Are you ready to nurture faith?
The faith of a parent can be tested. If you want proof, take a look at Abraham ” the father of faith” in the Bible. God tested his faith to the fullest extent- to the point of having him sacrifice his own child! This did not just happen over night for Abraham.
God nurtured faith in Abraham’s life by showing his faithfulness towards him. He showed Abraham to nurture faith through obedience as obedience was better than sacrifice.
Nurture Faith Meaning
Nurture faith is taking the time to fuel yourself with spiritual food, (training, and instruction from the Bible). The Bible is like our nutritious food that provides nourishment to our spiritual bodies. The Bible can train our minds to think like Christ and according to His perfect ways. It is also a guide book of instructions that will lead you on a prosperous path towards fulfilling your destiny.
Nurture Faith Vs Self -Care- Christian Perspective
Nurturing faith is trusting in the Lord with all of your heart and choosing to trust in Him to guide your life.
Godly mothers nurture by teaching their children important life skills so that they can live successfully in this world. Jesus did this to His disciples. He taught them how to be perfect like the Father. Now, Jesus was not a perfectionist in a worldly sense. He was perfect in LOVE and he “nurtured” His children ( His followers) to be like love.
Self- care is caring for yourself through different means: medication, seeing a healthcare practitioner, or health oriented activities. The major difference between nurturing faith and self-care is the position of care: external vs. internal.
Self-care looks at the external things that you can do for yourself to support your health and well-being. Faith nurture looks at the internal things of the soul and how to support the heart and mind of the person for the longevity of their spiritual walk with God. It focuses on the preservation of the soul (mind, thoughts, will, and intellect).
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
The Lord nurtures the inward appearance of your heart. He wants your heart as a parent to look absolutely stunning, full of fiery passion for the good news: you are no longer a slave to sin but completely free to live eternally in the one who loves you deeply.
Why do we need to be nurtured in Faith?
Reason 1:
When you are stressed out and not able to trust God through your parenting journey, this can bring on a host of problems ( e.g., sickness, diseases, insomnia, etc.). It pleases God when you are able to trust Him with all of your heart. Would you want your children to fear coming to you about problems that you can easily help them navigate through or would you want them to feel secure in coming to you?
Reason 2:
You may not get the temporary things like the car, mansion, or the 6-figure job that you always dreamed of having. If your hope is placed in these things and it doesn’t manifest as you hoped, this may cause you to feel deep disappointment and withdrawal from God.
Disappointment makes the heart gravely sick which ultimately leads to bitterness and resentment.
How to nurture your own christian faith and spiritual development
The Bible mentions nurturing faith in 3 ways:
- By placing our hope in Him: “”Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1
Sometimes as christian parents you may place your hope in things that are temporary and not eternal. You might be the parent that is hoping for a new home with the white picket fence and the swinging porch swing. You might also be the parent that is hoping that your child is placed in the best school and in the best neighborhood. But I will say this, all of these things are temporary.
Your hope as a parent should be placed in God alone.
Place your hope in God who will never wither away.
Place your hope in the Love of God.
Place your hope in the joy, goodness, peace, and faithfulness of God.
When you place your hope in these heavenly things, you will find true satisfaction that will always last.
Have you lost hope? Read this post: How God Restores Faith, Hope, and Love in Your Heart
- Believing that He rewards you as you seek Him: “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
You need to believe that God will reward you as you seek Him with sincerity and humbleness.
- He ultimately knows more than we could ever know in this lifetime and beyond: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding” Proverbs 3:5
God blessed you with children because you have the holy duty of raising his children in the image of God. He knows your child’s destiny and has a book in Heaven that details everything about your child’s life. He ultimately knows more about your child and all the spiritual gifts and the connections that will lead your child to fulfill their destiny.
Trust in God to do the impossible in your child’s life. He is a faithful Father that will finish His work within your child.
Related Post: Parenting with the Fruit of the Holy Spirit
Frequently asked questions:
How do you nurture your love and faith in God?
You begin to nurture your love and faith in God by learning who God is from the scriptures. God is good, loving, kind, and FAITHFUL! He keeps his promises to his people and will supply all of your needs like a good father.
What should I do if my faith is weaken?
If your faith is weaken then this is an indication that you need to rest in God. Sometimes life can disappoint us or make us feel defeated. But it is important to know that the battle has already been won. Learn how to receive God’s love for you again by resting in Him to defend you and to keep you in His safe arms. Even if your faith is as small as a mustard seed, He will continue to be present with you; working behind the scenes to make things happen for your good.
Related post: How God Restores Faith, Hope, and Love in Your Heart
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Loved this article. Such a great perspective on nurturing faith!
Thank you Christina! I hope it blessed you:)