We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.
2 Thessalonians 1:3
Our relationship to God is a faith relationship. Faith is the key that unlocks the doors to all His benefits. Faith often begins very small, but it grows. The potential of faith - moving mountains.
What are the disadvantages of having little faith?
When your faith began it was very small. To consider Jesus Christ, to come to him for salvation, to trust him for your every day needs, and to rest in Jesus Christ is a beginning.
God has saved you from your sin by your faith in Jesus Christ. Yet you fear for your salvation. You sometimes doubt if you are really saved. Because of your attitudes or actions you feel as if you've made Him angry. Little faith is beset by needless fears.
Having little faith can imagine all kinds of problems where no problem exists. The "what if" syndrome. If things are going bad, it fears they will never change. If things are going good, it fears that it is a bad omen. Something bad must be going...
Little faith lacks assurance, thus, little faith lacks joy in Christ. Little faith seems aIways to be constantly worried, does not rest, and cannot rest in finished work of Christ.
Written in your bible, "God helps those who help themselves." Thus little faith lacks real peace.
How can our faith be increased?
By knowing God better. "He that cometh to God must believe..." The more you know His power, plan, love, and concern, the more faith. This knowledge obtained through the words of the Holy Bible. So to increase your faith you must read the Holy Bible.
By exercise. Take a promise of God and stand on it. Note that many promises are conditional, you fulfill your part, then wait. When God fulfill's His, then mark by that promise as tried & proved. When beset again with the same problem, go back to that promise and note it's been tried and proven.
Take care that you wait for God to work. "But you have need of patience that after you have done the will of God, you might obtain the promise." So often fear takes over and satan moves in. God does not always conform to our time schedules. We deal in hours and minutes, He deals in eons and eternity. Ok, God I'll give you 5 minutes to work it out.
When is too late? Eating beans to survive in life. There is an atmosphere where faith stunted. School, work, sometimes home. The least little thing goes wrong, "Well, where is your God now?" We gather in fellowship here. We share our love and relate our experiences to each other and faith grows.
May God grant that your faith will grow exceedingly. Holy God, may your love so fill me so that I can fully share love with those that I meet each day. May this love grow and increase so that others may readily see its benefits and recognize that it is a direct response to the lavish love you have shared with me. Through the power of your Spirit, help my love increase! In Jesus name I pray. Amen.