One of the most common requests I receive from people is, "Please pray that I will have more faith." And that is a good thing to pray for. The Bible records that Christ's own disciples asked Him to increase their faith. (Luke 17:5) But it's important that we realize that there are other things that God expects us to do to partner with Him for the increasing of our faith. One of those things is to meditate on the Word of God. Scripture says: "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17 NKJV) While our faith has the potential to grow every time we hear good biblical preaching and teaching, hearing our own voice speaking God's Word can also have a tremendous impact on our belief system.

Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." (John 15:7 NASB) Here is an important biblical principle that many Christians never get ahold of--the prayers of a Word-filled believer are awesomely powerful. If we are not filled with the Word, we will be filled with the world. As we continually meditate on the Word of God, our minds are renewed to God's truth, and we can more easily resist being conformed to the pattern of this world. (Romans 12:2)

What are some of the ways we can meditate on God's Word? First, we can pray it. A Scripture like Psalm 143:10 (NIV) is already in prayer form, and can be used as a meditative prayer: "Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground." Secondly, we can meditate on scriptural confessions of faith, rewording them to apply to us personally. We can declare, "I am more than a conqueror through Christ who loves me!" (Romans 8:37) Third, we use God's own Word to praise Him. Psalm 71:14 (NIV) says: "But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise You more and more." Fourth, we can use the Scriptures to talk to ourselves and to encourage our own hearts. Psalm 42:11 (NIV) says: "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God."

Recently, I was going through a trying time, and I was feeling weak and inadequate. I recalled the Scripture that says, "Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'" (Joel 3:10 NKJV) So I began telling myself over and over, "I am strong." Until I began confessing that I was strong, I hadn't even realized that I had been inwardly thinking, "I feel so weak. I can't do this." I remembered the apostle Paul's command in Ephesians which says, "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." (Ephesians 6:10 NKJV) So I began declaring over and over, "I am strong in the Lord." And after I said that a few times, I'd add, "In the power of His might!" As I spoke these words of faith to myself, I could sense a strengthening in my soul.

When I was going through a recent dry spell where my writing was concerned, I would sit down at my computer, but the words just wouldn't come. As I became increasingly anxious about the problem, just the thought of writing would paralyze me with fear. As I took the matter to the Lord in prayer, He impressed upon me that I should not wait until I sit down to perform a writing project before I begin meditating on His Word that promises that I will be given the right words at the right time. (Matthew 10:19-20) So every day now, I repeatedly confess, "I will not worry about what to say or how to say it, for my Father's Spirit will give me the right words at the right time." If you are battling fear of any kind, I encourage you to find some applicable Scriptures, and to confess them regularly, until your fear subsides. I have never found a more powerful antidote against fear than meditating on God's Word and promises. That's because faith comes from hearing the Word of God, and as faith grows, fear diminishes.

We will never fulfill our God-given purpose and potential unless we cooperate with the Lord for our spiritual growth, and one way we can do that is to meditate on God's Word "day and night," as Scripture instructs. (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:2) Could your faith use a boost today? Then let me encourage you to begin saying to yourself, "My faith is growing exceedingly!" (2 Thessalonians 1:3 AMP)

Prayer: Lord, teach me how to meditate on Your Word so that my faith will increase, and my fears will decrease. Remind me that the prayers of a Word-filled believer are especially powerful. Thank You that as I devote myself to You and Your Word, I will fulfill my maximum potential in Christ!