Got Faith?

"Your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction." Matt 5:34


Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea. And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live." So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him. Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well." Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?" But His disciples said to Him, "You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, Who touched Me?' " And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction." Mark 5:21-34


Chapter 11 of Hebrews contains other examples of suffering the early Christians endured. I will not go through every example, However I will point out that in Hebrews 11:39 it says: “It was by faith”. This means God honored them for their faith and used them for His glory.

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him"~ Hebrews 11:6

No matter how much suffering you are going through right now or how impossible your situation may appear to be, determine in your heart to keep your faith and believe that God is on your side fighting the battle for you. He wants you to trust him because your faith is important in order to have victory. Are you willing to trust him?
"The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." ~Exodus 14:14

Effective ways to increase your faith:

1. Believe

Like the apostle Thomas, we want solid evidence. We are trained to only believe what we can see. But the Truth is that the Holy Spirit, our Helper is invisible and dwells within us.
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."~ Hebrews 11:1

2. Read God's Word Daily

Life is busy enough and making time to read the bible on a daily basis can seem to be almost impossible. The Bible helps us draw close to God and build our faith in times of trouble. Reading Bible stories about people who had great faith such as Abraham, Joseph and David can teach us that God rewards those who put their faith in him.
"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." ~2 Timothy 2:15

3.Pray Daily

Prayer can be one sentence or as long as you want it to be. Prayers bring our focus back on God instead of our problems.
"Rejoice always,pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." ~1 Thes.5:16-18

4. Look for Praise Reports

It's so exciting when God answers prayers! People love to share praise reports because it's an opportunity to tell others how God brought them through a trial. God uses other Christians to encourage us.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God" ~1 Corinthians 1:3-4

5. Think about how God has answered your prayers.

As I look back on my life, I can see how God has rescued me in so many situations and provided an even better solution than I hoped for. If God worked in my life in the past, I can be sure that He will do the same today and in the future.
"I will never leave you nor forsake you." ~Hebrews 13:5



"I pray that out of his glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith" ~Ephesians 3:16-17