The truth is you don’t need a special formula when you want to pray to God for a miracle.  Our Father is a God of the impossibilities. There is nothing that is outside his scope.  Our heavenly Father can do above and beyond what we can ask.  Unfortunately, we tend to limit him with our small thinking and end up missing the miracles that he has in store for us.

Miracles should be an everyday occurrence in the lives of Christians.  Jesus said that we shall do more extraordinary things than the ones he did.  Miracles were part of his daily life.

Jesus healed and raised up people from the dead everywhere he went.  The only times he did not perform miracles were when people did not have faith in him. This means that we need to perform and experience miracles everywhere we go as believers.

Before we look at how to pray to God for a miracle, let us find out the meaning of the word miracle?

 What is a Miracle in the Bible?

It is the supernatural work of God that reveals the divine nature of God that transcends the laws of nature. Miracles are also known as signs and wonders.  It is through miracles that God reveals his power over situations.  Miracles are also a way of God helping his children to deal with certain things that are beyond their capabilities.

As long as we continue to live in this fallen world, we will need miracles from time to time. Though this is not the way God wanted us to live, the fall of man brought corruption in the world.

So God had to set up ways through which he can help his children. See, without miracles, most of us would be dead right now. God has intervened in our lives through signs and wonders so that we can continue walking in his purposes.

Now, you may be wondering how do I pray to God for a miracle?  Maybe you are sick, and the doctors have given you a few days or weeks to live.  You need a miracle right now so that you can continue living in the purposes of God.  It could be that you’re on the verge of losing your home.  You have been struggling financially.  You need  God to show up in that situation quickly before you lose your house.

There are many different reasons why we need miracles to happen in our lives.  Praying effectively will enable us to receive miracles from God and enjoy the life he has for us. If you’re on the verge of giving up, please don’t. God will come through for you.

Also Related: How To Study The Bible Tips For Beginners?

Here is how to pray to God for a Miracle:

Confess your Sins.

It is important that you start your prayer by confessing your sins. Confession will help you close every door the enemy may try to use to block you from receiving your miracle.  We are not perfect beings. We make mistakes from time to time (1John 1:8).  Although Jesus died for our sins, we need to confess our sins to be right with God.

See, the enemy does not want us to live in victory. When you start praying for a miracle, he will try to block it. One of the ways that he does this is by bringing up old sins.  Confessing your sins to God will enable you to continue to remain steadfast. You will not fall for the condemning charges that the enemy will bring against you.

Focus on God, not the situation.

As we begin our prayers, it is easy for us to focus on the situation and not our God.  But focusing on your problem will cause you to magnify it instead of God. And this may cause delay or hinder you from receiving the miracle God has for you.  So as you pray, magnifying God and not the problem.

Look for verses in the Bible that magnify God and glorify his holy name.  Spend time reading stories in the Bible, where God came through for people. For example, the story of the Red Sea and the story of Elijah calling fire down from heaven.  Reading the word and seeing how God came through for people will enable you to remain focused on him. And not the situation that you’re going through.

Like David, we need to see God as powerful and mighty than the goliath we are facing.  If David had magnified goliath instead of God, he wouldn’t have been able to defeat him (1 Samuel 17:26).  When we pray to God for a miracle, we should also magnify Him and see our problem as nothing for us to receive a miracle.

Pray Positive Prayers.

Your problem looks real right now.  But here is the thing you need to maintain a positive attitude as you pray. You may be in need of a healing miracle. The doctors have told you that you only have a few months to live. Those are facts, though they should not be brushed aside; you need to stand on the truth.

See, that bad medical report or financial issue is a fact, but it is not the truth. You need to stand firm in the truth that is found in the word of God.  Remain positive that the word of God will come true in your life as you turn to God in prayer.

Stop telling God about your problem and going on and on about how you’re going to die. Or how your family is going to break up because of what is happening. Instead, pray positive prayers.  Speak the word of God over that situation and claim your miracle today.  Find verses that speak to your situation and declare them as you pray.  Remind God of his promises and ask him to come through for you.

Photo by Olivia Snow on Unsplash

Pray Persistently.

The Bible says the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16).  It also says that the kingdom of God faces violence, but it’s the violent people that take it by force. What this means is that you need to be persistent.  You need to pray until the miracle manifests in your life.  You should not give up. The enemy wants you to do that so that he can steal your answer away.

Know that as you pray for your miracle, you are going to go through some discouraging moments.  For example, if you’re praying for good health, the enemy may intensify his attack on your body by increasing the pain.  If you’re not persistent in prayer, you’ll give in to the lies that will be thrown at you. Do not give up. Keep on asking, and you’ll receive it because Jesus has already made it to the finish line.

Jesus encouraged people to pray persistently by sharing the story of the persistent widow and the unjust judge.  Although the judge was not afraid of God or anyone, he granted the widow her petition because she was very persistent (Luke 18:1-8).

Do not just pray once and then leave it at that. Keep asking and knocking until the door is opened for you. Persistence shows God that we are serious about what we are asking for. It also helps us to grow stronger in faith.

Be clear about what you want from God.

Some people say that miracles are not for today, but that is simply not true.  Spend time speaking to such people, and you’ll soon find out that they believed God for a miracle. But they did not receive it for one reason or the other and concluded that miracles are not for today. If you dig deeper, you’ll find out that most of them were not clear about what they were asking for.

It is good to know whether what you’re praying for is within God’s will. That way, you’ll be clear when asking God for a miracle, for you’ll be praying according to his will.  If you want God to heal your family, then be clear about it.

Let him know that you do not want your family to fall apart.  Do not go around in circles trying to blame each and everyone in your family for their mistakes.  Let your prayers be clear and to the point because God already knows what you want from him. (James 4:2-3)

Do not be afraid to state your needs before God. He will not get offended or surprised because you’re asking for him to perform a miracle in your life.  Be direct to the point in your prayers and let what you ask God to align with his word.

Also Related: How to Begin your Day with God’s Promises.

Be thankful even before you receive your miracle.

When you pray to God for a miracle, you should believe that you’ve received even before you get the answer. Start thanking God for answering your prayers before you see a physical manifestation.  Now, be careful not to do that as a way of manipulating God into answering your prayer.  Let your thanksgiving come from the point of genuineness.

Thanking God before we see the manifestation in the physical realm is a way of declaring that we trust him completely. And we know that he’s a miracle-working God.  Instead of complaining about what you’re facing, spend time thanking God for answering your prayers in his perfect timing.

Be like the children of Israel who went around the walls of Jericho for 7 days as if they had already won the battle.  Remember, without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).  Thanking him in advance is a sign that you have faith in his miraculous working power. And you know that he’s going to come through for you no matter what you see in the physical realm.

Pray with patience.

 Many of us miss out on the great miracles of God because we become impatient.  We want God to do miracles, and we want them now!  But that is not the way God works. His timing and ours are completely different.  You may wish to receive a miracle today, but when God wants to work on your heart first. For example, you may be praying for a financial miracle.

Now, don’t get discouraged because God is not answering your prayer first. Even if time seems to be running out, trust Him and the process he is taking you through. It could be that God is dealing with your heart first. So that when he opens financial doors, you may not go astray because of greed or lust.

Please note that God does not put bad things in our lives; it is the enemy or our own mistakes. But he may use those things to purify us and teach us some things that he wants us to learn.  So, just because the answer is taking long does not mean that God has rejected your prayer.

He may be preparing your heart or working on it. Why? So that he can remove some wrong beliefs that may hinder you from receiving a miracle. So be patient as you pray and trust the process that God is taking you through.

All in all

After the fall of man, God had to come up with ways to intervene in the lives of his children when they needed his help. Miracles are one of the ways God intervenes in our lives to rescue us from the corruption of this world. We all need miracles in our lives at some point.  So it is important to believe that miracles are for today just like they were in Bible times.

