How to increase faith?

[MusicLover123]

So, what are good things to do to increase our faith? To go from bothered by every little thing to an unwavered one?

[marie glen]

Maybe i'm of an age, that I can't relate to that? Or of an age I can't remember when I did..? lol. I decided to read the bible in a new way.. I was going to enter the story. I mean, isn't that the point? We are part of that story. We are all living it. So when I began to see it that way.. (I divided the gospels first into a blend of all four gospels.. in order.. too repetitive, so then I divided them into 2 six month readings.. the focus is to enter the story, with Jesus and His days and travels. And i read Acts with the letters in mind.. putting the towns/churches together with the letters when that pertains.. paul's visits to towns he later wrote letters to.. things like that... and i read the letters in the order believed written..

So the history, flows more as a whole.. letting me enter the story.. (a bit of psychological whimsy..? :dontknow: :cloud9: )

I learned a long time ago, to always believe/trust God's word as opposed to man's word. Maybe that gets to be habit? ..like rejecting negative ideas/thoughts..

Listening to God in the silence.. As He teaches, via His Word.. it piles up.. And it gets to be too much to be denied.. As He teaches.. like pearls... pearls of insight, that are connected.. His voice, teaching, becomes more real.

Practice? and fine tuning? Practice prayerful listening..?

The bread and the wine.. daily.. and interspersed throughout the day.. Jesus said come, eat and drink.. how often do we need to eat and drink.. nourishment for our faith.. water the plant of faith.. we are what we eat..

Once I searched and ordered dvd's of the gospels.. of Acts.. I'm due to watch Jesus of Nazareth and Acts again.. a day or two without distraction..

When I review the creation vs evolution theory debate.. I don't try to figure it out from the evolutionists viewpoint, it's a bunch of gobbly gook bordering on black magic. (Imo.) Science and natural law do not support it. And I explore it from the view of the creationist, because I believe God's word over man's. Man's word confuses, and God's word blesses, and builds and builds upon itself..

Truth is amazing. I think we seldom spend enough time in prayer.. in seeking His face and presence.. in praise.. in thanksgiving.. watching the sun set.. listening to birds.. wind.. communing with God in beautiful nature.. the silence of nature and nature itself the greatest cathedral.. star gazing.. all beautiful arrows to, and reflections of, Him.. who I think we find in stillness.. ..the peace which fountains into joy? the baptism of the Holy Spirit.. "won't He give the Spirit to those who ask Him..?" ...Once we experience the saturation of His Spirit/Presence.. it is much harder to doubt..? I once heard praise will always result in His Spirit poured into our waiting heart.. "As the deer pants for streams of fresh waters, so my soul thirsts for Thee.."

the bread and the wine..
helps me abide on the vine (Jn. 15)

S.O.S.(! international "help" signal) - "come away my beloved.. and be like the deer by streams of water.." song of solomon.. Jesus told His disciples.. come away for a little while..

[MusicLover123]

It seems for me, that I've almost always struggled with doubting my faith, and I just want it to stop, you know. Like, no matter how much I read, that stupid doubt always finds it's way back. I even pray for it to go away, but it either goes away for a short period of time, or stays there longer.

It is mainly hearing about people dying that causes me to doubt, if that really is the end of that person.

Seems until Christ returns, I am still going to struggle with this issue. And I'd rather have any other thing than this.

