How can I increase my faith?

[Rinconcaptain of 100]

This is off topic, but I believe there are some spiritual giants on this forum, so I am asking for ways to increase my faith. I am aware of the well known advice: Read the scriptures, pray, ask God and study the talks of Church leaders. I have done all this continually for many years.

The Lord has made it very plain that without faith we cannot please him. Faith is absolutely basic and vital. It troubles me that when Peter walked on water for a short distance before his faith failed that the Savior, instead of commended him for walking part way, he chided him for lack of faith. I have always felt like Peter deserved some credit for making it part way. In many verses of scripture the Savior has made it sound like there is no good excuse for lack of faith. Can you force faith? How can I increase my faith? What has worked for you?

[edzacharycaptain of 100]

This is off topic, but I believe there are some spiritual giants on this forum, so I am asking for ways to increase my faith. I am aware of the well known advice: Read the scriptures, pray, ask God and study the talks of Church leaders. I have done all this continually for many years.

The Lord has made it very plain that without faith we cannot please him. Faith is absolutely basic and vital. It troubles me that when Peter walked on water for a short distance before his faith failed that the Savior, instead of commended him for walking part way, he chided him for lack of faith. I have always felt like Peter deserved some credit for making it part way. In many verses of scripture the Savior has made it sound like there is no good excuse for lack of faith. Can you force faith? How can I increase my faith? What has worked for you?

Well, I'm no spiritual giant and I find myself empathizing with Peter. But what I think the Savior was trying to tell him -- and us -- is that if we want more faith we've got to exercise the faith we have.

My wife and I get into this circular argument all the time about our 18 year old daughter who is flirting with some wayward tendencies. My wife is absolutely scared to death that we've lost her. What part does faith play in this? It applies in that we've done all we can do to teach her and we've got to let her follow her own path. The Lord will not forget her. We will not forget her. We will love her as best we can but we have to take it on faith that she'll be okay. That's the hard part for my wife, who tends to be a lot more black-and-white than I am. But I'm convinced our daughter needs to see our confidence not only in her but also, or rather, especially, in our faith.

I also tend to lean on the wisdom of Brigham Young, who was so pragmatic about things. "If you want your bread to fall from the table with the buttered side up," he said, "you'd best butter both sides."

That's hardly spiritual wisdom but it highlights Brigham's approach to all things faith-related -- Strap it on, dig in, be a man, commit your whole soul and do it well.

I think that -- and a whole lot of forgiveness, especially with ourselves -- is what grows faith. That, and open questioning of the Lord, as Enoch did. Enoch was bold with God. Too many focus on Enoch and the faith he had to move mountains. I think it was Enoch's relationship with God that was so unique and teaches us so much. He challenged God -- How canst thou weep? -- and sought understanding so directly. God loved him for that and blessed him immeasurably. A big lesson for us.

[Randcaptain of 1,000]

Nice comments Edzachary? I would share two thoughts that may find a home in your heart. The beginning of our challenge is the border of our faith. I think a huge component of faith is to trust God. When our experience begins to become painful, it is usually because we are faltering in that trust in the divine.

I think of the stripling warriors, I know there had to be many times that a sword was falling toward their head, and they could not possibley get theirs up in time to block the blow, but still they did not doubt. They trusted even as the enemy blade was within an inch of their head, they trusted.

[durangoutcaptain of 1,000]

keeping commandments = increased faith.

[keeprunningcaptain of 100]

I think the more we obey little promptings we get the more our testimony and faith will increase. We just need to do our part first by taking that first step even when we don't know why. And I do mean the "little" promptings we get. Instead of arguing in our mind. Just trying to follow as many promptings as we can each day will make us stronger each day. You know those little thoughts? Like--I should tell so and so this, or, I need to go make my bed, or I should get up and do this or that.

[Stella Solariscaptain of 1,000]

I think a huge component of faith is to trust God. When our experience begins to become painful, it is usually because we are faltering in that trust in the divine.

I think of the stripling warriors, I know there had to be many times that a sword was falling toward their head, and they could not possibley get theirs up in time to block the blow, but still they did not doubt. They trusted even as the enemy blade was within an inch of their head, they trusted.

+1

To me, faith equals trust - if we don't trust God, trust that he has our best interests at heart; trust that he knows the end from the beginning; trust that he wants us to grow and progress; trust that he's on our side - then we will lose our faith in him. One of the best books I've read on the subject is Believing Christ by Stephen E. Robinson. The crux of it is, do we BELIEVE Christ? Not believe IN him, but believe him - trust that he's been telling us the truth?

