? How does a person get Faith?
This is indeed the "thousand dollar" question and many many people wonder about this! So, if you have asked yourself this question, know that you are not the first, nor will you be the last.
And... in a way, faith is somewhat "nebulous" and "hard to catch hold to" ... which is why, people wonder about Faith...and wonder IF they have it, or if they have enough, and etc.... so.... in reply to this question: "How does a person get Faith?"
Well... let me begin with the DEFINITION of Faith... as the Bible gives it in Hebrews 11:1
Definition: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
The Bible also gives many EXAMPLES of Faith... but perhaps the Best Example is given in Luke 7:6-9
Example of Faith:
"Now Jesus started on His way with them; and when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof; for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. "For I, too, am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes; and to another, 'Come!' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it." Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude that was following Him, "I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith." Luke 7:6-9
And some more Bible verses which explain and illustrate FAITH are:
Acts 3:16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.
Romans 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "But the righteous man shall live by faith ."
Romans 3:22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
2 Cor 5:7 We live by faith, not by sight.
Eph 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.
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So... in summary... you could say FAITH is TRUST... you just simply trust God to provide what you need....
Like a little child trusts his parents (ie. has "faith" that they will care for him and provide for him and etc)... it is a child like thing... babies don't "calculate" what they have to DO to get their bottle or diapers changed or whatever.... they just have a need... and they express it by "crying out to their parents" (asking) and their parents take care of it..... by doing what is "best" for that child to meet that child's needs.
In the same way...like babies and little children.. we as "Christians" are to just trust God for our needs... we (cry out) tell Him our needs and problems and then just trust (have faith) that He will do what is best for us....
A baby doesn't "know" they have faith... but they do....
Similarly, Christians, are to be like children and to have faith (trust) like that of a child ... faith that our Father will also take care of us (as God has promised to do)...
So it is not complicated.... it is just a matter of "casting our cares on the Lord" and trusting (having faith) that He will take care of our needs in His way, and in His time, and by whatever method or means He desires.
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So, as we do this, as we TRUST in God and have FAITH in Him to meet our needs and as we see our needs being met ...
AND as we READ God's Word, the Bible, His Message to us, and discover more and more things that God can and will do for us IF we will just ask and then trust Him like a little child, ...
Then our FAITH grows and grows and grows .... as we cast more and more of our cares on the Lord and, like a little child, allow Him to meet our needs in His way, and in His time, and by whatever method or means He desires.
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Scriptures unless otherwise indicated are taken from the
HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION.
Copyright © 1973,1978,1984 International Bible Society.
Used by permission of Zondervan Publishers.
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