[marie glen]

..There's a book I want to write.. about putting on the armor of God..  :dontknow: I hope I get it written..

you know what helps me? Realizing that matter is merely atoms vibrating.. or cycling, or whatever it is they do.. so fast things appear solid. Pretty weird, yes? Then I imagine how easy it is for foreign thoughts to slip their way in amongst those cycling atoms.. And how every single negative thought is an invader. And I have to use the weapons the Lord has given. Years ago, I had to burn new neuron pathways in the frontal lobe of my "forehead". I'm not kidding.. seems like it was the frontal lobe.. :dontknow: Old well worn pathways of thought, had to be rerouted. Only I could do it, or that is, only I could cooperate with the Lord's doing it. Maybe it's not so obvious if one didn't have a traumatic dysfunctional occurrence or upbringing in their life. But it's still the same thing. I needed recovery. We all need recovery. All I can relate to is my own recovery. But I can say I followed what He guided me to do, and a few years later, I have become so happy.. I sometimes remind myself of harder times so I can fully enjoy this happiness (without that human tendency to 'expect the axe to fall'.. ancient man thought if you were too happy, too blessed, the 'gods' would get you!)

I think the whole thing is psychological.. "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" / & with reverence and awe!

Every negative thought (doubt, etc) piles up.. Then the last on the pile like the last straw, and it appears like all of a sudden, and for no reason.. a crash.. so to speak.. of our faith.. of something.. whatever.. But it wasn't without cause. We'd been building it. By piling up that pile of negatives.. To this day, mentally, I cross out any negative thought with -1- a prayer if that's what's called for, for someone's safety, etc. -2- a big mental X or better yet 3 X's across that negative thought, and -3- I replace it with a positive; a verse if that fits. "Jesus is Lord" for example. -4- Any injury, physical, mental, spiritual, or threat or suggestion of, I thank God and the Lord for the recovery.. "Jesus is Lord"..

I don't mix a lot with the world. This I think of as a big plus. I half imagine my house & acre as a God devoted 'monastery' (so to speak) I actually would advise all folks to build their own (inner) monastery, https://inner-monastery.blogspot.com/p/welcome.html (lol)

    :Peace2: :Pray:

[Ross]

It seems for me, that I've almost always struggled with doubting my faith, and I just want it to stop, you know. Like, no matter how much I read, that stupid doubt always finds it's way back. I even pray for it to go away, but it either goes away for a short period of time, or stays there longer.

It is mainly hearing about people dying that causes me to doubt, if that really is the end of that person.

Seems until Christ returns, I am still going to struggle with this issue. And I'd rather have any other thing than this.

I have to remind myself that Christ's faith, not mine, is my salvation: my shield is that His sacrifice covers everything literally: ergo we grow as He works through us and His love never fails.
The enemy tries to place doubts in our minds and distract us from the truth-  but greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world!

[Ross]

Also why we take up the cross daily!!!

[Patinak]

Great posts Ross!

[jabcat]

It seems for me, that I've almost always struggled with doubting my faith, ..that stupid doubt always finds it's way back. ..

Seems until Christ returns, I am still going to struggle with this issue.

I don't think I have a lot of faith.  I wonder about it sometimes, i.e., do we only have whatever amount He gives us..seems everyone is allotted an amount (without looking up the scrip).  I wonder if we can indeed increase it, or just use what we have.  I personally mostly just try to remember to trust (similar to what was just referred to, HIS faith/works/ability that He gives us).  Maybe trusting in Him is a form of faith or exercising faith. 

So maybe struggling less and just looking to Him, trusting HIS strength?  Paul prayed for his thorn to be removed, but He was told "My grace is sufficient for you".  He also said he did what he didn't want to do, and didn't do what he wanted to do, and that Jesus would [eventually] deliver him.  And finally, he said if he did the things he didn't want to do, it was no longer him sinning but the sin that dwelt in him.  I don't believe he used that as an excuse to sin, but as a realization that his flesh was still working against the reborn spirit in him, but that again, as said earlier, Jesus in Him was greater than the enemy. 

