Fruitful Living
25 ways to build your faith in God and trust Him in everything (Part 1)
And without faith it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him – Hebrews 11:6 NIV
INTRODUCTION
Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please God. Since pleasing God is essential to an abundant life, building our faith is a natural and essential step. We are living in a world where the temptation to doubt God is constant. His children need more than ever to learn how to trust in His goodness and have strong faith.
Below are some practical ways to move toward a stronger faith and a heart that trusts God’s promises.
- REMEMBER GOD’S FAITHFULNESS.
Our faith will naturally grow when we make a conscious effort to look for ways to trust God. Let us pray and seek the Lord’s help when faced with a need or going through a difficult time in your life. Then let us watch and wait. He will move because we are trusting in Him. Once we see His intervention or Him speaking into our difficulty, we will have something to hold onto; our heavenly Father cares and moves on our behalf! The next time we find it difficult to trust God, let us remember He has moved on our behalf before, and He will do it again. Step by step, we will build a strong faith that will help us overcome life’s challenges.
- START A PRAYER AND PRAISE JOURNAL
When we stand face to face with spiritual obstacles and feel the crushing weight of our burdens, it causes us to forget what God has already done for us. A simple way to keep our focus on God in those moments is to start a prayer and praise journal. Let us use our journal (note book) to write down prayer requests, including the date we entrusted them into God’s hands. When God answers our prayer, we should add that information to our journal. Our journal (note book) will contain the evidence you need to face difficult times with a deeper trust in our loving Father’s faithfulness.
- REFLECT ON GOD’S PROMISES
Difficult things often arrive suddenly in our lives, as if dropping out of the sky onto our path. All we can see at that moment is a mountain. It blocks our progress and our vision of what lies ahead. When we focus on the mountain, we lose faith in God. The Bible tells of God’s children overcoming obstacles with His help. Let us ask God to give us the strength to climb our mountain or make a way through to the other side. As God takes us by the hand and leads us to victory, our trust will soon overshadow all our mountains.
- TRUST GOD’S PLANS.
When we receive bad news or come face to face with a difficult circumstance, often it shakes us to our core and fear sets in. A perfect way to build the kind of faith that does not fail is to always trust in God’s plans. He knows our future and has plans to prosper us. Life-shattering moments are no surprise to God, even if tears fill our path. Let us memorise Jeremiah 29:11 and hold it in our heart. When we face the temptation to doubt God’s presence in our lives, this Bible verse can be a reminder that we never walk alone. Walking with the Lord is the best way to learn to trust Him with everything.
- PRAY GOD’S PROMISES BACK TO HIM.
A great way to increase our faith is to pray for the promises found in God’s Word. Some promises in the Bible are for a specific person or people. Faith, however, calls us to believe that if God did it for those people, He can do it for us. Let us search for Bible verses that we can pray over any situation. Our faith can easily grow with each answer to a prayer that we receive, each promise He grants, and each deliverance He provides. He can also test our faith when He determines it is in our best interest for us to pass through the circumstance. Praying His Word back to Him will show us a lot about our faith and teach us about the will of God.
- SET ASIDE TIME TO LISTEN.
Our lives are full of things demanding our attention and draining our time. There is a remedy for these distractions: Let us start listening to the Word of God on a daily basis. Instead of listening to music on the radio during our drive to work, we could try listening to a podcast of our favourite pastor. Instead of spending two or three hours a night watching our favourite TV programmes, let us set aside some time for a Bible study instead. Philippians 4:8 provides a list of what we should focus on, but life chokes these things out. Taking intentional steps to listen to the teaching of His Word will bring direction, hope and growth to our lives.
- ASK THE LORD JESUS TO INCREASE YOUR FAITH.
There is a simple way to grow our faith: let us ask Christ Jesus to increase it. His followers asked Him to increase their faith in Luke 17:5, and they saw His miracles and listened to His teachings firsthand. If they needed more faith to accomplish the Lord’s will, how much more do we?
To build our faith, let us ask the Lord to increase it to the measure needed to fulfill His will. God is faithful to His children, and His desire is for us to walk in faith. So, let us boldly ask the Lord for a full measure of faith.
- READ AND MEMORISE GOD’S WORD.
There are a lot of bad things dominating our hearts and minds, most of which will serve no purpose in hard times. In comparison, the Word of God is a pillar of fire guiding us through the darkness of difficult circumstances. Reading the Bible reveals God’s goodness and faithfulness. Our faith will deepen when we learn about the God we serve. Memorising Bible verses will help us when we are faced with trials. We will come out to the other side of our trial in victory. We won’t be victorious because of our strength, but because we trusted in God. Each time we overcome with help from the Word of God, our trust will be stronger.
