Strong faith is the foundation of any healthy relationship with God. In fact, many biblical principles are faith-based actions. Here are three ways to exercise your faith and inspire other believers (with scriptural backing in parentheses).
Prayer
“God speaks in the silence of the heart. Listening is the beginning of prayer.”
— Mother Teresa
The act of praying is evidence of faith. In order to pray, you have to first believe you are being heard. (1 John 5:14 – This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.) You also have to believe your prayers will be answered. (1 John 5:15 – And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.) Both beliefs are examples of faith. Whenever you need to confide in God, express your gratefulness or ask for a blessing, prayer is the answer. Take your faith one step further by praying for others and encouraging them to do the same. You’ll inspire your fellow believers with your show of faith.
Release Fear and Stress
“If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.”
— Marcus Aurelius
Fear itself is not of God. The Lord gives believers the support and tools needed to conquer any and every circumstance that comes our way. When we abandon fear, we are putting our trust in something bigger. (Psalms 27:1 – The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?)
Stress is another element we should stand against. Stress is the result of worry. When we face problems, we tend to experience anxiety about how to best handle the situation. But God tells us in the word that trouble is a part of life and we should embrace the lessons they bring rather than invest time in wallowing.
(James 1:2-4 – Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.) Releasing stress and invalidating fear are two ways to exercise our faith.
Love
“Love is our most unifying and empowering common spiritual denominator.”
— Aberjhani
Love is a verb. It requires self sacrifice, forgiveness, humility and patience. On occasion, it requires we endure pain. Willingly exposing ourselves to those difficult undertakings is scary. But God has called us to do exactly that. There are multiple biblical references that command to extend kindness to one another and love our neighbors. In return, we are granted that same unconditional love from HIM. (1 John 4:16 – And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.) By freely loving others, we show faith in God’s promise that love is worthwhile and will be returned, as it says in the Bible.
Faith is a complex but important concept to grasp. Having unshakeable belief in something we cannot see or touch can be a difficult. But once we conquer doubt, we are powerful beyond measure, allowing us to inspire our struggling brothers and sisters. Exercising your faith in the three ways mentioned above further illustrates God’s positive influence in our lives. Trust in Him, and all things are possible.
