Originally Posted by jcfamilylife 
The first question is, what does the bible say faith is?
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Does that kind of go along with what our famous friends were saying?
Even more interesting is that God offers a 100% guarantee in the bible that it works for everyone that uses it.
Matthew 7:7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Where in that passage does it say ask and you maybe receive?
My point is that God knows our hearts and desires and wants for us to have them more than we could ever possibly imagine.
How do we get faith?
Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Reading God’s word “The Bible” is the one way that we increase our faith in him. Because we acknowledge the bible as the very word of God we must believe in everything he speaks to us through it.
The more you read the more you know like you know that God is going to keep giving and loving you no matter what. The reason so many people have doubt is because the world is here to tell us we can’t and we will fail if we even bother to try.
The bible in turn exposes the lies of the world trough powerful scripture and causes us to believe even more in the ability’s that our God in heaven has.
Another very important aspect of faith is giving and this is where you might get a little uncomfortable.
The truth is that God only invest into good seed and if we’re not giving either our time to a cause, or income to support that cause, than we don’t deserve a penny more than we get.
Think about it for a moment…
If you created a universe and wanted to spread the good to all the dark areas of the world where would you invest your blessing to?
The people living pay check to pay check and not giving one second, or penny to a cause?
Or would you give to those who are constantly sowing good seeds and reaching out to those who are hungry, weak, and poor?
Money can be pure evil if we use it to fund our selfish desires and hobbies while the rest of the world goes without a single slice of bread, or clean glass of water.
Not arguing that Christians shouldn't read the bible, but faith is a spiritual gift:
1 Corinthians 12:7
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines
Since the passage you quoted is talking about how someone comes to a saving faith in Christ, I think you're taking it out of context. I am sure our faith does increase by reading the word of God, but that is up to the Holy Spirit. Paul said we should earnestly desire the spiritual gifts:
1 Corinthians 12:31
But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
1 Corinthians 14:1
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual
gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
So, reading your bible isn't necessarily going to give you more faith. It is something we need to petition the Holy Spirit for, with the earnest desire for it in our hearts.
God answers prayers that are in line with His will. I agree that if our heart isn't in something, and we aren't willing to sacrifice for it, then that isn't worth much to God. It doesn't mean, however, that when we do sacrifice we'll always get what we want. God gives us what we need, not what we want, and all in His timing.
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