Sometimes when I think of faith, I picture that scene in The Last Crusade when Indy is at the edge of that immense cliff - nowhere to walk to, but he knows he has to plunge ahead. So he trusts/has faith, takes a step, and the way before him is then made clear. Why should the Lord make the way clear for us (the miracle) until after we've taken that step? To me, that's what faith is. Faith precedes the miracle.

[5tev3captain of 100]

I summed up most of the first part of what I have to say here: http://oneclimbs.com/2010/09/17/belief-faith-hope-perfect-knowledge-and-the-scientific-method/

when you've gone over that, I'll tell you part two.

[freedomfightercaptain of 1,000]

I think that -- and a whole lot of forgiveness, especially with ourselves -- is what grows faith. That, and open questioning of the Lord, as Enoch did. Enoch was bold with God. Too many focus on Enoch and the faith he had to move mountains. I think it was Enoch's relationship with God that was so unique and teaches us so much. He challenged God -- How canst thou weep? -- and sought understanding so directly. God loved him for that and blessed him immeasurably. A big lesson for us.

How do we do this without being accused of counselling the Lord?

[freedomfightercaptain of 1,000]

Nice comments Edzachary? I would share two thoughts that may find a home in your heart. The beginning of our challenge is the border of our faith. I think a huge component of faith is to trust God. When our experience begins to become painful, it is usually because we are faltering in that trust in the divine.

I think of the stripling warriors, I know there had to be many times that a sword was falling toward their head, and they could not possibley get theirs up in time to block the blow, but still they did not doubt. They trusted even as the enemy blade was within an inch of their head, they trusted.

What about the faith of "Samuel, The Lamanite?" Not one arrow hit him. Then there is Abinadi, he was kept from being harmed until his message was delivered, then he was taken and burned at the stake. I sometimes think our faith is superseded by God's will.

[freedomfightercaptain of 1,000]

I summed up most of the first part of what I have to say here: http://oneclimbs.com/2010/09/17/belief- ... ic-method/

when you've gone over that, I'll tell you part two.

Anyone else wondered this?

Okay. So what is true?
Within the cited scripture we read "hope for things which are not seen, [i]which are true." [/i] So one exersises faith, believing they will recieve what is asked, to find out later that what they asked for isn't/wasn't true. Why the confusion? Isn't praying in vain a needless act?

An example of this is: can two people desire and pray for the same thing, one gets it, the other doesn't...why? Was it only true and expedient for one and not the other?

Other scriptures says something about expediency. Like:

Doctrine and Covenants 88:64
Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you;

"Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you"...gives us hope, does it not? Then comes the unknown part of the equation..."that is expedient for you." This may hamper the whole intent, does it not?

Doctrine and Covenants 88:65
And if ye ask anything that is not expedient for you, it shall turn unto your condemnation.

This tells us to be careful of what we ask for...no matter how much faith one thinks they have, does it not?

So, who can discern what is expedient for themselves? Why is it that we can pray in faith, just to find out later that the desire of our heart wasn't true, or expedient. Where is the line drawn? Isn't it feasible that faith can only be increased when one's prayers result in acquiring the desired result; their faith is recognized and rewarded? The notion is that one can go for years trying to get an answer about something, having exercised faith, believing they will receive, just to get nothing at all because they didn't know what was true or expedient in that sense.

How can one's faith be increased when one's prayers contain non-expedient requests unknowingly?

Summary: in this context...define what is true...and define expedient.

[Randcaptain of 1,000]

"Truth is the knowledge of things as they are, as they were and as they are to come." Truth is God's perspective. "I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say, when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." When we align our heart and mind with the divine, we are living in faith. When we see things the way God sees things, we are living in Faith in Jesus Christ. Thus is the truth. Outward appearances have little sway on this. Our conscious mind has little sway on this. Our deeper motives, our basest intentions are what drives this. "The inner most desires of your heart", are what drives whether God is bound or not.

When we align our innermost desires with God's, to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man", we are living the truth. As the Bible dictionary says as I quoted earlier on a different thread, "We pray in Christ’s name when our mind is the mind of Christ, and our wishes the wishes of Christ—when his words abide in us (John 15:7). We then ask for things it is possible for God to grant. Many prayers remain unanswered because they are not in Christ’s name at all; they in no way represent his mind, but spring out of the selfishness of man’s heart." God is bound when we do this. Our challenge is that it is a very difficult state of mind to arrive at. It is only usually through chastening that it can happen. Joseph's cry, "O God where art thou", type experiences, of which I have had a paucity of in my life.

