The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” Luke 17:5

How does faith grow or increase in a person?

If you wish that your faith was stronger, you’re in good company. The Bible records the apostles saying to Jesus, “Increase our faith!” (Luke 17:5).  Maybe you’ve said, along with the man who wanted Jesus to heal his sick child, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).

When we decide to follow Jesus, we are given a measure of faith (Romans 12:2).  Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

Our faith grows “by hearing, and hearing comes through the word of Christ,” explains Romans 10:17. Just as in human relationship, I’m not going to have faith in someone I don’t really know and whom I never hear from. God has communicated His character to us in the 66 divinely inspired books of the Bible. The deliberately purposeful storyline of His love for us runs all the way through the book written by 44 different writers over 1500 years. We need to regularly take in God’s Word to grow in faith.

As we interact with Scripture, the Bible says that the person of the Holy Spirit helps us to understand, teaches us, and helps us remember God’s character. In the original language of the New Testament, the Holy Spirit’s name is paraclete which means, “one called alongside to help.” If growing in faith seems daunting to you, Jesus-followers, have the Person of the Holy Spirit who was given to help you grow in faith in Jesus. “Increase my faith” is a prayer He’ll answer!