I’ve been thinking about this a bit.
Some parts of faith feel like something we grow over time, while other parts feel like something given to us.
Maybe it’s both, just in different ways.
The ability to believe is given to those who are willing to receive it, but faith grows over time when we act on it. If we read something in God’s word, especially a conditional promise, and then we act on that promise, we find out that it’s true and that builds our faith.
Faith is faith, and we either take God at His word or we don’t. Lot’s of things can get in the way of truly believing in what He’s said. We also see different levels of faith in other Christians and we call it growing up in Christ.
There are so many conditional promises in the Bible where God says if you do this, then I will do that. Philippians 4:6-7 is such a promise. We are to ask and pray and do so with thanksgiving and God will grant His peace over our hearts and mind. I tested this out strictly on the basis of what the word says and found it to be true. The thanksgiving part is very important.
Is it given. Yes. Do we build on it. Yes. Our faith is such a precious gift that once received, requires us to hold onto it and with God’s help, grow it up.
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Faith is described as a gift:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”
Ephesians 2:8 (ESV)
“For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.”
Philippians 1:29 (ESV)
Yet faith is also spoken of as something that grows and is strengthened:
“Your faith is growing abundantly.”
2 Thessalonians 1:3 (ESV)
“Lord, increase our faith!”
Luke 17:5 (ESV)
“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.”
1 Peter 2:2 (ESV)
J.
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Faith is a reflex to the certainty of truth. We trust in what we see or hear as true.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
I believe it is something we build.