What should I do to increase my faith?

from the old testament

• While the Old Testament doesn’t directly teach about increasing faith in the same way the New Testament does, it provides foundational examples of faith in action. For example, Genesis 15:6 shows us that Abraham’s faith in God’s promises is foundational; faith is trusting God’s Word even when fulfillment seems impossible.
• David, who faced many personal and political challenges, had faith in the Lord to carry him through his trials: “For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock” (Psalm 27:13).
• Faith is the sustaining principle for the righteous; living by faith means continual trust in God, shown by living out His ways (Habakkuk 2:4).

from the new testament

• After salvation, we should continue to grow in our knowledge of God to grow in faith. Jesus offered a great example of this when He faced the temptation of Satan in the wilderness. On all three occasions, Jesus responded to temptation by quoting Scripture (Matthew 4:1-11). If we want to increase our faith and better withstand temptation, we must increase our knowledge of Scripture.
• As believers, one of our primary goals is to develop our faith in God. The disciples once asked God to increase their faith (Luke 17:5-6). In this context, the Lord had just taught them to forgive those who sinned against them "seven times" (Luke 17:1-4). They wanted more faith to be able to forgive as they should, but Jesus responded by saying that the faith of a mustard seed was enough to move a tree into the sea. His response made it clear that only a small increase in faith was required to forgive as He commanded.
• We also increase our faith by how we serve God. Hebrews 11 recounts many great biblical leaders who were known for faithfully serving God. For example, Abraham was willing to leave his homeland for a place he did not know, and Moses returned to Egypt to free the Israelite slaves. As we strive to increase our faith, we are called to serve God regardless of the degree of difficulty.
• Hebrews 12:1-2 says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." If we want to increase in faith, we should look at the example of Jesus.
• Obeying what we know about following God is one way to increase faith. James 1:22 says, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
• Prayer is another way to increase our faith as it helps us maintain an active relationship with God. In prayer we can ask God to increase our faith; He knows our heart and longs to answer according to His will. Our growth in faith is certainly His will for our lives and a prayer He will grant. Philippians 4:6 says: “...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

implications for today

Increasing faith begins with a humble surrender to God rather than relying on our own willpower. At the same time, our actions should match our desire to grow in faith. We grow closer to Him by spending time in His Word, which strengthens our understanding and trust in His promises—just as Jesus modeled when He resisted temptation by quoting Scripture. As we obey what we know, even in small steps, our faith takes root and expands, enabling us to face challenges and forgive others with the strength God provides. Serving God faithfully stretches our trust in Him and helps our faith mature through action and reliance on His guidance. Finally, prayer is essential; it keeps us connected to God, reminding us that He desires our growth and equips us for the journey. Increasing our faith deepens our relationship with God and helps us feel His presence and know His character. This allows us to focus on faith, not fleeting, worldly cares and pleasures that lead us astray. Increasing in faith gives us strength and peace as we go through the ups and downs of life, and it also allows us to reflect who God is more clearly to a world that desperately longs for what lasts and is true and good even if it doesn’t know that’s what it longs for.