To live miraculous lives, we need to pray to God for a miracle the right way. We need to confess our sins so that our hearts can be right before God.  Although the situation may seem impossible now, you need to pray positive prayers persistently. Your prayers should be clear and be patient despite the challenges that you face along the way. Know that God will come through, no matter how long it takes.

The post How to Pray to God for a Miracle: 7 Proven Tips appeared first on .

But when the sky darkens, the wind picks up, and the rain falls, things get gloomy. We can then feel disoriented, confused, and worried. We still believe in God, but we feel bad – why is this happening? Why does this continue? Where is His deliverance? Especially when we read the many promises in the scriptures.

What does it mean to trust God with all your heart?

To Trust God with all your heart requires much more than just believing in His existence. The Bible says demons believe – and they tremble (James 2:19)! True trust is believing that God takes your well-being to heart and that He is committed to guiding you.

Trusting God means taking the passenger seat and letting Him make the most important decisions in your life. It means dissolving your will in His will so much that you begin to see things from His perspective.

We all need a much more spiritual perspective to face our trials, and to grow in our trust in God. Because without faith [without trust] it is impossible to please him; for he who draws near to God must believe that God exists and that he is the rewarder of those who seek him” (Hebrews 11: 6).

But what must you do to trust God with all your heart?

11 Ways to trust the Lord with all your heart

1. Acknowledge God’s sovereignty

The foundation of trust is knowing that God is the Almighty. He is utterly in control of all things. And that He knows so much better than you.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

When you begin to understand this, you have taken the first step toward genuine trust in the Lord.

2. Cry out to God

Trusting God, in all circumstances, begins with your cry of faith. You need more than a commitment to trust Him. You need to cry out to Him to show that trust.

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

When you pray, you admit that His ways are higher than yours. You show that you are leaving your troubles in His capable hands.

But for that to work, you have to trust in the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul.

Als Related: 13 Things That Will Build Your Faith And Confidence In God.

3. Stay clear of Evil

Sometimes the only way to trust God with all your heart is to disconnect from the negative influences that keep pulling you down. 

“Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22.)

Getting rid of evil desires means spending a lot of time crying out to God and trusting on God in all circumstances. 

4. Let Go

The truth is, we all trust in something every day.

What or who do you trust? Maybe you’re trusting yourself, the doctors, or your treatment.

To trust in the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul, you must let go of these other things and hold on to God.

The scripture says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust that’s not fully given isn’t genuine trust—it’s simply wishful thinking in disguise.

5. Ask God to help you trust Him more

The fact that you are reading this article shows that you desire to have more trust in the Lord.

God knows everything. He knows if you are trying to trust Him with all your heart. He wants to help!

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5

So, be honest with him. Tell him everything you feel, where you need help.

6. Count Your Blessings

When you start to thank him for all the good blessings he has bestowed on you, your views about life begin to change. You begin to trust God with all your heart, mind, and soul. Of course, you may be in a difficult season now, but this is just for a moment.

“For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

The more time you spend thanking Him, the more you begin to realize His faithfulness in your life.

So start your prayer with thanks instead of asking him one more thing. Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Photo by Zdeněk Macháček on Unsplash

7. Acknowledge that you don’t know everything.

Sometimes, you may not know how to get to your destination when you are traveling, but you trust the driver to get you to your destination safely.

Similarly, there may be a lot of things that you don’t understand in your life journey. You may not know why certain things happen the way they do.

But the scripture admonished us to: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

You need to understand that trusting God in all circumstances comes down to acknowledging your knowledge is limited. You need to trust Him and submit your ways to Him, even when it does not make sense to you. Your trust in the Lord grows as you realize that His ways are higher than yours.

8. Understand Gods Character

To trust God in all circumstances, you need to see all His riches, His faithfulness, and His love for his children. The best way to know God more and more is to read about Him in His Word. Read the Bible to understand God’s character, attributes, goals, attitude towards creation, and you personally as His child.

“Study to show yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

Spend as much time as possible in personal communication with God, and you will be convinced that no one (including you) can manage your life better than Him.

9. Recognize the devil’s tactics

Trusting God in all circumstances requires you to understand that God has your best interest at heart. You must also see and recognize the work of the adversary. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 2:11: “lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

You must understand that Satan, the devil is a spirit that always seeks to attack. What is he trying to destroy? Your faith, as well as your trust in God and Christ.

Never succumb to Satan’s negativity when you are in trials. Your trust in God will help you quench those flaming arrows with the shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16).

10. Seek to see God more clearly

How close are you to God? Well, do you really know Him? How much do you see Him as a reality in your life? This should be a top priority in your spiritual life – learning to understand Him from every perspective.

The carnal mind cannot understand God. In Psalm 50:21, speaking of the wicked: “These things you have done, and I kept silent; You thought that I was altogether like you, But I will rebuke you, And set them in order before your eyes.”

Later, God explains: “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55: 9

God is not like us! He does not react carnally like human beings. But you must seek to Him more clearly to trust Him with all your hearts

11. Act in Trust

Finally, as you continue your journey to trust God with all of your heart, it’s time to act on that trust! Let God knows you trust Him by obeying Him in your actions.

The scripture says: “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.” Psalm 37:3

Also Related: How To Build Your Faith And Trust In God.

Quotes on ways to trust God with all of your heart

Here are 7 powerful quotes on how to trust God with all of your heart to encourage you.

“Pray, and let God worry.” ― Martin Luther

“Let your life reflect the faith you have in God. Fear nothing and pray about everything. Be strong, trust God’s word, and trust the process.” ― Germany Kent.

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” ― Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Trusting God makes life worth living.” ― Marnie Swedberg,

“Sometimes it’s really hard to go on in life, not knowing what fate tomorrow holds. But you should keep going, trusting God that everything will eventually be alright.” ― Ojingiri Hannah.

The more you believe and trust God, the more limitless your possibilities become for your family, your career – for your life!” Rick Warren

“Pray with love and trust that God always answers prayers.” ― Oliver Powell.

In conclusion

Today’s post clarifies that we always have two options: the first is to try to resolve things and conduct our lives according to our wisdom and knowledge. The second is through trust in God with all your heart, making sure that He is ahead of everything.

The point here is that you don’t have to worry too much about adversity or life situations. All you need to do is trust that He is with you, and, in time, He will bring relief.

This does not mean being passive and accepting problems. It means that, even during the struggle, even when you are acting going through adversity, you will have peace.

“Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” 2 Corinthians 5:17

To learn how to trust God with all your heart more, check out the following books:

1. I Am: 40 Reasons to Trust God
2. Keep Calm and Trust God
3. Unshakeable Trust: Find the Joy of Trusting God at All Times, in All Things

The post 11 Ways to Trust God with all of Your Heart. appeared first on .

AS explained in the book of Hebrews chapter 11 is that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Whereas trust is believing in somebody’s truth, character, or strength. Faith comes from trust, therefore if we increase our trust in God we will definitely increase our faith.  We will be looking at how to build faith and trust in God.

How to build faith and trust in God.

We can easily build our faith and trust in God by developing a habit of continuously reading the word of God. The scripture in the book of Romans says that Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. ( Romans 10:17).

This means that the more we soak ourselves in the word of God by continually learning and meditating upon it, the more our faith grows. This is because a clear knowledge of who God is in our lives will lead us to develop faith and trust in Him.

That is to why sometimes Faith is defined as persuasion based on knowledge.

How to trust the Lord with all our hearts.

Trusting God with all our hearts is what God requires of us. Solomon the writer of the book of Proverbs knew this secret. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; ( Proverbs 3:5) This is not having any other options in our minds and hearts when we are trusting God for anything. It is the opposite of having a double mind.

As God is never pleased with double-minded people. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let, not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. ( James 1:5-8).

Also Related: 8 Ways To Strengthen Your Faith In The Lord.

What does it mean to put your trust in God?

