5 Steps To Growing In Faith Now
God told Job…
“Everything under heaven belongs to me.”
Job 41:11b
And David prayed His words back to Him…
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.
Psalm 24:1
The world and all its people belong to Him.
Then he wondered if God is sovereign and everything belongs to Him…
- Who can approach Him?
- Who can stand before Him?
The answer…
The one who has clean hands and a pure heart.
Psalm 24:4a (CSB)
When I’m honest with myself, I know I don’t qualify. How about you?
But it was David’s next words that spoke to my heart and made me stop and think about growing in my faith and having a closer relationship with the Lord.
This is the generation (description) of those who diligently seek Him and require Him as their greatest need
Psalm 24:6 (AMP)
Several years ago, I made SEEK my word of the year. Twelve months later, I made it the word for my life. In fact, it’s so important to me to keep it on my mind and in my heart, that I wear a bracelet imprinted with the words, “SEEK FIRST.”
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and He will give you everything you need.
Luke 12:31
And in the last few years, I’ve learned those words of Jesus are the absolute truth! It is a promise I have learned I can rely on.
I’ve also learned that SEEKing is just the first step in a 5 step process that leads to growing in faith.
5 Steps to Growing in Faith
- SEEK – Prayerfully read God’s living and active word. Ask Him to speak the truth and to give you wisdom and discernment through His Holy Spirit. (Check out How to Read the Bible in a Way that will Change Your Life.)
God’s word is alive and working and is sharper than a double-edged sword. It cuts all the way into us, where the soul and the spirit are joined, to the center of our joints and bones. And it judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts. (Hebrews 4:12) - KNOW – Jesus came to save us and to show us the truth about God. He said that when we follow His teaching, we will KNOW the truth.
Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31–32) - TRUST – The more we KNOW God through His Word and the life of Jesus, the more we will trust Him with our lives.
Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. (Ephesians 3:17) - LOVE – Have you ever noticed that you naturally fall in love with someone when you truly KNOW and TRUST them? God is love and He loves you and me so much that He sent Jesus to prove it . . . just because He wants us to respond by trusting and loving Him.
We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. (1 John 4:16) - OBEY – When you and I truly know, trust, and love someone . . . we naturally want to please them. And because He loves us so much, God only asks us to do what He knows is best for us.
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2)
Will you pray with me?
A Prayer for Growing in Faith
Father, Your love surrounds me. I see it in Your creation. I see it in Your Word. I see it in those who know and love You. And it speaks to my heart, mind, and soul by the power of Your Spirit.
Thank you! Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, You made it possible for us to know You personally. Jesus physically showed us who You are and how very much You love us. Please forgive me for all the times I have neglected Your Word and Your will. I am so sorry. Please wash me clean in Jesus.
Please work within me and help me SEEK You above everything else in my life. Please help me KNOW You through Your Word and Spirit. Please increase my faith and help me TRUST You with every area of my life . . . with my relationships, my health, my finances, my career, my all. Give me the desire to want to please You by following Your will for me. Please give me the courage and strength I need to obey You so that I might glorify You with my thoughts, words, and actions.
You have been so gracious and merciful to me. I praise You today and by Your grace, I will love You with all that I am and praise You forever and always. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
David ended Psalm 24 with these very familiar verses…
Open up, ancient gates!
Psalm 24:7–8, 10
Open up, ancient doors,
and let the King of glory enter.
Who is the King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty;
the Lord, invincible in battle…
Who is the King of glory?
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies—
He is the King of glory.
May you and I join all those who SEEK, KNOW, TRUST, LOVE, and OBEY. May we blodly proclaim . . . Who is the King of glory? The Lord of Heaven’s Armies—He is the King of glory.
God bless you as you practice the 5 steps for growing in faith.
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AMEN! AMEN! Powerful and instructive, Deb!!
Psalm 105: 4
SEEK the Lord, and His strength:
SEEK His face evermore.
Today, I will seek, know, trust, love, and obey! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Thank you, Deb for your words of empowerment to an even greater faith! Blessings dear friend and Sister in Christ!
Thank you, Kathy! Have a wonderful Monday! Blessings and hugs!
Good morning, Deb.
Thank you so much in writing these five (5) steps in growing in Faith.
It seems like in the coming of the New Year 2023 my job have been coming up with changes after changes. Every week there is something new.
When I opened your email this morning, the Holy Spirit told me to read it. For there is information and word that will help, support and give me discernment and wisdom that will lead, speak and to guide me. The five (5) steps: seek, know, trust, love and obey in these times of change is to let my roots grow down in Him.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. KJV
Again, thank you, Sis. Much Love. God bless You richly.
I’m glad you were blessed and encouraged, Alprescia. Asking the Lord to bless you with His peace and give you everything you need as you face these changes at your job. May we all “trust in the Lord with all our hearts.” Blessings!
Amen, Deb! Such wonderful advice for us to seek, know, trust, love and obey the Lord, always and everywhere.
Blessings!
Thank you so much, Martha! Your kind encouragement is always a blessing! Have a wonderful Monday!
Hi Deb
I always look forward in opening your email so that God can continue to help me grow in his love to be like him.
Thank be you for the beautiful 5 steps in growing faith. That is what I am seeking and could have come at a better time. During Lent where God tells us to repent and love him through his beloved Son Jesus who died for our sins. In order to reach his kingdom we must follow his cross as he did for us.
I will always seek, know, trust, love, and obey him. Amen
Have a wonderful Bless day!
Thank you, Ana! I appreciate your encouragement. And I thank God that you are being blessed by these devotions. God be with you!
Hello Deb, your e mails are like sunshine when it is raining, all the positivity you share each day with all of us is words unspoken. Thank you so much for your lovely prayer for growing in faith. I look forward to our LORD’s words from you and our Bible every day. Our Bible tells us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and to not lean on our own understanding, this is one of my favorite scriptures, I am a student and try to live by this. However, I really enjoy your lovely emails, please keep them coming.
Stay blessed always,
Carrie <3
Thank you so much, Carrie! I am truly blessed by your kindness. I love being able to do this and I’m so very thankful to learn it has blessed and encouraged others. God bless you!
You are so very welcome Deb; you are a true blessing to others! Your words have really encouraged me so very much, cannot wait until you send your next email with God’s lovely Words of Wisdom!
May God Bless you always, Amen
Good Morning Deb,
Yes, all of these steps are vital in knowing and trusting the Lord. I read them and love these lessons. I love the hymn, “Trust and Obey”. I want to do all of these things. And, believe me I try to practice them every day of my life. I just need to work on the patience I need to wait on God and his plan. Waiting is not my strongest asset!!
I am learning to trust while I wait and to accept that what I want may not be in God’s plan for me. Thank you again for your wonderful blog.
I love that hymn too, Sue! And I agree, waiting is hard. I’m so thankful for our Lord’s patience with us and that He is willing to keep working with us and in us as we grow closer to Him. Blessings!