Again, maybe simply and in surrender trusting Him is a form of having faith;  "When I am weak He is strong..My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

[marie glen]

Amen! ...I found myself considering, and I don't mean to appear to be trying to flatter, but it seems to me that many folks, to even believe the report / the gospel, is quite remarkable! And proves God's ability and intent.. but what I was thinking is how especially these days, for a few decades now, all have been educated via a system which believes God and the gospel to be foolishness.. And much of the world reflects that.. likely more and more all the time. I grew up in the 60's for the most part, like perhaps some others here, I'm sure.. But I figure I've seen a lot of the change. God used to at least be assumed by most folks, it seems to me.. and now the opposite is true. And the culture.. entertainment.. news reporting.. books, novels.. everything seems to reflect and promote the world's view. It has gained an upper hand. Whereas when I was younger, the western world was still thought to be "Christendom". Not perfect.. But I think we are currently headed to more and more "lawlessness" and dissolution of the culture because of this. So.. I guess what I'm saying is although people are more or less 'enchanted'? mesmerized..? sort of 'brainwashed' to not "believe".. I think it's great, and kind of a marvel, that some these days do!

Especially those involved in education.. or public service.. ?? So,  :2thumbs: :cheerleader:

[GodIsLove]

There is in my opinion a difference between those who don't belong to a religion and atheists.

The statistics I could find for actual atheism worldwide is at MOST 7% of the world's population, and that is the highest estimate, some are lower.

So I think people are "coming out of" religion but continuing to believe in God.

It's something that I used to think, that the world is atheistic, but I realized in talking with my friends that many who aren't religious still believe in something. Maybe it is things like ET, legalism, and people twisting the truth that have caused these people to exit religion, and I think until there is an overhaul of the system of Christianity, or God working within them, few will go back to organized religion.

I tend to think that today's evil is just more visible that what has always existed in the world but in a more hidden way.

[MusicLover123]

I would say there is an increase of evil for one simple reason: more people have been born.

In earthly powers, like Government, there is a secular agenda, and promoting a pluralistic mentality. So that makes it appear to be atheism dominant.

One interesting thing I found, was that a lot people have had experiences of God, far more than I thought. Not all by Christians, but God still works everywhere, in mysterious ways...

Thanks for the reply's!

[Dandelion]

Matthew 17:

14When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus and knelt before Him. 15"Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not heal him."

17"O unbelieving and perverse generation!" Jesus replied. "How long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to Me." 18Then Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.

19Afterward the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"

20"Because you have so little faith," He answered. "For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Apparently, lack of faith is a common human dilemma. Even the apostles struggled with it.

Romans 10:

8But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart,"d that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9that if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

11It is just as the Scripture says: "Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame."e 12For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him, 13for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."f

14How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those whog bring good news!"h

16But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?"i 17Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

So, God's Word is a way to increase our faith.

Matthew 8:

5When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came and pleaded with Him, 6"Lord, my servant lies at home, paralyzed and in terrible agony."

7"I will go and heal him," Jesus replied.

8The centurion answered, "Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes; and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it."

10When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those following Him, "Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11I say to you that many will come from the east and the west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12But the sons of the kingdom will be cast into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

13Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! As you have believed, so will it be done for you." And his servant was healed at that very hour.

So, it appears that faith involves trust that God is able, and that the more we let go and believe, the greater our faith.

What did Jesus say to so many of those who received miracles? Go, your faith has saved you, or a variation on this. Over and over, again.

The woman who was hemorrhaging, the man who was brought to Jesus through the roof, the woman at the well, and on and on.

And, yes, as jabcat said, we must trust in His strength, not in our own. A great quote from Paul, about how in our weakness, we are strong, through His might, not our own.

I think that one of the things that God does not reveal to us, however, is why faith develops in us, at the time and the way that it does. What is that combination of God and man which ignites our faith?  We know that the Holy Spirit has much to do with it. What moment does it occur? Why at that point of time, and in the way that it happens?  For some, it seems to develop slowly, with no clear point of when it began. Perhaps for Nicodemus, this was his experience. For others, it is an event that shakes their world, and transforms them from atheist or agnostic, to a believer, instantly, as it was for Paul.

Romans 8 gives us some insight into the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in our faith.

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. 12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

My  :2c:

D.