Putting your complete trust in God is coming to a point of rest where it is no longer about you but about God whom you trust. But it is all about casting all your burdens to the Lord.

If you trust someone you not be worried but instead you’ll have rest. We need to have rest in God. The Israelites heard the gospel just the same way we hear it today, but they did not mix it with faith and have trust in God. Therefore they did not enter the rest of God. Trusting God is resting in Him and His promises.

For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us, therefore, be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. ( Hebrews 4:8-11)

     When should we develop faith and trust in God?

1. In all circumstances.

When Apostle Paul is writing to the church in Thessalonica he encourages them to give thanks to God in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18). This doesn’t mean that at all times things will go on smoothly as one would expect.

There would be hard times of cause. Even in those the hard times, one needs to pass through them with faith and trust in God.

David knew this secret of developing trust in God in all circumstances when he wrote this; Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah( Psalms 62:8).

The reason as to why we should develop faith and trust in God in all circumstances is that God allows us to pass through different circumstances as a way of strengthening our faith. Our faith in God is a precious substance that should produce patience.

Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ( James 1:3). God will use different circumstances in life to test and see if really have developed faith and trust in Him. A good example of a man in the Bible that had developed faith and trust in God was Job.

Example of Trusting God In all circumstances:

Despite Job receiving bad news from left, right and center, he remained steadfast and immovable from the faith he had developed in God. He even gets a chance to praise God even in the midst of all the misfortunes.

Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong. ( Job 1:20-22).

This unwavering faith and trust that Job had in God produced patience in him. He decided to wait upon the Lord, the Redeemer who lives.

Job had complete knowledge of the God he had put his trust in. He had faith that God was able to restore everything that he lost and bring healing to his body. This made him reject the advice of his wife of cursing God and dying.

He waited patiently for his time of deliverance from the Lord. This made him to be known to date as a man of patience because his faith and trust in God had produced patience.

We should be ready to allow our faith to be tested by fire for growth. That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ( 1 Peter 1:7).

1. In difficult times.

Difficult times are not meant to destroy us but to make us strong and develop great faith and trust in God. This is what David the Psalmist declared. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. ( Psalms 23:4).

David could boldly declare that he will fear no evil because he had developed faith and trust in God. He is not praying for him not to pass through the shadow of death but in the midst of the shadow of death, he will fear no evil. Because his faith and trust was in God.

This is what Prophet Isaiah declared in the following verse; When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. ( Isaiah 43:2).

Therefore difficult times in our lives should draw us more to God than drifting us away from Him. God is always our refuge and strength and very present help in times of need, therefore, we should ever develop faith and trust in Him.

Example of Trusting God In difficult times.

When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, heard what was going to happen to them, they were not moved. The burning fiery furnace was nothing to them. They had developed faith and trust in God and knew that He was able to deliver them out of the danger. Look at what they told Nebuchadnezzar.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.

But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” ( Daniel 3:16-18). What an immovable faith and trust in God.

Also Related: 12 Great Ways To Live By Faith Every Day.

1. In all things.

God desires to be involved in all aspects of our lives. Meaning in every situation or circumstance that we pass through in life we should acknowledge Him. Our faith and trust in God should also be in all things.

Our lives should be a complete surrender of everything to God. In most cases, men tend to develop faith and trust in God when dealing with things that seem to be difficult in their eyes. Those which seems to be small they assume that they have the capability of handling on their own.

Example of Trusting God In all things.

There should be nothing that we should view with our eyes as to be too big for God to handle or too small for him to get involved in. God desires to take part in every detail of our lives.

This is what Solomon wrote in the book of Proverbs;  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. ( Proverbs 3:5-6).

David knew this secret and that is to why he made this prayer;  I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me. ( Psalms 57:2).

God wants to be actively involved in all aspects of our lives, our response should be our total surrender to His will and allow Him to work in us as He takes control of our lives. And in case of our anxiety, worries, and burdens we should all be willing to cast all to Him for He cares. Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. ( 1 Peter 5:7). By doing this we will be developing faith and trust in God.

Conclusion

As we desire to build faith and trust in God, we should never forget our faith and trust should be accompanied by actions. We should be willing to live lives that reveal our faith and trust in God.

Abraham had faith in God and showed it by willing to go and sacrifice his only begotten son.

James writes that if our faith is not accompanied by actions to prove what we believe in, it is dead. Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:17)

Related post: https://allroundjesus.com/increase-your-faith/amp/#

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Don’t get stuck wondering why things happened that way or if you didn’t do enough to get better results.

It’s time to turn the page and start rewriting something wonderful, a new story with God as inspiration.

Many Christians are seeking an answer to the question How do I forget the past and move on with my life?  Is it good to let go of the past?  Why can’t I let go of the past? So here are the steps and ways that will  help you forget the past and move on:

1. Repent from the Heart.

One of the best ways to be healed from past hurts, and letting go of the past is that you must realize what you need to change. If you have to repent, don’t just do it in words, confess yourself, take up your friendship with God again. Change your heart. Pray and God will forgive you.

As the Bible says:

Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me.”

1 John 1: 9 “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness”

2. Receive forgiveness.

Are you confuse base on how let go of the past, letting go and moving on, how to let go of past hurts and move on from the past? Then I am glad to inform you that you will receive a new opportunity to live in friendship with God. Through forgiveness, the guilt you came to feel for the sins you committed disappears.

You should no longer worry about previous sins, they have been forgiven if you have regretted it from the heart. Now, change your life, leave behind everything bad that happened.

This is what the Bible says:

Micah 7:19 “He will again have mercy on us; He will bury our iniquities and cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”

3. Get a new mind and heart.

Despite the temptations that may appear, God has given you a new heart and mind. You will no longer follow your old habits, your wishes will be to do good. The Holy Spirit will give you the strength you need in times of weakness:

Ezekiel 36:26 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take away the stony heart out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.”

Also Related: Top 15 Ways God Can Heal Your Broken Heart.

4. Letting go of your past.

The main things we that we need to learn so as to get free of the past is how to let go of someone who hurt you, how to let go of trauma, how to let go of the past and be happy, how to move on. But Letting go consists of two directions:

1. Past: The processing and dissolving of what holds us in the past
2. Future: Thinking about what we really want

Often one “sticks” to the pain and thus experiences the old story again and again, for example, because one keeps telling it in one’s head. Here it is important to wake up and recognize that these are only processes that take place in you, but that you yourself are not really that.

If you follow the urge to tell yourself the painful story over and over again, there is no cure. This keeps the pain alive, but not resolved. As described in the second step, feel the feeling in-depth, and let go of the story.

Ephesians 4:31-32; “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” 6. Proverbs 4:25; “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.”

5. Accept the past as it is.

If you want to know how to heal from past hurts, how to let go of people, letting go of people, and how to leave the past behind, then you must cultivate the art of accepting the past and moving on. Something can only change if it is recognized in its essence.

So the first step is to accept the situation as it is. Most times we focus on the deed that has been done and careless about what next and what needs to be done but it’s good advisable for us to accept that past as it is and then forget about it because it is gone forever already and cannot be edit again.

6. Moving on to A new path.

Not letting go of the past does not help your life, after all, you are finally ready to continue on your new path, on the path that God has renewed for you. You will live as a true disciple. So one of the processes of letting go and letting go emotionally is moving on the new path.

Feelings like discouragement, hopelessness, laziness will have no place in your heart… Because God has entered your heart to fill it with his Word.

You have finally been able to put the past behind you, no matter what you have thought, now there is faith and hope:

Luke 9:62 “And Jesus said to him: No one who, putting his hand to the plow, looks back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

7. Believe that it’s over.

One of the main things that affect our lives is the mentality, to create a new mindset within you that the past if over and it cannot be changed but the present and the future matter most, and something great will definitely come out of it if we believe in God.

