Every person possesses a degree of faith. To be a true follower of Christ we are saved by grace through our faith (Eph. 2:8-9). Becoming a disciple requires us to live by faith (Rom. 1:17). Matthew 17:20 reminds us that sometimes our “little” faith is expected to grow into a “great” faith. A mustard seed grows into a plant large enough for birds to perch in it’s shade (Mark 4:30-32). The disciples pleaded with Jesus to “increase” their faith (Luke 17:5). Let’s look at some ways to help our faith grow this year.

1. We must believe that our faith will grow. Paul complimented the believers in a small church for how they had first believed and how their faith was continuing to grow. 1 Thess. 1:3 “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more.”
2. Associate with those who have great faith. The more we associate with those who really trust God, the more we will become a person of faith. Rom. 1:12 “that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.”
3. Read and memorize God’s Word. D.L. Moody once said, “I prayed for faith and thought that some day it would come down and strike me like lightning. But faith didn’t seem to come. One day I read Romans 10:17 ‘Faith comes by hearing the Word.’ I had up to this time, closed my Bible and prayed for faith. Now I opened my Bible and began to study and faith has been growing ever since.”
4. Practice prayer and fasting. The verse at the top was followed by Jesus instructing his followers that sometimes there may be circumstances that require the discipline of fasting along with their prayers Matthew 17:21 NAS “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

Could I close this by encouraging and challenging you to journey with me in practicing the four points above. Let’s believe our faith will grow and God will send people with great faith to encourage us. Let’s study and memorize God’s Word and cry out to God for miracles through some extra time of prayer and fasting. I believe God will be pleased.

Praying in FAITH for You,
Tim