- SURRENDER YOUR TRUST TO GOD.
The sin of self-reliance is a prime example of lacking trust in God. If we are not trusting God, then our faith is based on something else. Having faith in other things restricts the power of God in our lives. Eventually, we are disappointed because of human limitations. Let us note the areas of our lives in which we have not surrendered into God’s hands and then let us ask Him to take control. Let us trust our lives to God’s plans and God’s ways. This will grow our faith because we learn that His ways are far better than anything we could have imagined. Let us surrender results in a stronger faith and a deeper trust in God.
- IDENTIFY AREAS OF UNBELIEF
Mark 9:24 is a picture of what happens when unbelief meets Jesus Christ face-to-face. The father in this story brought a profound, personal need before the Lord, and the encounter revealed his unbelief. It is best not to wait until we are in a crisis to discover our unbelief because unbelief hinders our faith. Let us ask God to examine our heart and write down what He reveals. Let us fight against our unbelief with the help of the Word of God. As we move from unbelief to belief, our faith and trust in God will flourish.
- TRUST GOD WITH YOUR PAIN
When difficult times come, it is easy to question the goodness of God. Our heart then starts equating God’s goodness with our will, and this leads to disappointment. Let us resist the urge to think God does not care about us when things do not go as we desire. We must fix our mind and spirit on the promises of God and trust Him no matter what happens. The purpose for suffering in our lives is in God’s hands. He knows our deepest and most desperate needs and is ready to discuss them with us. He has prepared enough faith for us to be victorious, so let us ask Him to fill our spirit with all we need. There is pain in the night, but with Him, joy comes in the morning.
- DENOUNCE EMPTY SUBSTITUTIONS OF FAITH
The Old Testament tells how some of God’s children trusted in everything but Him. The results were devastating and painful. Today’s culture offers many idols for us to trust, but they are just empty substitutions for the Living God. Good things like church, jobs, and family can become idols, and God directly opposes idols of any kind. Let us pray and ask Him to reveal if we have based our faith on anything other than Him. Let us tear down any substitutes the Holy Spirit reveals and request His help to have faith in God alone. Once the Lord helps us remove the obstacles to growth, we will experience a greater measure of faith.
To be continued!
If you have not yet confessed Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour, this is an opportunity to do so. And when you do, just surrender totally to Him with your eternal future, for He will never leave nor forsake you – Hebrews 13:5
Stay Blessed!
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“…at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” – Romans 5:6 (NIV)
Introduction
JESUS Christ shed His blood on the Cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for our salvation.
The Holy Spirit glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ and convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners, and we are baptised in Him into union with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God.
The Holy Spirit also indwells, illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service.
What does Easter mean to Christianity?
Easter is the celebration of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. God sent His Son to earth to die as a sacrifice for all our sins. Jesus died on the cross to forgive everybody for all the sins we have committed.
Jesus’ blood covered everybody from the beginning of time to the end of the world.
He died for all of our sins. On the third day, Jesus conquered death and rose from the dead. Jesus is the only God who has ever risen from the dead. He is the Saviour of the world. Without Jesus, we could not have ever been Christians. He died so that everybody who believes in Him could live forever and everybody on the face of the earth can become a Christian.
All you have to do is accept Him as Lord and Saviour, confess your sins, obey Him, and live your life for Him.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” – Romans 3:23. However, because of Jesus, we have been saved! For the Christian, Easter is the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.
Before Jesus’ death
They slapped Him and pulled His beard;
They spat on Him;
They pushed Him around;
They stripped Him and flogged Him and tore out His skin;
They pushed a crown of thorns on His head – it drew blood;
They put a heavy cross on Him to carry to the place of His execution;
To Calvary He went.
There they pierced Him with nails and hung Him on the cross – naked!
Even at this stage, at the stage of absolute agony and humiliation, they sneered at Him and mocked Him.
He had done no wrong. On the contrary, for my sake, for your sake and for the sake of a sinful world, He accepted the will of His Father and endured this very shameful, painful death.
He said very little during His trial, BUT on the cross He said seven things which we should meditate on.
Seven words on the cross
1. The word of forgiveness
“Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” – Luke 23:34. What an extraordinary love and mercy! I am saved – you are saved because Jesus asked for forgiveness for us.
2. The word of salvation
“I tell you the truth; today you will be with me in paradise.” – Luke 23:43. Even in such excruciating agony Jesus reached out to a sinner.
