Having strong faith is very important for every follower of Jesus Christ. But how exactly can we grow and strengthen our faith on a practical daily basis? Today we’re going to learn some important principles and action steps based on God’s Word for nurturing robust, living faith that endures hardship and produces fruit for God’s kingdom.
The Role of Scripture in Building Faith
The starting place for building sturdy faith is immersing ourselves in Scripture. Romans 10:17 declares, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” As we read, study, memorize, meditate upon, and apply God’s Word to our lives, faith blossoms. God uses His living Word to reveal His trustworthy character and mighty saving acts to us so that we can rely fully upon Him.
The psalmist valued Scripture as a faith-nourishing life source, praying in Psalm 119:25, “My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word.” Cling to the Bible daily and ask the Holy Spirit to breathe faith into your soul through its pages.
“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17)
Vital Spiritual Disciplines
Around God’s Word we can build other vital faith-building disciplines into our daily routine:
Prayer – Prayer demonstrates reliance upon God rather than self-sufficiency. Tell God your worries, asks for help, intercede for others. Let the Holy Spirit guide you into deeper trust through prayer.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
Worship – Sing praise songs, listen to biblically solid sermons, attend church, and practice sensing God’s presence continually. These habits keep our focus on His bigness rather than life’s bigness.
“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.” (Psalm 62:5)
Study – Read faith-affirming books, take discipleship classes, listen to podcasts, discuss Scripture with others. Surround yourself with reliable teachings that reinforce your trust in Christ.
“Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” (2 Timothy 2:7)
Service – Volunteer in church ministries, community charities, and share your faith story. You’ll be stretched while seeing firsthand how God comes through.
“Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self.” (Matthew 16:25, MSG)
Give – Put God first in your finances through tithing and generous offerings. Openhandedness demonstrates faith that God will provide all our needs.
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse…and see if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room to store it.” (Malachi 3:10)
Overcoming Faith Barriers
On our faith journey, various obstacles can emerge to test and temper our trust muscle:
Hidden Sin – Harboring unconfessed sin inhibits faith from thriving. Examine your conscience and take all sins seriously through repentance and godly accountability.
“If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” (Psalm 66:18)
Distorted Thinking – Catch and counteract irrational or unbiblical thought patterns that exaggerate fear. Replace lies like “God doesn’t care” with affirming scriptural truths.
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)
Disappointments – When difficult circumstances arise – sickness, financial pressure, broken relationships – resist the urge to equate struggles with God’s disinterest or impotence. Recall God’s proven faithfulness.
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.” (Psalm 56:3-4)
Persecution – If people ridicule your faith, consider it a privilege to suffer for the name of Christ. Ask Him for courage to continue confessing Christ without shame.
“If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called…” (1 Peter 2:20-21)
Doubt – When beset by skepticism, honestly pour out your concerns and questions to God in prayer. Supplement with faith-building resources. Surround yourself with Christian community for support during valleys.
“Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’” (Mark 9:24)
A Faith That Endures and Saves
While faith inevitably wavers, we can develop persevering faith that withstands trials, waits patiently on God’s timing, chooses obedience despite unknowns, and rests confidently in Christ’s finished work for salvation.
The book of James says such rock-solid faith reveals itself through righteous acts and Spirit-empowered deeds. True heart faith transforms how we live each day as devoted disciples who put Jesus first in every area.
By God’s amazing grace, let’s continue “taking every thought captive” to His truth and love. Allow God’s perfect Word to renew our minds and shape ever-increasing faith, hope, and trust in Christ alone.
God bless you!
