Fruitful Living
25 ways to build your faith in God and trust him in everything (Part 2)
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
PREFACE
Today we bring you the final part of 25 Ways To Build Your Faith In GOD And Trust Him In Everything.
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.
Last week we shared 12 practical ways to move toward a stronger faith and a heart that trusts God’s promises. Please enjoy the rest.
- TAKE YOUR THOUGHTS CAPTIVE.
Many Christians struggle with doubt, and God’s Word teaches us that we are not alone. John the Baptist doubted Christ’s identity, and even Thomas did not believe it was Christ when he saw Him after His resurrection.
God is always calling His children out to deeper waters and into unknown areas. Why? To help us learn to trust Him. So, how do we deal with faith-crushing doubt? Let us pray and confess it to the Lord and ask for forgiveness. Let us fight against our doubts with the Word of God. Let us look up Bible verses that will help us make our every thought captive and obedient to Christ. Let us ask the Lord to grant us the faith to overcome our doubts, and it will surprise us how much our trust will grow.
- ALIGN YOUR LIFE UNDER HIS WILL
Sin erodes our faith in God and causes us to feel we have lost God’s love. When we do not feel loved or are ashamed, we avoid God’s presence, just like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Our feelings drive us away from faith in God and His Word. A great way to build our faith is for us to repent and confess our sins. Acknowledging God’s holiness and aligning our plans under His sovereignty will open our life up to new and exciting ways to grow our faith. Let us ask God to show us if we have any sin that needs forgiving. As we make His will the desire of our heart, we give glory to God and start our journey to a stronger faith.
- FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF OTHERS
Often, we see people who seem to radiate strength and faith in God. If we are honest, we wish we had that kind of faith. How did they get to their spiritual condition? They stepped out of the boat, tested the waters, and trusted that God would hold them up or teach them to swim. Serving others is a perfect way to step out in faith and see how God works. The first thing to do is for us to find something we enjoy doing and serve in that area. Our church should have many opportunities to serve. If they do not have a ministry for us, then let us start one! God can use our joy in serving as a catalyst for growth in our life and impact the eternal life of others.
- MAKE GOD YOUR SECURITY
What do we depend on for our security and wellbeing? Is it a person other than Jesus? Is it in our job, talent, intelligence, or status? When we base our faith on things or people, then in time, our security crumbles. Jobs and fortunes are lost, and people die or leave us. There is always someone more intelligent, and our status is only a social media post away from being destroyed. It only takes one catastrophe to awaken us to the realisation that we have been building our lives on sand not on the Lord Jesus, our Rock. Let us make a list of the important things in our lives, then let us pray and give them into the Lord’s faithful hands. Let us ask the Father to bless us with the faith we need to trust Him completely. Then, we can stand firm no matter what bad things happen.
- PRACTISE CONTENTMENT
It is hard to be content if things do not go the way we want or when in the middle of a long trial. Discontentment, while natural, shows a lack of trust in God. The children of God must fight against discontentment. We should decide in advance to stand firm in our faith and trust in the goodness of God, no matter what. Whatever we are facing, let us focus on what He is accomplishing through our disappointment or suffering and on the promises of God. Let us remember to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, and He will help us grow and trust even in our suffering.
- UTILISE YOUR SHIELD OF FAITH
A great enemy of our faith is spiritual warfare. Even though Apostle Paul wrote the book of Ephesians in AD60, God’s Word is just as alive, active, and relevant today as it was then. Satan’s desire is for the children of God to doubt and lose faith. Satan attacks our faith because it is our shield and protects us from his fiery darts as we read in Ephesians 6:16. Before we find our faith wavering, let us read Ephesians 6 : 10-18 and make the Armour of God a part of our daily life. We find the secret to having enough faith in verse 10, “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” We do nothing in our strength, but our faith in God activates His power. Let us pray and confess our need for His power and protection. Let us ask Him to strengthen our faith so that we can stand against anything the enemy sends our way.
- REMOVE PRIDEFUL THINKING
Pride causes significant damage to our faith by challenging our trust in God. Pride teaches us we have all the answers, so we believe the lie and look to our own understanding more than God’s truth. Psalm 139:23-24 provides a template for testing our lives for any offensive ways. Let us pray and ask the Father to reveal any areas of our life dominated by pride and let us ask for His forgiveness. Let us list what He reveals in a notebook, then let us find Bible verses to help us overcome these prideful areas. As we pray and make a conscious effort to eradicate pride from our life, we will develop a deeper trust in God’s promises. A deeper trust leads to a closer relationship and a stronger faith in His love for us.
