What’s the best way to explain the topic “how to build your faith in God ”? It’s best to start from the beginning right?
After pondering for over 3 hours with no idea on how to explain this important topic in a way that even a high school student can grasp.
I decided to conduct a little research around my environment, workplace, in church and ask random people on the street about their opinion on “faith” and “how to build your faith in God”
The answers were amazing.
Keep reading to find out what different people think about faith. Is it similar to your belief?
Research responses – What is Faith and how to build your faith in God
Responses from my work colleagues
1.Faith is hope, isn’t it? That was the reply I got from my closest work buddy.
2.My co-worker was like faith is like an assurance that something good will happen.
Also, I didn’t know that you need to build your faith?
3.The Janitor was like I don’t have faith, I don’t really care what it is, I work hard to earn a living to take care of myself and my family.
4.Cherry (not real name) the receptionist gave an enlightening answer, She said faith is love in action.
I was a bit confused by her answer, I asked her to explain to me what she meant by that.
According to Janet, I love God that’s why I haven’t seen him but I believe he exists.
I also believe that when I ask for something through prayers I receive them.
The response from church;
One person said that faith is a matter of Christianity and religion.
Another said it is a standard with a solid foundation dependent on God. He said to build your faith, you need to study your bible everyday.
The rest anonymously agreed that it was a complete belief in God’s promises and faithfulness.
The response from the streets;
The response from the street is divided into three categories;
- What?
This category are familiar with the word but they don’t know what it means and couldn’t care less.
- Over emphasizes
This second category has too many bible verses, dictionary definitions and even personal experiences to share about faith.
I had to cut off the discussion with this particular set because they seem to enjoy the topic and didn’t want to stop.
- What you believe
This third category did not want to impose what they think on anyone so they simply answered that “faith is what you think it is.”
I tried to engage them in the discussion but they were alwaye in a hurry.
Their ideology is that whatever you think faith is, then that is what it is. They had no second to spare to engage in an argument.
At the end of my research, here’s my conclusion…
“Faith means different things to everybody, it is a broad subject that is widely misunderstood”.
And if you don’t understand what faith is, you can’t understand what it means to build your faith in God.
Origin of faith
Faith is derived from a Latin word “fides” and a French word “feid” which means trust or confidence in an ideology, a person or a thing.
Different definitions of faith
The definition derived from the etymology explains faith as total trust, reliability and dependence on someone or something.
It can also be defined as the ardent belief in the principles or theory of a denomination or religion.
What does the bible say about faith?
According to Hebrews 11:1(KJV) faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.
The Hebrew word for faith is “emunah” which means support, therefore faith means the support of God.
Most sermons about Faith in our various churches make reference to this portion of the bible.
But do we just quote it or do we understand what it means?
Let’s talk about this biblical definition of faith.
Substance is the real physical matter of something, it means the tangibility of something.
Evidence is the proof that shows that something is real and valid.
Hope is a feeling of trust and expectation towards a particular thing about to happen.
Therefore the bible was trying to state that faith is the strong expectation someone has about something that they expect to happen.
You don’t have it, but you believe without a doubt that you will receive it.
Faith in Christianity
Christianity is a religion based on faith, you can’t love God when you don’t believe in his existence.
As Christians we have not seen God, nor his son, what we have is God’s word and the conviction in our heart that he is real.
Most Christians can testify about their various personal experiences that proves the reality of God to them.
Faith is Christianity is the belief in God and in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Faith in Christianity is more action and less words to succeed as a christian, you need to build your faith in God.
You can’t struggle to do everything by your effort and claim to have faith.
You need to have total dependence on God and his ability to support you in everything you are experiencing.
What is the difference between faith and belief?
Faith and belief are used interchangeably but do they mean the same thing?
Or perhaps are they related?
According to the English dictionary, Belief is the mental acceptance of a particular claim or idea.
Faith on the other hand is a strong assurance that we will receive what we hope for though we can’t see them yet.
The belief you have about a particular opinion can change as you grow older and discover new things.
