In our daily Group Bible Study devotionals, we continue to focus on growing faith in God and learning from the Word of God how to cultivate it. The goal is to shift from a passive stance to actively expecting and trusting that God will respond to our faith. Let’s get started:
What Is True Faith in God?
Scripture Reading: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” — Romans 10:17, ESV.
True faith in God begins where human sensory evidence ends. God is not displeased with honest inquiry—such as the Bereans, who searched the Old Testament scriptures daily to verify Paul’s teaching—but there comes a definitive moment when every believer must cross an invisible line and surrender in obedience to Jesus Christ. True faith transcends temporary circumstances, committing all that you know of yourself to all that you know of God.
Scripture is filled with individuals who stepped into this arena of supernatural faith. Noah built an enormous ark on dry land during an era when rain had never fallen, enduring decades of public ridicule because he trusted God’s warning. Joshua led Israel around Jericho's massive fortifications for seven days in silence. The soldiers atop Jericho’s walls undoubtedly laughed at the sight of an army marching without siege weapons. Yet, when Israel obeyed God's illogical instructions and shouted on the seventh day, the physical walls crumbled outward. God often deliberately challenges human logic to reveal the true condition of our hearts.
How Faith Comes Through the Word of God
How do we cultivate this quality of faith? The Apostle Paul provides the clear key. This time, we look at it through the NIV translation, which may help us better grasp Paul’s thought:
"Faith comes from hearing the message, the message is heard through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17, NIV).
Our trust in God grows in proportion to how deeply His Word is embedded in our minds and hearts. The Word of God is not static ink on paper; it is living, active, and penetrating.
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit...” — Hebrews 4:12
Living with Childlike Expectation in God’s Promises
When God’s Word takes root within us, it transforms our daily expectations. Consider a story of a busy pastor preparing a sermon in his office. His three-year-old daughter repeatedly tugged on his sleeve and asked if he would build her a dollhouse. Wanting to resume his work without interruption, he quickly answered, "Yes." Moments later, he looked out his window and saw her in the yard, happily arranging her dolls in anticipation. Deeply moved by her complete, unwavering trust in his word, the pastor set aside his work and went outside to build the house.
Our heavenly Father responds to childlike expectation. When we hear His Word, believe His promises, and begin arranging our lives around them, God acts in proportion to our trust. Furthermore, true faith does not merely believe God can do something; it rests in the assurance that God will act according to His holy will.
As the two blind men in Matthew 9:27-30 did, they persistently followed Jesus even into the house where He was staying, cried out for mercy, and were wonderfully healed. Jesus said to them: “According to your faith let it be done to you.” The Lord Jesus Christ desires us to pursue Him beyond every obstacle, confident that He responds to heartfelt trust. — Keith Thomas
Practical Steps to Strengthen Your Faith Today
· Embed the Word Daily: Since faith grows strictly in proportion to our intake of God's Word, audit your daily media consumption compared to your Scripture meditation. Commit to memorizing one key promise from Scripture this week, repeating it until it becomes your default thought when doubts arise.
· Live in "Dollhouse Expectation": Is there a promise in God's Word you have prayed over, but are not actively expecting Him to fulfill? Write down one action you can take today that demonstrates you genuinely trust God to keep His promise to you.
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Deepen Your Faith & Group Bible Study Resources
To discover more stories of bold faith and biblical principles for daily living, explore our full video teaching on "Expectant Faith" on our YouTube channel, available with subtitles in 70 languages. Click the following link:
· Bookmark this page to browse all our free 3-minute Bible meditations.
· Read the full study online: Expectant Faith: How to Grow in Faith
· Series: This excerpt is taken from the series Growing Faith in God
· Visit the Keith Thomas YouTube Channel for more teachings.