5 Steps to Increase Every Day Faith

Do you feel like you're being eaten alive? Daniel may have thought the same thing when he found himself thrown into a lion's den. Do you feel like you're drowning? Moses may have thought the same thing just before the Red Sea parted. Are you burned out asking what's the use? The three Hebrew children may have considered eating meat to get out of the flames. Instead of caving to unbelief, Daniel, Moses and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego exercised their faith. They confidently waited on God to deliver them. We can do the same when we exercise faith in our every day life. 

Hopefully, we won't face hungry lions, nor a sea with an raging army behind us or even get thrown into a fiery furnace. Life overwhelms big sometimes leaving us desperate, scared and begging for help. What if you could face life with confidence relying on your faith to dispel your fears? Would you do it? I've listed 5 steps to increase every day faith to help you depend more on God. These steps should free you up to live more and worry less. You've got to apply them. Practice them every day. 

1. Meditate on God when you first wake. I find communication is best with God first thing with a clear, renewed mind, without all the demands of the day pulling at me. I thank God for who he is and what he's done for me. I thank God for the day. I ask God to guide my day. Think about his goodness. Things he has done you. Request some things from him. Then, listen...

2. Listen for God to speak. My believing friend shocked me when she asked me "How do you know God speaks to you?". I know God is speaking to me when I have a "new elevated" thought. Something I would never think of on my own. It's kind of like letting God do your thinking for you, allowing him to guide you through the day. There's so many ways God speaks. If you'd like more, let me know in the comments.

3. Learn to Recognize God is speaking. I always recognize God speaking to me in my thoughts. We carry many conversations, because I'm continually asking him for advice or answers or something. My seeking heart is always open to recognize him. He may confirm what he spoke through someone else's conversation with me. The Sunday Sermon might cover my questions for the week. I may read my answer. The other day on my way to lunch with a friend, God popped an idea into my head. I thought about turning a project into an Air B&B rental. I'd never had that thought before. During lunch my friend said, "Why don't you turn your house into an Air B&B rental?". Coincidence? Not at all. God spoke and confirmed quickly!

4. Take Action. I remind myself all the time, faith is an action word. The Bible says faith without works is dead. We need faith action in our every day life to keep our faith building and strong. My definition of the word "works" in that scripture is simply a response to my faith.  There are spiritual "works" responses and physical "works" responses. 

Spiritual example: God asks me to believe. If I choose not to believe, my faith is dead. Belief is the works or action required from me. 

Physical example: God asks me to bake my neighbor a cake. If I choose not to bake it, my faith is dead. If my faith were alive, I'd bake the cake and deliver it, recognizing God will accomplish his work with the cake. Another physical example. Will I turn that project into an Air B&B rental?

5. Ask, Believe, Receive. Do this exercise every day to increase your faith. Ask God for something small, very specific and personal. Ask for something tangible so you know God answered your prayer. Ask for:

• a friend to call or text you today
• your empty gas tank to make it to the station
• to find something you've misplaced
• to understand a scripture you've struggled with
• to curb your appetite (this is a favorite of mine)

Ask God for it. Believe him to do it. Receive it. If you practice this simple technique every day, your faith will increase. Trust God for the little things and before long, HE will be trusting you with the BIG things. Matthew 25:23  His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou has been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

My goal is to help you see Jesus in the details. 5 Steps to Increase Every Day Faith is just the beginning. Please comment your simple prayer below and let me know how God answered it. 

Lovingly,