So if you to let someone or something go is believing that it’s over. Though the pain of letting go, overcoming the past, and letting go of trauma might be much but we just create time to let go.

Isaiah 43: 18-19 / LUT Do not think of the old and pay no attention to the previous! For behold, I want to make a new one; Now it shall grow up, and you will find out that I am making a way in the desert and rivers of water in the wasteland.

8. Consult the foundation.

 The bible made it clear that Jesus is the foundation of all things, so whenever we realize our foundation or past is faulty, the best thing is for us to back the Jesus who is the solid foundation.

“1 Corinthians 3:11, For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Also Related: 8 Proven Ways To Pray For Emotional Healing.

9. See yourself as God sees you.

As a child growing up in the church, I still remember the teaching on “justification.” One teacher explained it simply: Jesus’ death on the cross made it possible for me to be right with God – ”just as if I had never sinned” (Romans 3:24). So, as a follower of Christ, I get that. Because of Jesus, that’s the way God views me.

But in a series of Christmas messages at our current church recently, a speaker focused on Jesus and His perfect character. Jesus was tempted in every way, yet He never sinned. Faced with every wrong choice imaginable, He always obeyed.

When Jesus took our sin upon Himself, the perfect, sinless, Son of God, and we accept that payment for our own sins, God then sees us, as believers, like He sees Jesus – as if we have always obeyed, and as if we always will obey.

10. Place GRACE beside every destructive thought and negative reminder from the past that threatens you.

Satan loves to remind God’s children of their marriage mess-ups, their parenting blunders, their business failures, and their prideful actions of the past. You can keep trying to pay for those yourself, but the reality is, you can never really undo the past.

You can only learn from it, and accept God’s grace to move beyond it. It’s God’s grace that erases our past; and it’s God’s grace that will remake our future (Ephesians 2:5-8; Hebrews 4:16; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

Each time you begin to dwell on your mistakes or sins of the past, visually picture the words GRACE beside those thoughts, pushing the negative ones out. Then whisper a thank you cry to God: “Lord, thank you for your grace that brings healing from my past. Thank you for redeeming me, and for seeing me as if I have always obeyed. Thank you that You love me completely and unconditionally.”

11. Meditate on the healing truths in God’s Word daily.

Almost every “how-to” topic I write seems to include this step. But the relevance of God’s Word never changes (Isaiah 40:8, Proverbs 30:5, Matthew 4:4, NIV). Scientists and doctors have proved that prayer and meditation on spiritual truths like those in the Bible can actually promote healing, well-being, and longevity, by impacting the brain positively.

Joshua 1:8 told us thousands of years ago what scientists are just now discovering. ”Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful”.

Centuries later, the apostle Paul encouraged Timothy to continue in the Word because, All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NIV).

God’s Word doesn’t return “void.” In other words, allowing God’s truths and promises to saturate our lives gives us the very defense and offensive we need to press on positively to the future God has prepared for us. God will take those implanted seeds of truth to accomplish His purpose for our lives.

12. Forgive as Jesus has forgiven you.

If you desire – and expect – God’s grace and forgiveness to remain active in your life, you must learn to not only forgive others but also yourself. When I temporarily slip back into an “Oh, me!” mentality, I find comfort and grace in reversing to an “Ah, Lord,” declaration.

“Ah, Lord, if you have forgiven me so completely, what right do I have not to forgive others – or even myself?” (Forgive, as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13 NIV). His grace enables us to do what we can’t do alone: forgive.

You’ve heard, “To err is human; to forgive is divine.” I would add, “to not forgive is to trample down God’s grace and render it useless in our lives.” I love Proverbs 24:16 (NLT): The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. Everyone errs. But with God’s grace, we can all start over.

13. Keep moving forward by anticipating something today and something tomorrow.

My father used to say, “Have something to do today, something to do tomorrow.” I don’t know about you, but there’s always something to do at my house – or in my life – but not always what I anticipate doing. Yet even in the midst of the mundane, it helps to change my outlook by focusing on something I can look forward to today and something I can look forward to tomorrow.

That something may be as ambitious as writing 2500 words, or as practical as planting new garden flowers. It could be as simple as “coffee with Jesus,” moments when I can mix the aroma of fresh java with the perfume of God’s presence and time in His Word, or simply having lunch with a good friend.

Find joy in what you do, and in doing for others. Putting our past behind is a constant action; but so is pressing on. Consider a reachable goal like Mother Teresa‘s: “Doing small things with great love” – even while she worked in the midst of extreme poverty and adverse circumstances.

Conclusion

So base on how to let go, how to heal the pain I am glad to let you know that I found a way to let you go, God has promised a new life full of love, peace, and hope for everyone who believes in Him.

Your life will change when you learn to leave the past behind, and above all, accept it. At that moment God will enter your life to strengthen each step of your new path.

The post Top 13 Proven Ways to Find Healing from Your Past appeared first on .

Faith makes us know that God is with us. It gives us the assurance that we will receive everything we need. This same confidence in God also helps us in times when we are insecure and afraid. It gives us the solid confidence that God is in control and taking care of us.

It isn’t easy for those who do not yet have faith to characterize or understand it with words. But it is possible to achieve and develop this unshakable confidence in God when we have a desire in our hearts to love and worship God.

 Here are 13 Things That Will Build Your Faith And Confidence In God.

1. Obedience

Walking in obedience naturally builds your faith in God.

Jesus said in Mark 4:24, “Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.”

If you faithfully obey what God teaches, He gives you more faith.

If Abraham does not obey God by preparing for the covenant, his unshakable confidence in God would have been in question. Many people do this: they doubt God, stop reading the Bible, stop attending worship, etc., and therefore lose God’s blessing.

You need to test the word of the Lord by obeying. After you have done your part, the Lord will certainly do His

2. Love

It is no accident that love is the first fruit listed in the scripture. (Galatians 5). Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love God and love one another (Mark 12: 30-31). If you love God with all your hearts and love your neighbors like yourself, you will show the world you belong to Jesus.

Build your confidence in God by loving Him unconditionally. But love is not just a topic of discussion; Jesus taught us to express our love through action. Find ways to love people through service behavior. Then share the love of God with others.

3. Joy

People seem to be happy naturally when things are going well. When life is tough, things are different. However, the scripture says: “Rejoice in the Lord forever; I will say rejoice again” (Philippians 4: 4). Whatever trials that come your way, Joy gives you unshakable confidence in God. Being joyful requires understanding in God’s word. You don’t rejoice in your money, achievement, or even your marriage. You must rejoice in the Lord.

Also Related: Top 11 Bible Stories that will Build Your Faith.

4. Perseverance

Pain always precedes glory, and it is always the way to build your confidence in the power of God. Therefore, you must be faithful to the pain. Those who not complain while suffering, withdraw, or flee from God, will only weaken their faith.

Romans 5: 3–4 says, “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

Through pain, you begin to build your confidence in God and His word.

5. Listen to God’s word

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17

Everything you hear directly influences your thoughts. So, if you seek to build your confidence in God, you must first hear the Word of God.

This is one of the reasons why it is important to attend church. Hearing the word of God weekly, doing Bible study in small groups, and talking with other brothers about God will greatly contribute to building your confidence in God.

It is also very important to read the Bible in your daily devotions. The more your spirit hears the Word, the more knowledge and strength you will have to face the doubt and unbelief that are the greatest enemies of the faith.

6. Believe the Word

If you want to have faith in God, you need to believe that the words written in the Bible are true. That way, what you hear that is following the Bible, you will be able to consider worthy of your faith.

Disbelief is one of the greatest weaknesses you can have, as it closes the door for faith to enter.

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. (James 1: 6).

As long as you do not open your hearts to believe God’s word, you will be like waves of the sea, which the wind takes from side to side.

7. Practice the word

“Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” James 2: 17-18

You may think you have faith, but if your actions contradict your faith and confidence in God, you are not putting the Word of God into practice. In other words, your faith is dead.

