In the book of James, we read, “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:15-17, NIV throughout).

In this passage we see that while compassionate intentions are all well and good, without the actual action of giving to those in need they mean nothing. In contrast, those who are being called to do God’s will must have a living faith. This article will discuss how we can make sure that our faith is an active and vital one, and how we can keep it even in difficult circumstances.

First, let’s examine the biblical definition of faith found in what is often referred to as the “Faith Chapter,” Hebrews 11. Beginning in verse one, we read, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” The chapter goes on to discuss biblical examples of faith demonstrated by people such as Abel, Enoch, Abraham, Issac, Jacob, and many others. In each one of these examples we see that their belief and trust in God was accompanied by action.

Note the end of the chapter. In verse 39 we read, “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.” Our modern society is obsessed with the ideal of instant gratification. Fast food, fast technology, and fast living seem to be the order of the day. The idea that we won’t receive the ultimate reward for our faith in God in this life may seem strange to most. Yet it is our understanding of God’s plan for mankind that is essential to our faith and in providing the impetus to stay the course.

It is also important for us to remember that faith is a gift from God. Romans 12:3 reads “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you, do not think more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment; in accordance with the measure of faith that God has given you.” So faith, then, is a gift from God. That is not to say that we are powerless to build our faith, but we must stay connected to God in order to develop it. Faith, then, is the actions we take which demonstrate our belief in Him. So, how do we practice this living faith? By staying connected to the Source of our faith, through prayer, by studying God’s Word and applying it to our daily lives, and by demonstrating our faith in the way we treat others; we can make sure our faith is a vital one.

Prayer is an essential part of building our faith, because without it we cannot communicate with God. Oftentimes we make excuses as to why we spend so little time in prayer.

“Wow I had a rough day at work…I’m so tired I’m just gonna go pass out. I’ll get in some more prayer time tomorrow.”

“God knows what my needs are before I ask him, so I don’t have to worry about it.”

“I don’t know what I should say…I don’t want to offend God by saying the wrong thing.”

It’s critical that we make the time spent in prayer a priority in our lives. One of the best ways to do this is to have a set amount of time set aside each day and making it a routine. An hour a day may seem like an excessively long time to a teenager or young adult, but we spend that long or longer each day talking to our friends on the phone or in person. Remember that God’s plan is for us to be with Him in His kingdom. Not just as friends, but as HIS FAMILY! If one of your close friends, someone you spoke with all the time, suddenly stopped calling you or talking to you, you would be understandably hurt. Think then how God, who has done so much for us, must feel! He wants to build a relationship with you. It is His will that you be with Him in this way. First Thessalonians 5:16-18 reads, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Likewise we must also set aside time to study God’s Word. Romans 10:17 states, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” We speak to God in prayer, and God speaks to us through his Word. Many times young people feel that the language of the Scriptures, specifically the old King James Version, is too old fashioned or difficult to understand. Remember, there are many modern language translations which preserve the meaning of the text and are easier to study from. Ask your parents, if they are church members, or your pastor to help you find a translation that is suitable if you feel that this is an issue. Also remember that the more we study the Scripture and the more we ask God to open our minds to His message, the easier it becomes to understand and apply it.

We must also demonstrate our faith in how we treat others. Luke 6:27 states, “But I tell you who hear me, love your enemies, do good to those that hate you.” It surely takes faith in God to treat those who mistreat us in a better way. Doing so helps build our faith in Him. We must show compassion to others, regardless of how they treat us, because God has shown us even more mercy. Our actions toward others need to reflect the same attitude as Christ showed, in order to point others to Him. This is our function as members of the Body of Christ.

So how can we keep our faith in difficult circumstances? With all the corruption, temptation, and suffering around us it is easy to become discouraged. Again, we can get encouragement from God’s Word and from focusing on the big picture, God’s plan for us.

Galatians 6:9 says it best: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” By focusing on the source of our faith, and the ultimate reward for our faith, we can make sure that we are practicing a living faith. The rewards for this way of life are far better than we can imagine. God tells us as much in Scripture. In 1 Corinthians 2:9, Paul paraphrases the book of Isaiah stating, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.”

So, in conclusion, let’s make sure we are practicing a living faith and not a dead one, by staying connected to the source of that faith, God and His Son Jesus Christ.