The songwriter Frances Jane Van Alstyne, popularly called Fanny Crosby, the blind prolific hymn writer, says it so well in the hymn we all love to sing – TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
Stanza 2:
O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood!
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
3. The word of love
“Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” – John 19:26–27. Even in the agony of dying, Jesus was concerned about the welfare of His mother and appointed the disciple whom He loved to take care of her.
Then, and even now, children have a responsibility to take care of their dependent parents as stated in 1 Timothy 5:8 – “If anyone does not provide for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
When we refuse to take care of members of our families, especially the immediate ones, we are worse than unbelievers.
Jesus is a perfect example of obedience to God’s word. He has given us power to do this as He did.
By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee
Fruitful Living
HAJJ: The 5th pillar of Islam, a sacred journey to the House of Allah An elevated call to faith, sacrifice, spiritual renewal (Part 1)
ALL praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all creation, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. We glorify Him, seek His guidance, and ask for His forgiveness. We send peace and abundant blessings upon the noble Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), his family, his companions, and all those who follow his guidance until the Day of Judgment.
Introduction: A journey beyond space and time
Hajj is not merely a ritual—it is a divine invitation to spiritual rebirth. It is a journey that transcends physical movement and penetrates the depths of the soul. From every corner of the world, millions respond to the timeless call of Allah, gathering in Makkah in a powerful demonstration of unity, humility, and submission.
Clothed in simple garments, stripped of worldly distinctions, pilgrims stand equal before their Creator—an awe-inspiring reminder of the Day of Resurrection when all humanity will stand before Allah.
Hajj within the framework of the five pillars of Islam
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
“Islam is built upon five: the testimony that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishment of prayer, payment of Zakat, fasting in Ramadan, and pilgrimage to the House for whoever is able to find a way.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 8; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 16)
Hajj is therefore not optional—it is a defining pillar of the Islamic faith for those who possess the means.
Qur’anic foundations of Hajj
Allah says:
“And [mention] when We showed Ibrahim the site of the House…” (Qur’an 22:26)
“And proclaim to the people the Hajj…” (Qur’an 22:27)
“And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House…” (Qur’an 3:97)
These verses establish the divine origin, universal call, and obligatory nature of Hajj.
Who is qualified to perform Hajj?
Hajj is obligatory upon a Muslim who is:
• Of sound faith, maturity, and sanity
• Physically capable
• Financially able
• Able to travel safely
• For women, accompanied by a Mahram (according to the majority opinion)
Financing Hajj: A matter of purity
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:
“Indeed, Allah is pure and accepts only what is pure.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 1015)
Hajj must be financed with halal earnings. Sponsoring others is highly rewarded, while performing Hajj on behalf of the deceased or incapacitated is permissible.
The sacred timing of Hajj
Hajj is observed in the month of Dhul-Hijjah, from the 8th to the 13th, with the Day of Arafah (9th) being the climax of the pilgrimage.
Preparation includes repentance, sincerity, settling debts, seeking forgiveness, acquiring knowledge of rituals, and ensuring physical and financial readiness. Hajj begins with the purification of the heart.
Pillars of Hajj (Arkān al-Hajj)
• Ihram
• Standing at Arafah
• Tawaf al-Ifadah
• Sa’i
These are indispensable acts that validate the Hajj.
The rituals of Hajj (Manāsik): A living legacy
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:
“Take your (Hajj) rituals from me.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 1297)
Hajj rituals—from Ihram, Tawaf, Sa’i, Arafah, Muzdalifah, Mina, stoning of Jamarat, sacrifice, and farewell Tawaf—are deeply symbolic acts rooted in the legacy of Prophet Ibrahim (A.S). They embody submission, sacrifice, patience, and unwavering obedience to Allah.
Prohibitions during Hajj: Preserving sanctity
Allah says:
“There is no sexual relations, no disobedience, and no disputing during Hajj.” (Qur’an 2:197)
Prohibitions include marital relations, use of perfume, cutting hair, arguments, and sinful behavior. These restrictions discipline the soul and elevate spiritual consciousness.
Author’s profile
Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai
Kpone Katamanso Metropolitan Chief Imam
Governance Expert and Islamic Scholar
Imam Saeed Abdulai is a distinguished Islamic scholar and community leader known for his impactful teachings on faith, governance, and societal development. He actively contributes to religious education and public discourse in Ghana and beyond.
References
• The Noble Qur’an (2:197, 3:97, 22:26–27)
• Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī
• Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
• Sunan al-Tirmidhi
• Ibn Kathir, Tafsir al-Qur’an al-‘Azim
• Imam al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, Kpone Katamanso Municipal Chief Imam, Certified Counsellor and Governance Expert