One action of faith leads to another act of faith. Practice constantly as a way to reach unshakable confidence in God.

8. Prayer

Daily prayers invite God into your lives and help you build unshakable confidence in God. As you unleash the power of prayer, your confidence in God will increase. The scripture admonished us to pray without ceasing. Therefore, to build your confidence in God, you must live a life of prayer.

“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.” Mark 11:23

Pray as if God is sitting next to you in the room.

9. Fasting

Fasting can build your unshakable confidence in God. When you fast, you put the spirit in charge of the instincts of this world. When you give more control to the spirit than to the body, you are developing more attributes such as your confidence in the power of God.

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” Isaiah 58:6

Action is needed to build your faith and confidence in God. Miracles do not happen until you commit yourself to fasting.

Also Related: The 8 Proven Ways To Increase Your Faith.

10. Gratitude

Gratitude is not, or at least it shouldn’t be, just when we celebrate the New Year. It is not just for a new job, a new house, a new car.

Having a grateful heart changes everything in your life. “Give thanks to the Lord because he is good; his love lasts forever” (Psalm 107: 1).

Gratitude and praise go together. When you praise the Lord, you are showing your gratitude and recognize His goodness.

Always be grateful, regardless of the circumstances, because He always has the best for you. Having a grateful heart builds your faith in God.

12. Be Open to God

To build your confidence in the power of God, you first need to be transparent.

Then He said to him, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.” And he said, “Lord God, how shall I know that I will inherit it?” Genesis 15:7–8 Abraham openly shared his struggle with God. He said, “Sovereign Monarch, how do I know I will inherit it?” You can tell God your fears and worries. Cast all your cares on him for he cares for your (1 Peter 5: 7)

If you want to build your faith and confidence in God, you need to be open to Him. HE is your heavenly father.

13. Selfless service to others

When you serve, you are putting yourself as instruments in the Lord’s hands. When you work miracles in the lives of other people, the power for that comes from God, who does it through you. If you are being used by God to perform miracles, won’t your confidence in God be strengthened?

Definitely, it will!

Quotes On Faith And Confidence In God

Here are 5 powerful faith and confidence quotes to build your confidence in the power of God

“Faith is living and unshakable confidence. A belief in God so assured that a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake.” Martin Luther

“Have no fear of moving into the unknown. Simply step out fearlessly knowing that I am with you; therefore, no harm can befall you; all is very, very well. Do this in complete faith and confidence.” Pope John Paul II

“He who has faith has an inward reservoir of courage, hope, confidence, calmness, and assuring trust that all will come out well – even though it may appear to come out most badly to the world.” B. C. Forbes

“Faith in God gives self-confidence.” Lailah Gifty Akita

“Faith is an action, based on a belief, supported by confidence.” R. W. Schambach

In conclusion

The heart full of faith and confidence in God becomes a pleasant abode for the Holy Spirit. No lies told by the enemy or the disbelief of others will be able to disturb you.

Your faith can either increase or decrease as you practice the 13 things described above. Like almost everything in life, faith is not something that comes out of nowhere. If you want to build your confidence in God, we enjoin you to check out the following books:

1. What Happens When Women Walk in Faith: Trusting God Takes You to Amazing Places
2. In Search of a Confident Faith: Overcoming Barriers to Trusting in God
3. Everything You Need: 8 Essential Steps to a Life of Confidence in the Promises of God

Could you share a little more about your experience of faith and confidence in God? Leave your comment below.

The post 13 Things That Will Build Your Faith And Confidence In God. appeared first on .

Most Christians ask a question such as: How can I increase my faith? How do we acquire faith? How do you exercise your faith in God? So below are stories that will help in Building Your Faith, Strengthening Your Faith, Build Your Faith and Confidence, and also increase your faith in Christ.

1. Sara’s story.

Abram’s wife went through her own faith struggle while Abram was going through his. She was barren for many years and passed as Abram’s sister twice before different kings. Eleven years passed after God’s promise for a son, and her struggle led to a bad plan that ended with the birth of Ishmael.

But the promise was that she would have a son, not just Abram. Thirteen years after the birth of Ishmael, God declared his promise of a son three more times for a total of seven. After the seventh time, Sara laughed, unable to imagine having a child at her age.

But nothing is too difficult for the Lord.

2. Joseph and his brother’s story.

I love this story; it is my favorite from the Old Testament and it will help you to build your faith. Joseph was the son of Jacob and Rachel.

Jacob loved Joseph more than his brothers because he was the son of his old age. His brothers, blinded by envy, plotted evil against him and sold him as a slave to Egypt (Genesis 37:28).

At first, he was afraid and felt abandoned by his Lord, but after a time of purification and abandonment, the Lord showed him his presence and he became an interpreter of Pharaoh’s dreams. Thus, Joseph predicted a time of famine that would ravage the entire region.

He was appointed governor and in the years of plenty, he stored surplus food. People came from all over to buy supplies for the shortage, including his brothers from Canaan. Joseph‘s meeting with them was painful but very reconciling.

Joseph’s story is incredible. It is a story full of God’s action. It is the story of our life, a life in which we believe we have everything under control, but in which the love of God breaks our pride and shows us a different path.

3. Ruth the Moabite woman’s story.

Ruth was a Moabite woman. After Naomi and Elimelech, along with their sons (because of famine) had to leave their home in Bethlehem, Ruth married Mahlon. The men died and Naomi, Ruth, and Orpha were a widow.

Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, and Ruth, because of her affection for her, left with her. She left her land and her religion and embraced the land and the faith of Nohemí. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the barley harvest began.

Ruth gleaned the fields to earn a living and support her mother-in-law. In that job, he met Boaz, a relative of Naomi, who treated her kindly and then fell in love with her. Boaz bought the inheritance from Mahlon and thus, according to Hebraic law (Deuteronomy 25, 5-10) acquired the right to marry Ruth. His first-born son was Obed, the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David.

The story of Ruth is one of the most beautiful stories about a woman in the Old Testament that will build your faith, her faithfulness and strength are compared to those of Mary since Jesus came from her offspring.

Related Post: 12 Great Ways To Live By Faith Every Day.

4.  The Maccabean mother’s story.

This mother saw her seven children die on the same day, but we see her tremendous strength of mind and the strength of her hope. On the other hand, on her lips, some expressions loaded with theological meaning are placed. she proclaims God as Lord of human life.

It links faith in the creator God with faith in the Resurrection and offers us the assurance that the God of life will more than repay those who have given their lives out of fidelity to her will.

She encouraged each of them in their native language and, full of generous feelings and stimulating their female reflections with manly ardor, she said to them: «I don’t know how you appeared in my gut, nor was it I who gave you spirit and life Nor did I organize the elements of each one.

For in this way the Creator of the world, the one who shaped man at his birth and projected the origin of all things, will return your spirit and life with mercy, because now you do not look for yourselves because of his laws »(2 Maccabees 7, 20-23).

5. The father of a sick child’s story.

I love this story: Here is a father with a son who is dumb and has seizures. He takes his son to the disciples of Jesus to be healed and there is no difference. Struggling with his faith, he takes his son to Jesus and asks if Jesus can help. Jesus points to your faith.

But knowing that he is struggling with his faith, the father answers honestly asking for help to win his fight of faith with the words “I believe, help my unbelief”, and Jesus brought victory.

Jesus will help us win our fighting matches by his grace

6. Elijah in the wilderness’s story.

Elijah is known for prophesying drought and subsequently being fed by ravens and widows before his epic challenge to the prophets of Baal on Mount Horeb. His faith caused the Lord God to respond with fire; Elijah killed all the false prophets and then prophesied the rain.

But when the king’s wife, Jezebel, found out about all this, she threatened Elijah’s life. Elijah’s humanity sprang into action as he ran for his life, he sat under a broom bush struggling with his faith and praying to die.

