How do I get faith?

[Sharky]

I can only say this from the top of my head but here goes.

Faith is like this:

A phone rings and a friendly voice comes through. "Hi there, this is the lottery centre. You have just won $1000 from the lottery ticket number 11231."

No hoax, it was real. You really did win.

You'd be thrilled right? At that point of time you have FAITH in that person saying that you won. But really, you don't have anything at the moment. Except a promise from someone you don't know. BUt you have FAITH that you'll get the money.


Now wouldn't you have FAITH in what God says He will give you and He is perfect, he NEVER breaks His promises? But you doubt because you want a certain kind of proof from Him. By doing this, you are saying that God is a liar and proof is required from Him to make you believe.

Begin by just believing Him. It's as simple as that. Doubt comes, just ignore it and say "Nope, God says so so it will come to pass."


I'm not sure if that's exactly what you're going through but i can relate because i've been through it before. I found out later it was very irrational so i just put faith in His word.

 

[derae]

pippi,
It sounds to me like you are trying to get it all at once. Our Christian walk doesn't work that way. It works at one small step at a time. First of all you obviously believe that God exists or you wouldn't be reaching out this way. You have already taken your first small step. Faith, the bible says comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. My advice to you is to obtain a bible if don't already have one. Turn to the book of John and start copying it out in your own writing, word for word. As you copy out the words they will begin to take root.
Be patient with yourself. Take one step at a time. God isn't going anywhere. He will wait and be patient. He will teach you and lead you one step at a time.
In His Love
Derae

 

[MrZoom]

Reading this thread I am surprised no one has made the most obvious reply:

[bible]Ephesians 2:8[/bible]

Or, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it (1994 edition):

153 -- When St. Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God, Jesus declared to him that this revelation did not come "from flesh and blood", but from "my Father who is in heaven". Faith is a gift of God, a supernatural virtue infused by him. "Before this faith can be exercised, man must have the grace of God to move and assist him; he must have the interior helps of the Holy Spirit, who moves the heart and converts it to God, who opens the eyes of the mind and 'makes it easy for all to accept and believe the truth.' " (Last quote from Dei Verbum par. 5, Second Vatican Council.)

So you can't "will" yourself, in your own ability, to "get faith". It is something God gives you, unearned.

As derae stated, you obviously do believe in God. That is one small step of faith that He has already given you. So you are partway to where you want to be. The next thing I would do, if I were you, is to pray for an increase of faith. You cannot earn the gift, but you can ask for it. So pray, and God will give the increase.

 

[Whitegravity]

It sounds to me like it's time for a spiritual search. If one begins to doubt his/her beliefs then one should ask himself what it is he believes in, your ethics and morals. Do some research, learn as much as you can about the many religions out there. Eventually you'll see what it is you want to believe in, and when you do pursue it. Try to have it bring you happiness, and live life to its fullest. But, that's just what I did; you should make your own choices

BB

 

[wolfcry]

I know firsthand, that if you stop praying, reading the bible, fellowshipping with other christians, and generally focusing on God, you start to fall away from him. Much like if you meet someone, become friends, then don't see them for years. The image of that person becomes hazy, you start to forget about them, pretty soon you hardly ever think about them at all. A relationship with God is much similiar. The less you spend in your relationship on him, the less you think about them, which leads to spiritual death. It's difficult at first, i know. But it's very important that a christian stays focused on God every single day, and read the bible, pray, talking to other believers. The world is very eye catching, but it is always trying to pull us under. The less we focus on God, the more we focus on the world, the more we Focus on God, the less we focus on the world. This does not mean do not be apart of the world, it means staying focused on God and getting the strength you need from him to resist the temptations the world has to offer, which will surely pull you under unless you have a hedge of protection that can only come from God.

 

[Q-La]

Pippi, pay attention to the love in the bible. That's the message. That's God. That's all you are required to believe; and we can all start from there.

 

[wolfcry]

we must confess our sins, and believe that jesus died for them, so that we can be free of it and be open to relationship with God also.

 

[Prawnik]

I do not want to tell you what will or will not help you, but for myself, I can say that my faith, weak as it is, is strengthened by action, whether in the form of prayer, attending the Divine Liturgy and worship, reading the Bible or other works, or ministering to the sick and suffering.

For most of us, faith is like a coral reef, growing speck by speck, particle added to particle, until a reef is formed.

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

Pippi, how are things going?

 

[devoted daughter]

Ask for it..seek it…practice it… Have patience.
There isn't a step by step manual, as it is unique for each of us.

May you have peace, and answers.

 

[ascribe2thelord]

Hi. I used to be a Christian, and then, about 10(ish) years ago, started to doubt God (more and more over time), and strayed far from my faith. Recently, I've been almost panicking, thinking often about dying, and the thought that some day I may just die and have nothing of me exist anymore TERRIFIES me. I want to believe in God/Jesus/the Bible. I truly, truly do. I'd give anything to be able to honestly believe, but it just doesn't feel real to me. I've prayed (and prayed and prayed), read my Bible and gone to church. I've repented for my sins and asked God's help and asked him to save me and to give me faith. And yet, I can't say that I'm a Christian because deep inside me, there's still a LOT of doubt. I feel that for me to profess to be a Christian would be hypocrytical, although I WANT to believe - with everything in me I want to believe. I know that the Bible says that you have to confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord in order to be saved. I WANT to believe in my heart. I WANT to trust God, to believe in the Bible, to have faith, and to have peace..... I just don't know how. I've been struggling with this SO much lately, and I would really appreciate some advice/guidance/prayers. Thanks.

Pray for faith, and pray for others... often praying for other people increases my faith. I don't know why, but it does. Make a list of all the people you know who are dealing with spiritual issues and pray for them.