To continue our path toward heaven, we must grow in faith more and more.  Faith is the key to overcoming our adversary, the devil.  

1 John 5:4 (ESV)
⁴  For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

Our faith will dictate how we live our lives, and how we live will determine where we spend eternity.  No, we cannot earn our way to heaven by living a certain way; only a sinless life will merit salvation.  However, our conduct does play a role in the verdict that we will receive on the day of judgment.

2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV)
¹⁰  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

This emphasizes why faith is so important.  The more of it we have, the more pleasing to God we will be.  So, what must we do to grow in faith?

The first thing we must do is make sure that we are spending a good portion of time studying God’s Word.  There is not too many ways that we can spend our time better than filling our minds with the Word of God.  In doing so, our faith will flourish.

Romans 10:17 (NKJV)
¹⁷  So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Do you know who realizes this better than most?  The devil!  He will do everything he can to keep us away from the Word of God.

Luke 8:11-12 (ESV)
¹¹  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. ¹²  The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

The devil not only wants to keep God’s Word away from those who have not obeyed the gospel, he wants to distract us as well, keeping us from reaping the benefits of it; namely, growing in faith.  Are you allowing him to do so?  How often do you study, read, or listen to God’s Word?  Your level of faith is directly related to how you honestly answer that question.

If you want to grow in faith, make sure you are taking advantage of the opportunities you have to be filled with God’s Word.  There is a reason God commands us not to forsake the assembling of the saints (Hebrews 10:25).  First, the various acts of worship that we participate in when we assemble are faith building.  But, also, it is because one of those acts of worship involves the preaching and teaching of God’s Word.  If you attend the services of your local church consistently, and you participate and focus on every act of worship in which you engage, you will be enriched, enlightened, encouraged, and edified.  It is what you must do if you want to grow in faith.  

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.