Seven Faith-Building Practices All Christians Must Do

Hopefully you have weighed the options of becoming a Christian and have counted the cost. This isn’t a decision that someone makes casually. Jesus said:

If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? (Luke 9:23-25)

This is a life commitment. It’s like a marriage relationship. And we shouldn’t plan for a commitment that lasts only a day or a week, but for life, what should you start doing right now to spiritually grow and mature? Here’s seven practices.

1. Pray Diligently

We must pray diligently. Praying is supposed to be like breathing, easier to do than to not do. Jesus prayed. The apostles prayed. Consider this Scripture:

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Whether we are praying to be thankful, to praise God, to confess sins, or make requests, we must pray!…but how can we pray without ceasing? While we can’t pray 24 hours a day (i.e. we have to sleep), we can continually pray. Pray in the morning, pray while driving, pray before meals, pray with friends. Don’t let your prayer life grow cold, rather let it be an integral part of your life in Christ. Practice makes perfect, and you can do it. God wants to hear from you.

See also: Luke 2:36-38, Philippians 4:6-7, Mark 1:35; Acts 1:14; 2:42; 3:1; 4:23-31; 6:4;1 Matthew 6:5-15

2. Read Diligently

We must open this and read it… The Bible is literally God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16). There are so many questions that humanity asks that God has answered in His word! What is the purpose to life? Why is the world full of evil? What really matters in life? How can I live so that I do not look back with regret?

Psalm 19:7 says the law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.  We may feel overwhelmed when looking at how big the Bible is but consider this: at a pace of about 15 minutes daily, one can read through the whole New Testament comfortably in three months. Being consistent about studying the Bible makes the big book very approachable. And we don’t simply read to “check it off our list.” We read because through it we come to know God. We read because it transforms our character. We read because it nourishes our soul.

3. Be Present (when the church assembles)

Make a habit of being present when the church gathers. We are commanded to be there and not forsake (i.e. abandon) the assembly. But, the mindset of a Christian should be, “What a blessing!” and not, “Do I have to?”

Being present is more than simply being there. We are also commanded to be active in encouraging and motivating each other when we assemble. You can’t do that if you aren’t there, or if you think it means simply showing up. Your presence and interactions will always be an encouraging force in the lives of other Christians.

See also: Hebrews 10:24-25, See also 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, Acts 20:7

4. Engage with Christians

We all need to engage with Christians outside the worship assembly.  These are our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is supposed to be spiritual family, a network of friends, a support group.

We can’t expect to bear one another’s burdens if we don’t know each other. Invite others to dinner, to social events, or to simply be together. It’s easier to spiritually lean on each other when we have trust and a good relationship. Our best friends should be Christians.

See also: Galatians 6:1-4, see also Proverbs 27:6

5. Flee Sin

We all must flee sin. Christians have made a life commitment to Jesus, and part of that is avoiding sinful behavior. Why exchange eternal salvation for temporary pleasure? Sometimes new Christians feel confused or betrayed when they are tempted and give in to sin. Perhaps they thought that they wouldn’t have these struggles once they obeyed the gospel. However, the Bible teaches that as long as we are in the flesh, there is a battle going on between the flesh and the spirit.

God is faithful, and won’t let us be tempted beyond what we can handle. And a part of His faithfulness is to allow us to choose if we will stay faithful or return to sin. Since we know what sin leads to, let’s chose to move forward in a life committed to Jesus.

See also: Romans 7:7-25, Ephesians 4:17-24, 1 Corinthians 10:13

6. Tell Someone About Jesus

Tell someone about Jesus. Share the good news. You have been saved, and you know God’s mercy. Others need to know too. The Christian faith is centered on sharing Jesus’ good news. That means we should be ready and willing to talk about Jesus with our family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and beyond. Jesus once gave a simple way we can share the gospel:

Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” (Mark 5:19)

See also: Romans 10:14-17, Matthew 28:19-20

7. Maintain Perspective

Maintain perspective. Remember the big picture: Jesus has saved us and now we live for him.

Our life as a Christian is like a long distance marathon, not a sprint. We run the race every day. We may grow spiritually tired and fatigued. With a proper perspective, we know there will be valleys of despair and hill tops of joy. In addition, the devil will not wait long before he comes. He will not sit by and allow us an easy spiritual journey.

We also know that Jesus is greater than he who is in the world (the devil). We know that God is working for our good. This promise helps form a healthy perspective. We have faith that God will make things right even if we struggle now.

See also: Philippians 4:11-13, Hebrews 12:1-2, 1 Peter 5:8, 1 John 4:4, Romans 8:28,36-38

Conclusion

So, live your daily life with a transformed and regenerated soul. Get up each day as normal. Go to work or school. Be effective in your daily tasks and relationships. The light of Jesus will shine through the things you say and do. The change in your life began dramatically when you were baptized. Now be prepared for continued change to take place slowly over the rest of your life as you are molded into the person God has intended you to be.