The Lord responded compassionately by feeding him, graciously correcting him, and giving him a new purpose before he took him to heaven in a chariot of fire.

7. Moses’s story.

Moses One of the most prominent figures in the Bible suffered many battles of faith wrestling. He struggled to believe that he could free his people from Egypt after murdering an Egyptian and being rejected by his Hebrew brothers. After this, he ran into the desert until the moment when the Lord appeared to him in the burning bush.

But when God called him back from where he had fled, he struggled with his faith with questions like what if they don’t believe or listen to me? Moses struggled with God’s response, claiming that he could not speak in public. Frustrated with Moses, the Lord allowed his brother Aaron to help him.

Every wrestling match Moses encountered had the grace of God.

8. David’s story.

He was known as a man after God’s own heart, but David was no stranger to struggling with his faith. The book of Psalms is full of your questions and your pain, as well as your victories.

David struggled with his faith after Nabal treated his men incorrectly. Once again, when Ziklag was destroyed, they took his wife away and his men talked about stoning him.

Also, there was a time when he stayed home after the war, committed adultery with Bathsheba, and killed his husband after finding out he was pregnant, and these are just three examples.

David always emerged from his struggles of faith worshiping the Lord

9. Maria and Marta’s story.

Jesus spent a lot of time with these two sisters, along with his brother Lazarus. They followed him, served him, and listened to him, but they still struggled with their faith. His brother got sick when Jesus was out of town and they sent for him.

But Jesus didn’t come right away. Lazaro died, and the sisters struggled with thoughts like “if you had been here, he would not have died.” Jesus reminded them that he was the resurrection and the life. They believed until the last day, but they struggled with him at that moment.

Because Jesus is who he says he is, Lazarus was resurrected that very day.

Related Post: 8 Ways To Strengthen Your Faith In The Lord.

10. Abram’s story.

Abram is known as the father of our faith and his story will always help you to build your faith in God at all times. I was intimidated by Abram’s faith until I learned how much he struggled with it and how the struggle did not prevent him from receiving from God. The Bible tells us that because he believed in God, justice was done. It sounds instant and easy.

However, it took God to tell Abraham the promise seven times before Abraham was fully convinced. The sixth time God promised, Abraham fell facedown and laughed. After this, God told him to name the son Isaac (which means laughter). This gives me great hope.

Abraham is an example that even if we keep fighting, we can win.

11. Jesus Christ’s story

Jesus Christ knew who He was and how He was going to die. He said: “When you have raised up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own, but only speak what the Father has taught me.”

But in the garden of Gethsemane, he felt our humanity under intense pressure. He asked if there was another way. He knew there wasn’t, and he stuck with what he knew and fulfilled his mission of giving his life for us.

The lifestyle of Jesus is a good example that will build your faith, he gained everything for us in his wrestling match and his. He declared it is finished!

Conclusion.

With the above examples, we realized that faith is putting trust in something or someone like these biblical characters did. When your faith is being challenged, questions force us to fight to keep our trust where we place it.

Remember the promises of God, and the prayers He answered in your life. This can quell the questions of “what if and why”, and that will surely build your faith in God. Just as a child reaches out to a parent, we can choose to reach out to God through prayer by reminding ourselves that He is greater than our opponent.

Related books to Build your Faith :

God Incidents by  Rev. Dr. Glenn M. Wagner  (amazon.com)

Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom (Amazon.com)

The post Top 11 Bible Stories that will Build Your Faith appeared first on .

The reason why we struggle to surrender to God is that as humans, we’re rather impatient and we want everything now. When you have faith, this means to trust in His plans and His timing and all His provisions for you, just like Jeremiah 29:11 says.

In this article, we’ll be talking about 11 reasons why we struggle to trust God.

1. We like having control

When we say we have confidence in God, a lot of people associate this with having absolutely no control, which makes having faith even more challenging.

Since we like having control over our own lives, saying you trust God means letting go of that control and surrendering it all to God.

2. Difficult circumstances

The very aspect that makes people lose their faith and belief system so easily is when they go through something painful that they no longer see evidence in God.

People don’t surrender to their belief because their pain became greater than their faith. However, pain is proof of the existence of a great God.

Romans 8:18 says, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

3. We doubt His love

The reason why we struggle with our faith is that we doubt His love and His grace.

Faith is about believing in the things unseen and in a world that’s all about logic, faith can be hard to struggle with. It’s fairly easy to lose that in a world that focuses on tangible things as evidence.

Hebrews 11:1 said, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

4. We feel condemned by our sins

You see a lot of people stop trusting God because of their shame in their sins, and this is mainly why we struggle to trust God.

We think that good deeds mean that we’re worthy of receiving His love and His grace, but God doesn’t condemn us for our sins. He sent His son to die for our sins for a reason and that’s that.

Related: Attention! Don’t Trust God Until You Read This.

5. Your lifestyle conflicts our faith

The most frustrating thing in the world is to be conflicted with your belief system and with what you want. The Bible claims the heart to be very deceitful and it’s for this reason that we need to have confidence in God even more.

The reason why we struggle to trust God is because it’s much easier to flow with the desires of the world rather than to conform yourself against this world and towards God’s will.

6. God didn’t answer your prayer

The harsh reality is that God always answers your prayers one way or another, but oftentimes it’s not an answer that you were looking for. God doesn’t always give you what you want, especially if it goes against His will and His purpose for you.

He deeply cares about you and He wouldn’t want you to get hurt with certain decisions- and this is why He doesn’t always give you what you want.

7. The uncertainty

The hardest part of relying on God is the fact that you’re uncertain about what’s to come. The point in your faith is that even when you don’t know what the future holds, you choose to trust the fact that God has great plans for you.

Even in uncertainty, you should know that He is good, at all costs. In order to have faith completely, give all your uncertainty, doubts, and confusion to Him and he’ll do the rest.

8. We’re filled with hopelessness

There are certain circumstances that occur when the hopelessness and darkness of a situation become greater than faith itself. In surrendering to God, always remember that He is the symbol of light and hope.

When you learn to have faith in God, hope is restored and no matter how a situation seems, He is the God of breakthroughs and miracles. He has the capacity to heal and restore and no circumstance is beyond fixing for God- you just have to rely on Him.

9. We’re proud and arrogant

As humans, we’re prone to pride and arrogance. We think that just because everything is going right in our lives, we no longer need the love and guidance of God. However, as you progress in your faith, you’ll eventually learn that you’re nothing without God.

We’re incomplete without Him and in a world constantly longing for worldly desires, God is the only thing that can fill the void in our empty lives. Without trust in God, something will always be constantly missing.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

10. We’re selfish

With our selfishness comes our inability to cling to our faith. We’re selfish with our ability to overcome anything and similar to pride, we think we can overcome everything on our own.

When we achieve our accomplishments, we think there’s no need to serve such a great God. In our own way, this is us being selfish and being unable to trust in God.

11. We don’t agree with His plans

It’s only natural that we have our own plans that God doesn’t always agree with. Sometimes, it’s against His will or provision. This is God’s way of preventing us from further pain or devastation, even when we may not understand it.

Even when you’re afraid, even when you don’t agree in His plans, the more blessed you’re going to be in trusting the Lord. In reality, your plans may be incomplete contrast for God’s will for you but it’s in these times you can learn for His guidance and support.

Why is it important to trust God?

When you trust God, you build on your faith and on a relationship with God. Your faith is how you gain peace, joy, kindness, and all the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

There’s no greater joy than trusting in the One who’s really in control. You’ll learn that amidst trying, only God is ever in control of your life.

By not having confidence in God, you’ll get yourself more hurt in the long run than if you were to surrender to God right away. In order to live a life full of purpose and fulfillment, you need God in order to do that.

Related:  Top 19 Proven Ways To Trust God Completely.

What does it mean to trust in God?

