As you probably know by now, we are taking a closer look at this vast subject of faith and how it affects our lives. If you’ve not taken the chance to check out devotions we’ve done in this series, then I encourage you to read those before this one. We’ve discussed faith in general and this past devotion focused on the purpose of faith. Today, let’s take a look at how we can exercise and increase our faith.
Having faith in God is step no. 1! You have to have the faith before you can use it in your life, let alone increase it! Once you have it, you cannot just put it on a shelf like some award you received only to never look at or use it again. You have the privilege of using it every day of your life. With God as the captain of your life, you will use that faith in God for every single decision throughout the rest of your life.
This is the key to exercising your faith: use your faith – for lack of a better term – “religiously.” With every conversation – no matter who it is with, decision – no matter how major that choice might be, and activity – no matter what it is, talk to God about it. Let him in on everything you’re going through. You know He is watching from above; He knows what you’re going through, but He really wants you to talk to Him and be your best friend. The moment you understand that concept and truly invite Him into every single aspect of your life, you will understand what faith is.
Having faith is when you trust God wholly with your life. Having the faith in God so much to know that His Will for you will be carried out and actually trusting Him with your life is exercising it.
Consider the concept of physical exercise – the more you work out, the stronger you become. Likewise, the more you use your faith in God, the stronger that faith becomes in Him!
I realize that it can be difficult at best to let someone else take the driver’s seat when it comes to your life. Sometimes we think we know what’s best, which simply is a crazy thought! However, when you think of God being your driver, I think the choice is simple! He is our pilot, our driver, and His Will for our lives is so, so much better than anything we could do with our own lives. He is the Creator of the world, and yet He wants to be as much a part of our everyday lives as possible! 1 Corinthians 2:5 tells us, “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”
Truly, the earlier we realize that we are nothing without God and that we can live enriched and fully blessed lives with God as the cornerstone, we will be one step closer to increasing our faith. Listen to this: “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God,” (Romans 5:2). When we learn to not make any decisions – again, no matter how big or small – without God’s help, we’ll be exercising our faith. The more we do this and the more trust we put in God’s Will, the more our faith will be increased.
God loves us more than we will ever, ever know, and the point of living out our faith is to grow closer to Him and serve Him. Ephesians 3:17 says, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love.” The bottom line is love – God loves us and we love Him. Without Him we are nothing, but with Him we are everything.
Be sure to join us next time as we look at the results that come from living out your faith in God!