On the other hand Faith is different, it doesn’t change, instead as you build your faith in God, it grows stronger everyday(James 2:19).
Types of Faith
- Vain or dead faith
According to James 2:14-17 faith without work is dead.
Faith is practical and applicable in our everyday life. Let’s take an example;
As a Christian someone comes to complain about lack of money and here’s what you…
You pray with the person and send them away when you have a little sum of money that can be of help to the person.
This is words without deeds and the bible condemns this act.
You don’t just speak faith, you act it because within acting on the faith you claim to have, it is dead.
- Emotional faith
The bible says faith comes from hearing the word of God.
Some people are inspired and motivated to do a particular thing while listening to a sermon.
But after the end of the message, their faith also ends there, they do nothing about the word they have heard.
This is a temporary faith that yields no result.
- Devoted Faith
This faith is genuine, it remains intact despite confrontations or live situations.
It is backed up by actions and deeds, doubt does not abound in this kind of faith.
Why should you build your faith in God
- Strength to cope with life
Faith helps us to triumph over hard times, lack and fear.
Sometimes life can get tough with no idea how to get by the next minute.
At this moment, some people face depression and go ahead to end their lives.
But not someone that has built their faith in God.
If you build your faith in God, no matter how tough life may get or how sad you feel you will always remember God’s promises for you.
It gives you strength when you face difficult life challenges.
- Helps you believe in the possible
The bible says “with God nothing is impossible”
If you believe this scripture, you will always be ready to make lemonades whenever life throws lemons at you.
When you build your faith in God, you believe in the possible. It helps you to see your challenges as an opportunity for growth rather than misery.
If you develop your mind to always believe in possibilities, then you’ll attract positivity to yourselves (Power of subconscious mind – Joseph Murphy).
- To please God
The bible says “without faith it is impossible to please God, therefore faith helps us to please God“.
If you are searching for ways to please God, faith is the answer you have been searching for.
Abraham’s faith was accounted for by him as righteousness, this shows that faith makes us right with God
- Answered prayers
“If you say to this mountain get up and throw yourself into the sea and don’t doubt in your heart- or will be done” (Mark 11:23)
Your prayers are answered when you have faith.
How to build your faith in God
- Spend time to fellowship with other believers.
Every Christian has a personal relationship with God – some Christians are on a steady 100 while others are on a shaking 10.
If you’re a baby Christian it’s best to spend time with fellow Christian.
Pray with them, engage in bible study, ask questions and get answers, this will help to build your faith in God.
Furthermore God says “don’t neglect the gathering of brethren”.
You don’t have to go through your Christian journey alone.
- Study and meditate on the word of God
James said “faith cometh by hearing the word of God”
You cannot believe in someone you don’t know or understand.
The bible is God’s letter to us, it has answers to all the questions we keep asking.
All we need to do is create time everyday to spend time reading the bible.
Ask the Holy Spirit about scriptures you don’t understand, you can also ask your fellow Christians what they think about the scripture.
Don’t stay away from the bible if you truly want to build your faith in God.
- Always make out time to pray
What’s prayer?
Prayer is communication time with God, there’s no successful Christian who doesn’t pray.
You can’t build your faith in God when you don’t spend time to talk to God -your father.
Forget about the right pattern to pray and start with having a little conversation with God everyday.
Thank him for your life, tell him what’s happening with you and ask him to direct you.
If you’re struggling with your faith growth, tell him all about him.
- Focus on obeying God’s word despite your present situation.
Everyone challenges what you’re going through and has a solution in the bible.
But most times, it looks too simple or too hard so we struggle to obey God’s word.
However if you want to build your faith in God, you need to learn to obey God no matter what you think of his principles.
Conclusion
As a Christian, you cannot succeed in your walk with God without faith.
You need faith to please God, communicate with him and walk in his will.
Faith doesn’t come by wishing, you need to build your faith in God with conscious bible study time.
Study your bible, ask the Holy Spirit for interpretation and learn to practice what the bible says.
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