- BUILD TRUST THROUGH PRAYER
Prayer is a conversation with the Living God, yet His children often neglect it. When we pray, we get a sense of the heartbeat of God for the lost, our family, and our spiritual condition. When we do not have the words to pray, we can ask the Holy Spirit to pray for us. God has provided all we need to grow through prayer. So, let us start today and spend some time in the presence of the Lord. It may seem awkward at first, but when we pray and feel His presence, our faith will become firmly established. Christians who make prayer a part of their daily life will continue to grow in faith and trust as they see God move.
- BE A WITNESS OF HIS FAITHFULNESS
Talking to others about Christ is scary for many people, mainly because we think we do not have all the answers or we aren’t sure what words to use. Let us pray and surrender ourselves to be instruments for telling others about His love. Let us confess our fears and ask the Lord to help us share the Good News of Jesus Christ. God will open doors of opportunity for us to witness. We will find that God is faithful to give us words to speak, and the power of the Holy Spirit will touch the hearts of the people through us. Our measure of faith will increase as we walk under the influence of His love and power.
- CALL ON THE HOLY SPIRIT
We have all been in a situation where we know we need to step out in faith, but we shrink back. How do we overcome those moments when fear rules over our faith? A long time ago, our Heavenly Father provided all we need through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus called Him our Helper in John 14:26, so the next time we find ourselves in a situation where we want to shrink back, let us stop, and pray. Let us ask for the Holy Spirit’s help to strengthen our faith to step out and do what God is calling us to do. When we complete the assignment He has given us, our faith in Him will soar as He uses us to do great things.
- BE A GOOD STEWARD OF FAITH
Often, Christians long to have more faith even though they are not faithful with what they already have. One of the best ways to grow our faith is to be obedient to what we already know we should do but are not. James 1:22 tells us to be doers of the Word of God. The first step toward a strong faith is to compile a list of what we already know we should be doing. For example, prayer and reading God’s Word should be a part of our daily lives. If they are not, our next step would be to make time for each of these things. Let us be faithful to what we have, and we will grow with each step of obedience we take!
- REMOVE OBSTACLES TO PEACE
The lack of peace is an obstacle to building faith and trust in God. There are many times we are not sure what to do, and the lack of peace freezes our progress. Other times, we are not sure we know the will of God, and the lack of peace keeps us from doing anything. In Isaiah 26:3, God promises to “keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Here is the secret to our peace: let us trust in God. Let us pray for God’s guidance and trust that the Spirit of God will not allow us to take one step outside of His will for our life. If we take Him at His Word and trust what He says is true, His perfect peace will dominate our mind resulting in the growth we desire.
- WALK CLOSELY WITH CHRIST JESUS
In Colossians 2:6-7, God instructs us to “walk in Christ Jesus the Lord.” Walking close to Him will give our faith the roots it needs to flourish. Here are some practical ways for us to walk closely with the Lord Jesus. First, let us read about Him in God’s Word. Learning more about what He has done and said will naturally lead us to the next step. Worship Him, praising Him for His sacrifice and love. Secondly, let us follow His lead in all areas of our life, including the service of others. As we walk with Him, we will be strengthened in our faith.
End Piece
Without faith, it is impossible to please God. However, the Bible tells us of many people who did please Him. The significance is that it is possible, so let us pray and seek the faith needed.
Prayer!
O Lord, we ask this day for Your help and provision to live faithful and pleasing lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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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By Dr Joyce Aryee, the author
4. Correct the falsehood
If someone misrepresents Muhammad (pbuh), teach people who Muhammad (pbuh) really was.
Tell them about his mercy.
Tell them about his justice.
Tell them about his patience.
Tell them about his forgiveness.
5. Report genuine offences
Use lawful channels.
The Muslim does not become the police, prosecutor, judge and executioner.
6. Protect the innocent
If one Christian insults Islam, do not attack another Christian who knows nothing about it.
If one Muslim makes an offensive statement, do not blame all Muslims.
7. Restore peace
After the controversy, bring responsible Muslim and Christian leaders together.
Talk.
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Clarify.
Forgive where forgiveness is appropriate.
And rebuild trust.
Ghana must not become a battlefield of religious provocation
My dear brothers and sisters in Islam,
Let us look around Ghana.
Muslims and Christians have lived together for generations.
We have Muslim fathers with Christian in-laws.
Christian mothers with Muslim sons-in-law.
Muslim and Christian business partners.
Muslim and Christian neighbours.
Muslim and Christian classmates.
Muslims and Christians serving together in the military, police, public service, universities, hospitals, markets and businesses.
This is Ghana.