Having faith means not worrying or being anxious about how your life is going to turn out because you know God has your back. This means losing every ounce of control because you know that God is the only One who has control in this life.

No matter how much you attempt to follow what you want, it will never go in the direction you aspire if it isn’t God’s will. When things become frustrating and difficult to have faith, it’s in these circumstances your faith is being tested even further.

When things get tough, trust in God means surrendering every ounce of pain and suffering to Him completely and letting Him work breakthroughs in your life

How to trust in God completely

You need to learn to lean into His plans for you if you want to have faith in God completely. Trust doesn’t come easily and this also requires building an intimate and strong relationship with Him.

He needs you to trust Him by spending time with Him and getting to know God better. You can do this by praying, worshiping, spending your quiet time with Him, going to Church, and a lot more things.

This is also how you build confidence in God. You build trust by leaning on His provision for you and you do that by prayer and worship. Believe in God by believing in His goodness and His grace.

In conclusion,

While saying you trust God may not be the easiest thing in the world, you’ll eventually realize that God is the only one ever in control. You do various things in building that trust for God such as reading His word and books that will build up your faith.

Perfect examples of these are 365 Daily Devotions by Joyce Meyer and Meant for Good: The Adventure of Trusting God and His Plans for You by Megan Fate Marshman. In a world full of uncertainty and doubt, these books serve as a reminder to hold on to His purpose for you.

The post Why we Struggle to Trust God? Top 11 Reasons. appeared first on .

Well, how come there are times God seems to be silent about your needs? Could it be that you are being punished for your sins? I don’t think so. Or perhaps, He has disowned you? Not a chance.

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You see, from the days of Abraham, God has been an incredible provider. The bible recalls in Genesis 22:14 that He is the Jehovah Jireh – the God that provides.

Paul the Apostle also affirmed to the Philippians in Philippians 4:19 that “My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

These tell us that God in His infinite riches will always provide for His children. Regardless of the situation, you’re in right now, remember God is the Jehovah Jireh.

Below are 7 proven ways God provides in troubled times:

1. God Provides in the form of Exceptional Ideas.

When we ask God to give us something, He might not give us that exact thing as we asked, but something better.

For instance, if you lost your job and prayed for another job, God may give you exceptional ideas that will turn you into an entrepreneur.

Now, between working for someone and being your own boss, which would you prefer?

Truth is, one great idea is all you need to become a millionaire – One. Great. Idea! James 1:17 tells us that “every good and perfect gift comes from God”.

So, in troubled times, instead of expecting God to provide a specific thing, be sensitive enough to exceptional ideas that’d transform your life.

2. Through His Words from the Scriptures.

Have you ever flipped the bible when you’re down only to land on a passage that is speaking directly to you?

Maybe yours might not be by chance, it could be during your morning devotional or church service.

It doesn’t matter what you’re going through, God’s word is a suiting relief to that troubled times.

The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

This means, His word is always there to brighten every dark corner of your lives. Your feet is illuminated and your path is made easy.

3. Through Inspirational Words.

Sometimes, all we need to come out of that troubled times is some inspirational words, either from someone, a book, or a tape. What is the role of God in this? You may want to ask.

Well, God puts a person in your life in a way that he/she either says some inspirational words to you or reads it out to you from a book.

Sometimes, the person does not even know what he/she had just said meant something spectacular to you; whether they are aware or not, God uses people, books, and tapes to inspire you.

You may not see the need, but most times, all we need to snap out of that troubled time is a flash of inspiration on what to do at that particular time.

4. Through Emotional Support.

There is no other time emotional support is more needed than in troubled times. You see, you cannot deal with your demons in isolation.

That is why I love the saying that, “a problem shared is a problem half solved”.

When you find someone you can really count on, you can pour out your frustration on them, and you will feel much better, even by the fact that they listened to you.

During troubled times, God provides us that right person who is willing to listen and encourage you back on track.

5. Through Music.

Through the ages, music has proven to be the medicine for the soul. Even in the bible when King Saul’s soul was troubled, it was music that helped him.

1 Samuel 16:23 recalls, “Whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.”

Today, we have a lot of spirit-inspired songs that can help relieve us of troubled times. Music is powerful, and God inspires some music artists for such a time as this.

6. Through Total Strangers.

Have you ever seen a stranger worked up to you and gave you just what you needed during a bad time? If you have, I’m sure you know what a surprising relief that is.

If you haven’t experienced that, I can tell you it does happen because I have experienced it countless times.

Just as God speaks to us in different ways, He also provides for us in ways we cannot fathom. But most times, we are the ones who do not recognize the stranger’s God sends to bless us during troubled times.

Remember Sarah, Abraham’s wife? Have you ever imagined what would have happened if she wasn’t kind to the strangers that soon became the Angels God sent to them? This still happens today.

7. Divine Peace in Chaos through the Holy Spirit.

One way God provides for us during troubled times is by giving us that calm and peaceful state of mind in the midst of the storm.

This is very critical because, when you are tensed, you can hardly think your way out of any situation, but when you are calm and at peace, your mind can work better.

Jesus tells us this in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Conclusion

These 7 ways God provides in troubled times may not come all at once, but when you open your heart in total trust to God that He does provide as He promised, one or more of the above will surely happen to you.

In closing, I would like to affirm God’s words to us from Deuteronomy 31:6b, “…I will not leave you nor forsake you.”

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Matthew 17:20 tells us that faith as small as a mustard seed allows us to accomplish great things.  The mustard seed is very small but grows into one of the biggest trees known. The measure or amount of faith one has is therefore not a measure of what they can achieve.

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“Faith is not simply a patience that passively suffers until the storm is past. Rather, it is a spirit that bears things-with resignations, yes, but above all, with blazing, serene hope,” Corazon Aquino.

It is stated in Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (New Revised Standard Version). We often say “seeing is believing” but faith is about believing without seeing as we see in the verse quoted.

How we grow our faith in God is dependent on the following:

1. The hearing of the Word of God.

Faith has an origin which is the word of God. As we hear of God’s doings, faith develops.  “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”. Romans 10:17

2. Constantly ask and expect things in the realm of faith.

  In the realm of the physical sense, the enemy will overpower you as you will walk by sight and not by faith.  Faith is not physically tangible; hence it cannot be grasped in the physical sense. Pray in faith.

Ask for the impossible and expect it to be possible.  Matthew 19: 26 …For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” (New Revised Standard Version)  Carry within yourself the sense that you’re dealing with a God who specializes in making what’s impossible possible.

Related Article: 7 Spiritual Habits That Will Transform Your Life.

3. Keep a journal of the victories God has given you.

When the Israelites came out of Egypt, God asked them, to continually speak of what God had done for them. When we expect and receive things as a result of faith, we should make sure we remember.

Write down each victory for future reference.This will help your faith be strong the next time you pray. It will continually give you the conviction that God is still able to do it for you.

4. Do not forsake the meeting together of the brethren.

Jesus gave a parable of the man who left the 99 sheep to go look for the one. Faith grows cold if it cannot draw heat from fellow believers.  The Bible continues to say that people should not forsake the meeting together of brethren.

If one does not fellowship with fellow brethren, the faith will lose its fire and eventually die. It is like removing one coal from the fire, it quickly goes out.

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5. Endure discomforting situations.

Most of us we have a flight tendency in all situations that make us uncomfortable. However, we should realize tests are sent to make the Christian strong.

Growth is facilitated by difficult situations that may require you to endure to the end. If we resist difficult situations, we resist growth. Growth is necessary for your faith to have endurance and to be strong.

Every time you quit a situation, you fail a faith test. What you haven’t passed prevent you from accessing the next level of your faith.

Related Article: 8 Proven Ways To Increase Your Faith.

6. Continually take actions of faith.

Faith is exercised in how you tackle various situations.  You must continually make sure you exercise faith even in small issues. That’s how you develop muscle to face bigger issues when they arise.

