What steps can we take to strengthen our faith as Jesus desires? Our Need for Growing Faith “ ‘O unbelieving and perverse generation,’ Jesus replied, ‘How long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to Me.’ ” (Matthew 17:17) Jesus’ words were not harsh for harshness’ sake; they were an urgent call to deeper, sturdier faith. The disciples had just failed to drive out a demon-tormenting boy. Their problem was not lack of desire but lack of faith that leans wholly on Christ. The same invitation stands for us: move from weak, wavering trust to confident, childlike reliance on the Savior. Listen to Jesus and Receive His Rebuke • Accept that Christ’s correction is love, not condemnation (Revelation 3:19). • Let His words expose pockets of unbelief instead of defending them. • Ask the Spirit to show where skepticism has slipped in—no growth happens until we own the problem. Anchor Yourself in the Word • “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) • Read whole passages, not isolated verses, so you grasp God’s character in context. • Memorize promises that address your current battles; speak them aloud when doubt whispers. Practice Dependent Prayer and Fasting • Jesus added, “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:21, footnote in many manuscripts) • Prayer aligns your will with God’s; fasting weakens fleshly self-reliance. • Set regular times for both—before a crisis arrives—so faith has muscle when testing hits. Obey Promptly and Act on What God Has Said • “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.” (James 2:18) • Start with the next clear step—apology, generosity, service—even if emotions lag behind. • Each act of obedience becomes another stone in the bridge of trust. Cultivate a Mustard-Seed Mindset • Jesus: “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed… nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20) • The issue is not quantity but authenticity: genuine faith, however small, connects to omnipotence. • Nurture small beginnings; celebrate incremental answers instead of despising them. Remember God’s Past Faithfulness • Israel set up twelve stones from the Jordan “so that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD.” (Joshua 4:24) • Keep a journal of answered prayers, rescues, and provisions. • Revisit those records when the next mountain looms; memory fuels expectancy. Stay in Community with Faith-Filled Believers • “Let us not neglect meeting together… but encourage one another.” (Hebrews 10:25) • Share testimonies of God’s work; borrowed courage often becomes personal conviction. • Seek mentors who model unwavering trust and invite them to speak into your life. Guard Against Doubt and Distraction • “Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” (Ephesians 6:16) • Limit voices that undercut confidence in Scripture’s reliability. • Replace anxious ruminations with worship and gratitude (Philippians 4:6-8). Expect God to Work Powerfully • Jesus told the desperate father, “All things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23) • Faith does not twist God’s arm; it opens our hands to receive what His loving wisdom intends. • Hold plans loosely, hold Christ tightly, and watch Him move in ways that magnify His glory. These steps are not a formula but a relationship-driven rhythm. As we heed Jesus’ rebuke, immerse in His Word, pray, fast, obey, remember, gather, guard, and expect, faith deepens—and the mountains He assigns us begin to move. |
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