We must protect this peace.
Religious freedom is precious.
But religious freedom comes with religious responsibility.
A microphone is not a weapon.
A pulpit is not a battlefield.
A smartphone is not a licence to spread hatred.
A viral video is not a fatwa (religious decree).
And anger is not evidence.
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A word to Muslim scholars
To my fellow Imams and Islamic scholars:
Allah has placed a trust upon our shoulders. You are the best of generations selected for the guidance of mankind. Quran chapter 3:110.
When people are angry, we must calm them.
When people are confused, we must educate them.
When people want revenge, we must teach justice.
When people want violence, we must remind them of Allah.
Our microphone should extinguish fire—not pour petrol upon it.
The Prophet said:ِ
لَيْس َ الشَّدِيد ُ بِالصُّرَعَةِ، إِنَّمَا الشَّدِيد ُ الَّذِي يَمْلِك ُ نَفْسَه ُ عِنْد َ الْغَضَب
“The strong man is not the one who can overpower others; rather, the strong man is the one who controls himself when angry.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 6114; Sahih Muslim, 2609)
This is strength.
Self-control is strength.
Restraint is strength.
Wisdom is strength.
Justice is strength.
A word to Christian preachers
And to our Christian brothers and sisters, especially those who preach:
We Muslims deeply revere Jesus (peace be upon him)
He is not an ordinary man in Islam.
He is ʿĪsā ibn Maryam عليه السالم, a mighty Messenger of Allah.
The author is the Chief Imam of Katamanso Municipal and Certified Counsellor and Governance Expert.
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When Paul tells us that our “attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus,” he had summarized in the previous two verses what such an attitude was: selflessness, humility, and service. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” – Philippians 2:3-4.
In other words, the attitude a Christian should reflect is one that focuses on the needs and interests of others. Without question, that does not come naturally to us. When Christ came into the world, He established a whole new attitude to relationships with others. One day when His disciples were arguing among themselves regarding who was to be greatest in His kingdom, Jesus said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you.
Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” – Matthew 20:25-28. Jesus is teaching us that, when we become preoccupied with our own things, it can cause conflicts and other problems with people we know. Instead, God wants us to have an attitude of serious, caring involvement in the concerns of others.
Paul speaks more about this Christ-like attitude in his letter to the church in Ephesus: “that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.– Ephesians 4:22-24. Many religions of today, including the New Age philosophies, promote the old lie that we are divine or that we can become gods. But the truth of the matter is that we will never become God, or even a god. Satan’s oldest lie was promising Adam and Eve that, if they followed his advice, “- and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:5, NKJV.
Each time we try to control our circumstances, our future, and the people around us, we’re only demonstrating that we want to be a god. But we must understand that, as creatures, we will never be the Creator. God doesn’t want us to try to become gods. Instead, He wants us to become like Him, taking on His values, His attitudes, and His character. We are meant to “be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” – Ephesians 4:23-24.
Finally, we must always keep in mind that God’s ultimate goal for His children is not our comfort, but the transformation of our minds into the attitude of godliness. He wants us to grow spiritually, to become like Christ. This doesn’t mean losing our personalities or becoming mindless clones. Christlikeness is all about transforming our minds. Again, Paul tells us, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” – Romans 12:2.
It is God’s will that we develop the kind of mindset described in the Beatitudes of Jesus – Matthew 5:1-12, that we exhibit the fruit of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22-23, that we emulate the principles in Paul’s great chapter on love – 1 Corinthians 13, and that we strive to pattern our lives after Peter’s characteristics of an effective and productive life – 2 Peter 1:5-8.
Establishing our actions in righteousness
Every person is commanded to live up to divine standards.
a. In the words of Jesus
“ For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Be ye, therefore, perfect, even as your Father, who is in heaven, is perfect” – Mt. 5:20, 48.
Every person in the world is required to live up to that standard. You say, “You’ve got to be kidding!” No, I’m not. You are obligated to live up to that standard with a pure inside as well as a right outside. But you say, “I can’t!” You are absolutely right. That’s why we are given the solution…
b. In the words of Paul
As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;– Rom. 3:10, 21-22a.
Though you can’t obtain on your own the righteous standard Christ set, you can receive His righteousness if you are one of those who believe. Isn’t that great? God set the holy standard. And when you acknowledge that you can’t live up to it, He says, “My Son is not only the Lawgiver, but He is the Redeemer as well, who makes it possible for you to live on that level.” Beloved, it’s a fantastic thing! The standard is so high we can’t obtain it. But Christ met that standard and imputes to us His righteousness. Oh, what a blessed thing!
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