A weight lifter doesn’t lift weights on the day of the competition but continually trains his body. You cannot expect to do easily what you haven’t practiced before.

Even though faith is a conviction of things not seen, it’s as practical as it can get. Get practical with your faith and you will get your reward.

God rewards actions of faith, no matter how small.  James 1:23-25 states that a doer who acts will be blessed in his faith. Do not wait for insurmountable problems to act on your faith, act now!

7. Resist responding to things in fear.

Situations will always arise that will require you to respond. It is important how you react to situations, either by fear of faith. Fear is not of God; always respond from a position of faith.

Furthermore, every promise of God to his children is attained only through faith. If you have faith, you please God and you are assured of a reaction in heaven. Hence we can safely say that faith is the currency of heaven.

8. Move past the feelings of fear.

We all experience fear whether we admit it or not. These feelings come as a barricade to what lies beyond. Only faith can access the possibilities beyond, but you must overcome the fear first.

As you meet each challenge, you will have to resist fear, avoid walking in the flesh and doubt. However, let’s not forget that faith is a defensive weapon.

It works against the enemy according to Ephesians 6:16. ^‘ With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one”. (New Revised Standard Version).

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9. Put your faith in action.

James 2:14,“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?.”  Words are not enough to show your faith. Actions  testify whether you have faith or not.

An act of faith is pertinent if you are to say you are a woman/man of faith. Accompany what you say with what you do and you shall soar in faith.

10. Demonstrate an unwavering position in the mind.

For you to be a champion of faith, you must see yourself victorious. When Peter walked on water, he began to sink when he started considering what was around him.

Resist the urge to consider the negative circumstances around you and you shall see your faith bear fruit. The mind will always react to what the eyes see. Our sight gives the mind a visual of what’s around us, but we can choose to walk by faith and not by sight.

Related Article: 12 Proven Ways To Live By Faith Every Day.

11. Step out in obedience.

At times, you will be required to obey God’s word when you would rather not. However, obedience is an important element in growing one’s faith. It may not be popular but God’s word operates in the obedience to it.

Remember faith is not verbal; faith is what you put in action for faith without actions is dead. You won’t show obedience by knowledge of God’s word, but by what you do with the word of God.

  Genesis 22:1-3. “After these things God tested Abraham”. He said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt-offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.”

Abraham is considered the Father of Faith. He journeyed to an unknown place because God told him to go. He was willing to sacrifice his very promise to please God.

12. Be willing to pay the price.

Any time you dare to do something in faith, someone will try to show you how impossible it is. Faith is not popular and it will not be the craze with those around you.

Most of the times it is a personal journey that you have to take by yourself. You will pay the price of looking like a fool, but you will rejoice once your faith is rewarded. Keep the faith at all cost! Do not be disheartened by others.

The more you grow in faith, the easier and more exciting it becomes to operate in it. You have much more to gain by growing your faith, soldier on!

Conclusion.

These are the ways that will help you grow in your faith. It isn’t a light task because of the very nature of faith which is unseen. However, it is not impossible as all you need is faith as small as a mustard seed.

In Hebrews 11 it speaks of how the champions of faith subdued nations, obtained good reports and received their promises and much more.

These were people who dared to believe the impossible and they did attain it nevertheless. Joseph, for instance, requested them to take his bones with them when God delivered them from Egypt.

This was a promise attained 430 years later, an indication that faith doesn’t fail, irrespective of time. If you follow the above points then it shall not be difficult to grow your faith. But as everything else that grows, give it time and exercise patience and you will see undeniable results.

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When writing Timothy, Paul gives a couple of reasons why we should study the Bible.

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All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.  2 Timothy 3:16-17

Studying the Bible book by book is important for the following reasons:

1. It is profitable. To put it in other words, it is beneficial to us.
2. It reveals the righteous life in light of the righteous God we serve
3. It offers us guidance through life
4. It helps us to find the right path after messing up
5. It equips us for the work of ministry

The above are just some of the many other reasons for studying the word of God. For instance, in Joshua 1:8, God commands us to study his word day and night.

But how do you do it? Which books should you ready? And where should you start?

Related Article: 12 Best Devotional For Women That Will Transform Your Life.

How to read the Bible for beginners – where to start

Even though the Bible is full of stories, you shouldn’t read it as an anthology. This is to mean you don’t read it cover to cover as would a novel. You need to have a beginner Bible study plan.

For instance, if you are a new believer or a beginner, it is recommended that you skip the Old Testament books and head over to the gospels.

The gospels are the first four books of the New Testament and they are called that because they document the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

These books are Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John.  Of the four, John is the simplest to read so it would be a great place to begin.

Once you have read through the gospels, you can now read other parts of the scripture remembering to keep Jesus at the center of it.

Once you understand what Jesus came to do as narrated in the gospels, you will literally see him revealed in all the other books of the Bible.

But Paul warns us not to rely on our intellect when reading the word of God. We have to rely on the Holy Spirit to teach us.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned 1 Corinthians 2:14

How to study the Bible for yourself

While it is important to attend church in order to be taught from the word of God, you must also study it for yourself.

The thought of reading 66 books of the Bible might sound overwhelming but there are some awesome Bible study methods that will make it so much easier. These are:

Devotional Method –

There are lots of awesome devotional booklets that you can use to study the Bible. Most devotional entries start with a brief anecdote that relates to a lesson from scripture, the scripture of study for the day, and a prayer.

Some devotionals also include additional passages in case you want to delve deeper into the subject and a Bible reading planner for those targeting to read the Bible in a year. You can get a devotional booklet from your bookstore.

Synthetic Method–

The word synthetic is derived by combining the Greek preposition syn, which means together and the verbal root, “the” which means “to put” The synthetic method, therefore, means to place together or put together. This method will give you a bird’s eye view of the Bible.

To use this method, read a passage, a verse or a book several times until you get the central theme. For instance, you can use this method to figure out the central theme in Colossians is Christ and the Church.

Analytical Method –

The analytical method entails pulling apart sections of a book, a chapter or even a verse in the Bible and then analyzing them in fine detail.

This method will need that you use some study tools like the Strong’s concordance and other relevant Bible dictionaries.

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Biographical Method –

This method entails studying the life of a Bible character. A biographical study will consider all events in the life of a character.

For instance, if you used this method to study Jesus, you will consider his birth, his dedication, his baptism, his temptation, his public ministry, his passion, his death, and his resurrection.

You have to be careful when using this method because there are several people in the Bible who had one or more namesakes.

Topical Method –

As the name suggests, the topical method entails taking a topic from the Bible and studying it. The topic may be a theme, a concept or even a phrase from the Bible.

For instance, you may pick the topic of prayer and study everything related to prayer. You may need the help of Bible dictionaries and a concordance.

Practical Method –

This is a very interesting method because it involves looking at the passage in a practical sense. The question you seek to answer when using this method is, “how does this apply to me practically?” This method can be used to study a short passage or even an entire book.

When reading a book of the Bible, it is always a good idea to read it over and over again. Each time you go over a book, you tend to notice things you hadn’t read before.

Unlike other books, you cannot put the Bible back on the shelf even after reading it cover to cover.

Related Article: The 24 Best Christian Devotionals Books For Couple.

Conclusion

This is the only book that never grows old with time and God will always speak to you new things in old passages.

As a beginner, you may find it hard to read through an entire book in a sitting but that’s fine. You can start by reading a couple of verses and then get to a chapter, and before you know it, you will be reading through the short books in one go.

If you read something that doesn’t make sense to you, take time to study it until you understand it. Sometimes, it might require reading through the book over and over again.

Other times, a simple word study will help clear out the confusion. You could also reach out to a Christian friend for help.

I hope the bible study tips shared in this article will help you to start or improve your Bible study.

Remember, the word of God is our manual for living and we had better read it in order to know how to enjoy everyday life as God intended.

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