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How Do We Have Faith in God and Increase in Faith?

The Bible doesn't just tell us to have faith in God, it tells us that we can increase our faith. But what does that process look like?

Contributing Writer
Updated Feb 14, 2022
How Do We Have Faith in God and Increase in Faith?

We are presented with doubt so often. It is on television. It is in some music. It is in the news, and many people speak doubt. Faith is the weapon that keeps the Saints afloat.

Where Does the Bible Say, “Have Faith in God”?

Many scriptures in the Bible admonish us to have faith in God. God wants us to have faith. 

Mark 11:22 reads, “And Jesus answering saith unto them, ‘Have faith in God.’” 

Hebrews 11:6 goes further and says, “Without faith, it is impossible to please him: for he, that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Faith is at the heart of what the Christian believes. 

2 Chronicles 20:20 says, “Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.” 

If you are feeling insecure, read the word of God and watch the insecurity dissipate. Please stop fighting your neighbors like they stole something because they have decided to be a person of faith. 

Do We Need Proof to Have Faith?

We do not always need proof to have faith, but we receive proof because we have faith. God left us the Bible as proof. We have many stories of faith listed in the Bible. You have Hebrews 11, Romans 4, and 8. We have the Acts of the Apostle. We have the story of creation. We have the birth of Jesus, his crucifixion, and his resurrection. We have stories of Moses, Abraham, Job, and King David, to name a few.

We were not there when God created the heavens and the earth. We are here on the earth, and we receive this event by faith. We were not there at the crucifixion when Jesus died for our sins so that we might have a chance to live in heaven. Even though evidence has been left around the globe, most of us have never seen it. We receive it by faith.

During a Christian’s journey, God speaks to some and provides evidence to others. All of us might not be hearing from God like you are, and people might not think we have a solid faith walk. God caters to us as believers in diverse ways.

Many women have faith that a long-time boyfriend will propose. When she receives the ring and gets married, that’s evidence. A wise woman had to at first see herself as a wife and know that the word of God says that he who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor of God (Proverbs 18:22). She read scripture that says marriage is honorable in all and the bed undefiled (Hebrews 13:4) to help her cling to her faith.

How Do We Hold on to Faith?

We hold onto our faith by having a prayer life. Reading the word of God will help you to hold onto your faith. Listening to the preached word of God will help you hold onto your faith. 

Your pastor or prophet ought to want you to prosper. He should want you to have faith because that is what the Lord requires. I submit to you today that it is impossible to have a strong ministry without building up the faith of the people of God.

Staying around positive, faith-filled people will help you hold onto your faith. Speaking the word of faith over your life, spouse, children, and family members will help you hold onto your faith. You will be amazed at what you can accomplish because you cling to it by faith. The Bible says, “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17). 

What Happens if We Don’t Ask for Faith and Don’t Pursue Good Works?

We also have not because we ask not, and then we ask incorrectly. James 4:2-3 declares, “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” 

A lot of people know that God is a merciful and loving God. He is willing to forgive. Even if you are not squeaky clean, He is still available to you. Sometimes, it seems like those who are not even living like they should get so much help. God will give people space to repent, but you cannot keep living any old way and expect that to please God.

How Do We Have Faith Will Provide For Our Callings?

God is concerned about your intent. He is also concerned about what you plan to do with what you ask for. God will fund your business plans. He will fund your non-profit. You need to seek His purpose and plan for your life. Sometimes, we want a job, and God may want us to have a business. Sometimes, we may want a business, but our current jobs are aligned with what God has called us to do at the time. You seek the wisdom of God of what He wants you to do.

Do not let people talk you out of fantastic plans God wants to establish in your life. Their faith is not your faith. You exercise your faith and watch God work.

Psalms 37:4 says, “Delight thyself also in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Many times, this scripture needs clarifying. God will not give you someone else’s spouse, children, job, etc. We should not be coveting other people’s stuff. We serve a big God who is the creator of all. There is enough for those who are seeking things. Different people have different desires. Many people are content with what they have. Some are not content at all. God deals with all of us differently based on our hearts and intentions.

If you have a strong ambition to do something, more often than not, it comes from God. Understand, it is not God’s plan or His will for you to be ruthless, wicked, conniving, murderous, or thieving. Jeremiah 17:10 declares, “I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

How Do We Increase in Faith?

The Bible says that every man is given a measure of faith:

“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3)

You have been dealt a measure of faith. Your faith can graduate and increase. Sometimes, we start believing God for small things and then move on to larger things. Some people already have great faith and can believe God for huge things while you wonder, “how did that happen?”

Get in the word of God. Pray. Ask God to increase your measure of faith. I feel like I am at my most creative self when I have been reading the word of God and meditating on scriptures.

Many times when I face challenges, I will get one of the huge study Bibles that my mom has given me over the years. I know that I have worn out about three of them. I do not know where she gets these huge Bibles with these gigantic concordances, but they have built my faith over the years. 

If I face a challenge in an area, I will look it up in the concordance and read all of its scriptures. If I look up faith, I will read every scripture on faith. I will read every scripture on health and healing if I need healing. If I need peace, I will read every scripture on peace. If I seek holiness, I will read scriptures concerning holiness and try to live accordingly. It has worked for me, and I believe it will work for you. 

It is also good to have a prayer partner. I hope that you and your spouse are the best prayer partners. If you are not married, I hope you have a best friend to pray with. It needs to be someone who can believe with just as much faith as you have, if not more. The power of agreement is so powerful. Matthew 18:20 says, “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst.” 

I believe God that He will increase your faith.

Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/FlairImages

Dr. Sandra SmithDr. Sandra Hamer Smith is a Christian and wife to Sylvester Smith. She has one stepson, Greg. Smith lives and resides in Memphis, Tennessee. The University of Memphis alumnae has been in education for about 20 years after receiving the call to teach. Dr. Smith primarily teaches language arts. Prior to education, she worked in local and national television news for 13 years including positions as an overnight news anchor, reporter, and assignments editor at two local network affiliate stations. Smith was also a freelance correspondent for BET news. Dr. Smith has freelanced for the Tri-State Defender newspaper and Contempora magazine.  She is the author of the self-published novel GLORY…THE HAIR.  Smith is also a playwright and poet. The Tennessee native is a member of Temple of Deliverance COGIC, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc, Omicron Delta Kappa, The Golden Key International Honour Society, and Kappa Delta Pi.

 


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