Increasing Our Faith

Luke 22:32 (NIV)
But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Hebrews 11:1-2 (NIV)
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2This is what the ancients were commended for.

1 Thessalonians 3:10 (NIV)
Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.

We know we need faith, because it is by grace we are saved through faith. A good question therefore is, “how can we increase our faith?” Sunday we learned that our faith is rooted in God’s faithfulness. In other words, we can have faith in God because He has been faithful. These three verses give us some insight into increasing our faith. First, pray.  As Peter was about to be tempted, Jesus prayed that his faith would not fail. Second, faith is truly a community endeavor. Each of these versus describe building faith in others and in ourselves through others experience of God’s faithfulness. Jesus instructs Peter, once he turns back, to strengthen his brothers. Hebews 11 reminds us of the faith of the ancients through each of their encounters with a God who is faithful. Finally, Paul prays that he may visit the Thessalonians so that he may supply for them with the faith they are lacking. 

I pray that each of you may increase in faith by remembering God’s faithfulness. Tell someone how God has been faithful in your life to both remind yourself and to build one another up.