So intensity of desire has nothing to do with faith. Faith is approaching the mind of Godliness, pure and simple.

[freedomfightercaptain of 1,000]

"Truth is the knowledge of things as they are, as they were and as they are to come." Truth is God's perspective. "I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say, when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." When we align our heart and mind with the divine, we are living in faith. When we see things the way God sees things, we are living in Faith in Jesus Christ. Thus is the truth. Outward appearances have little sway on this. Our conscious mind has little sway on this. Our deeper motives, our basest intentions are what drives this. "The inner most desires of your heart", are what drives whether God is bound or not.

When we align our innermost desires with God's, to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man", we are living the truth. As the Bible dictionary says as I quoted earlier on a different thread, "We pray in Christ’s name when our mind is the mind of Christ, and our wishes the wishes of Christ—when his words abide in us (John 15:7). We then ask for things it is possible for God to grant. Many prayers remain unanswered because they are not in Christ’s name at all; they in no way represent his mind, but spring out of the selfishness of man’s heart." God is bound when we do this. Our challenge is that it is a very difficult state of mind to arrive at. It is only usually through chastening that it can happen. Joseph's cry, "O God where art thou", type experiences, of which I have had a paucity of in my life.

So intensity of desire has nothing to do with faith. Faith is approaching the mind of Godliness, pure and simple.

So what catagory is basic needs in? People pray for a new job, the means for a replacement auto, a home, and girl or boy friend or a spouse, and the list goes on. Are these things just frivolous desires? Our basic needs are a whole lot different than for those in heaven.

Sure, if a person prays to win money at a crap table this would be wrong, but when a person asks for a job to feed hungry kids, and months and months go by this can be very disheartening.

When one prays for something, then follows up with "Thy will be done" isn't this nothing more than saying one's desires have no value, that the desire of one's heart is not important? If so, then why pray and ask for things at all? When a child prays...he wants what is asked; he is praying with faith, he has no concept of what is true or not. He does not say "thy will be done." Why should it be any different in adulthood. We are told to be AS A CHILD. Wouldn't this include prayer?

Just some thoughts.

[Randcaptain of 1,000]

I am hesitant to participate, in that I am no authority at all, but can share what I have found peace in. We get caught up in our basic needs. They are important, but superficial to matters of consequence, our trusting God rather than our own strength for example. God is willing for us to be hungry, naked, depressed, destitute, and deprived if it leads to greater virtue, or conveys the message the Lord would send:
Isaiah 20:2 At the same time spake the Lord by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.
3 And the Lord said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia;"
I don't believe He finds any ease in our suffering, but He does love a soul that is humble, repentant etc. Insomuch that our desired don't conflict with our forward eternal journey, they can be met. I think we are wiser to express thanks for these basics rather than ask God to keep us comfortable by providing them for us, even if it seems to be through our "hard work".

I have personally always had an issue with that phrase in a prayer. In my experience, it seems we are just lacking faith in what we are praying for. If we just say, "thy will be done" in everything, and we are truly okay with that, I think that is good, but most of us ask for what we want, and then, it seems to me, weasel out by saying "thy will be done". We all have a conscience, even little ones. They can and do ask according to truth. Maybe often much more so than with us. Paul addressed this when he said "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." I think for children it may work in a simpler manner, but as we become Men of Christ, we must jump through a smaller hoop.

Also, we are to be Children of Christ. A very different proposition altogether.

[Rinconcaptain of 100]

Thanks for the input all of you. There is a lot to think about here.

[Stella Solariscaptain of 1,000]

Satan's five greatest tools -

Doubt: Makes you question God's word and his goodness.
Discouragement: Makes you look at your problems rather than God.
Diversion: Makes the wrong things seem attractive so you want them more than the right things.
Defeat: Makes you feel like a failure so you don't even try.
Delay: Makes you put off something so it never gets started or completed.

But, believing the Savior, and trusting in and putting to use his atonement, can overcome all!

[freedomfightercaptain of 1,000]

I've been thinking about the question posed. I came up with these:

Can faith be measured?

How much faith is required to endure to the end?

How much faith is needed to believe in the Savior? (A common question.)

How much faith is needed to believe the Savior? (A not so common question.)

We have learned that "hope cometh of faith" as written in the Book of Mormon. Which one of these, faith or hope, will facilitate carrying one to the goal of having Eternal Life?

What is really meant by one saying they want their faith increased?

Perhaps all of us can learn something here, from answers to these questions.