in your faith as you…
- Spend time in God’s Word. In Romans 10:17, Paul wrote very simply that “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (NKJV) If you want to increase your faith, spend time each day in God’s Word, because it’s there that you’ll get to know Him. After all, faith is placing your trust in the Person of Christ.
- Experience God’s working in your life. Faith is like a muscle; it grows stronger as you exercise it. As you trust the Lord for little things, you’ll soon be able to trust Him with bigger issues. David only had the faith to face Goliath because he had first trusted God to help him slay the bear and the lion (1 Samuel 17:32-37).
- Obey Christ. In Luke 17, Jesus instructed His disciples to forgive others even if they offended them repeatedly. In response to this, His disciples said to Him, “Increase our faith.” (Luke 17:5) But Jesus went on to explain that what He was asking of them was not a faith issue, but one of obedience. When you obey Christ, you learn that He is trustworthy and only ever asks you to do what is best for you. Obeying Christ demonstrates your faith in Him.
- Pray. Praying is conversing with God. As you pray, you get to know Him better. Jesus invites you to, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8) Watching the Lord answer your prayers builds you faith and trust in Him.
- Cultivate a proper view of God. In Luke 7:1-10, we read about when Jesus healed the servant of a Roman Centurion. This soldier had a proper view of God. With childlike faith, He trusted that Jesus had the authority and power to heal his servant merely by speaking the word, even from a distance. Jesus marveled at this man’s faith and commended him for it.
Believe that the Lord loves you passionately. He cares about you—even the smallest details of your life. He is all-powerful, all-present, and all-knowing. Cultivate a proper view of God and trust Him for everything. Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”
- Abide in Christ. In John 15:5-8, Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
When you abide in, remain in, dwell in Jesus Christ, your life will be fruitful. Trusting Him comes naturally because you’re “attached” to Him like a branch on a vine. We abide in Christ through His Holy Spirit who lives within us. Learn to recognize His voice and trust Him.
- Partner with other followers of Christ. Faith is contagious. In 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10, Paul commends the believers in Thessalonica because they became imitators of Paul and his companions. Then, Paul tells the Thessalonians, “You became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia… Your faith in God has become known everywhere.” Identify a spiritual partner and share with each other what God is doing in your lives.
Growing in your faith is no mystery. It’s not difficult. Even a child can do it. Those 7 ways to increase your faith are not steps to follow, but principles to infuse into your everyday life. So, may your faith increase more and more as you press into Jesus!
©2019 Rob Fischer