As Christians, it comes naturally to do things that affirm and strengthen our belief on a daily basis. It is not a “to do list” per se, but certain activities that every Christian should be doing to preserve and grow in our faith.
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”– James 1:22 (ESV)
If we were to listen to the words of God without putting anything into practice, then we’re not actually trying to grow in our faith and strengthen our belief. We’re simply reading something without acting on it. Apart from the intellectual exercise of reading and hearing the words of God, it is also important to demonstrate our faith with true actions.
There are no 1-10 steps to show our faith but there are things we can do every day to feed it, increase it and become stronger in our belief. Read on to find out some of the actions you can take to match your intentions as a Christian.
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Pray
By praying, we can connect with God on a personal level. It is our time for a one-on-one encounter with the Creator, without any interferences from the outside world. Such a daily connection helps us reach a better state of mind, a better attitude towards life and its day-to-day challenges.
Facing life with a positive approach and courage is something we should all strive to achieve. It is with the help and protection of the Holy Spirit that we can feel strong and brave enough to go out into the world and face whatever life throws at us. If we don’t pray often enough, our faith will not have the opportunity to become stronger and unbreakable.
Read also: 11 God-Approved Ways to Start Dating as a Christian
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Read Your Bible
First and foremost, as believers, we have to define what it is that we believe in. Prayers can help us in this process, as well as personal reflection, going to church, fellowship, volunteering. But the most powerful tool to determine and strengthen your belief is the Bible, the source of our beliefs.
The most efficient way to determine what we believe in is to read the Bible thoroughly and understand its meaning and lessons. This is something that should be done daily.
Given that there are many other doctrines and beliefs that people stand by, it is essential that we understand our own beliefs; understand what the Bible has to say.
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Be thankful
Today’s society is putting a lot of pressure on people, and it easy to turn yourself into a victim, or at least see yourself that way. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, think of all the good things in your life and be thankful for them. As Christians, we have to be different and practicing thankfulness every day is what makes us different.
This is a very important step in our journey to consolidating our faith. A thankful person is a different, changed person. Being thankful makes you shift your focus on the positive things that God has given you, rather than the negative situations and missed opportunities that we’ve all encountered in life.
Being thankful is also useful in maintaining a positive mindset. Instead of isolating yourself in self-pity, and dramatizing all your problems, become a person of hope and light, a person that worships God from the bottom of their heart. But this is something you have to practice on a daily basis.
See also: 6 Easy Spiritual Ways to Find the Love of Your Life
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Be forgiving
Matthew 6:14: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you”.
This is a crucial step in our journey as Christians. It might not be easy to forgive, especially when the damage is significant, but you can become a forgiving person by practicing forgiveness constantly. Once it becomes a habit, it will also come naturally. You don’t have to get discouraged by not being able to fully forgive someone from the very first try. Just like with everything else, it takes practice until it becomes a fully instated habit.
Humans inherently search for the flaws in other people, things and situations. At the same time, we expect to be forgiven by others unconditionally. But how can others forgive us when we are not ready to offer forgiveness ourselves?
God needs us to be forgiving, so develop this habit to become better and feel closer to God.
See also: 10 Things the Bible Teaches Us About Forgiveness
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Reflect on your own sins
So that we can praise God and His creation the proper way, there is one thing we need to do first, and that is to accept that all people can be subjected to sin. With that in mind, we have to acknowledge our own mistakes and all the “not so nice things” we’ve done in the past, as well as the things we are doing in the present. Only after truly realizing our own inherent sinfulness and the depth of our sins can we understand the importance of a Savior.
When reflecting on your own sins, do not focus on past actions alone. Instead, concentrate on how you felt overall; this means your selfish desires and wants, your evil thoughts. All these aspects combined show the real state of your heart in those moments. God knows what is the true state of our hearts, regardless of what we or other people might think of ourselves.
Accepting and understanding our sins is, in fact, how a form of true worship should begin.
Read also: Tough Times: 4 Bible Verses Which Will Guide You Through Them
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Be helpful when needed
Nowadays, people are so wrapped up in their own lives, that many don’t see or care about anything else. It’s normal to be focused on one’s life and problems but, as Christians, we also need to be aware of other people’s needs.
Sure, it is not practical to neglect your own life to help others all the time, but you can prioritize and aim to help at least one or two people every day.
You don’t have to go that far, look for people around you and try to pay attention and empathize with what they are going through. A kind word, a small gesture might mean the world to them. It will also show them that people who truly believe in God practice kindness, forgiveness and empathy.
You might also like to know more about these: 5 Subtle Signs God Is Speaking to You
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Your behavior speaks volumes
Every one of your actions causes a reaction. Therefore, what you say and how you behave can tell a lot about your nature. If you say one thing, but your actions tell otherwise, it’s pointless to preach God’s words if you do not apply them yourself.
We might not feel right about this, but people will see us differently simply because we are believers. They will have a good impression when we stick to what we say; conversely, they will not see us in a good light if we don’t practice what we preach.
Think about it! Be true to yourself and to others and make sure your behavior produces a positive impact and try to avoid actions and reactions that could interpreted in a negative way.
