Great Faith, how?

The question about "how do we get great faith" is a common one that begs a simple answer. Though I have posted on faith in all three forms in the past I think a simple answer will suffice today to help us build "great faith."  

Romans 10:17
 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."

Simply stated: If you want great faith to come read the Word of God!

Notice that it doesn't say: Read books about God, read stories about God, read sermons about God, read about missionaries lives and their faith, or the lives of Godly men and the faith they had.

It does say that if "YOU" want great faith you need to hear the Word of God. We do this two ways: By reading the Scriptures, (out loud isn't a bad practice), and in your intimate time listening to God, ("Today is the day if you hear my voice harden not your heart"). These are the only two personal ways to "hear the Word". After that comes every other kind of exposure to the Word that you want to participate in. Just know that intimacy and fellowship with God is the best way to "Hear the Word and "faith cometh by". Hearing the Word of God "is" the mustard seed that fell on fertile soil. Not just for salvation but for Great Faith. 

Lets cross reference what the word says of God with this "planting". Every time we hear the Word of God seeds are planted in our hearts and start to grow. Our Love of God is the fertilizer that we provide and the Holy Spirit waters it so it can grow. What happens when it grows? We become doers of the Word not just hearers. "If a fruit tree doesn't bear fruit it is cast down  and thrown into the fire", so also the seed planted needs to grow, be pruned and bear fruit or it is cast down. "If you have been faithful in little you will be trusted with much". 

Planting the Word of God in our hearts not only needs to grow but be used (exercised) in order for it to become "a tree wherein the fowls of the air rest in". Great faith starts as a mustard seed, very small then grows into a wonderful, pruned, fruitful tree that gives hope by doing the Fathers will and manifesting His glory. 

God will not give faith for His Glory to a person that will only "plant it in the earth so when the Master returns he has it laid up in a napkin". He gives faith to the person that goes out and invests it in the "bank of men's hearts" and produces it "when the Master returns" with multiplication. 

Once we understand that "gifts" are given to us for the "harvest", then we can "multiply" His investment in us, and glorify His name while "proving" His word true (the Gospel) with signs and wonders. 

Faith is not given where faith is not needed, and to many Christians faith outside of saving faith, (grace through faith), faith is just not part of their worship of the Living God. (The word worship here is used as a complete surrender to God, His Love, and His will.) As said in other posts: your expression of enthusiasm shows what you really worship, and to some God just doesn't occupy "top priority". They want to be saved, as it is said: "by the skin of their teeth", but will have no crowns to throw before Him in that day.

My suggestions and practices:

I fill up every chance to be alone with God.
Reading the Word is on this wise: the more ways you can get the Word of God into your heart the better, ie. Start by praying that God would only give you wisdom convenient with this day, (tomorrow never comes and yesterday will never be repeated, today is the day). Read, read aloud so your heart gets the Word through your eyes and your ears get it through your voice, meditate on the Word as it will feed your spirit, pray the Word for God honors His Word.
  
Erase all secular music from your i-pod and replace it with hymns and spiritual songs that have the word of God in them.

My mini (4g) i-pod has the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs on it. I use it every time I work outside, mowing lawn, fixing broken down equipment, cutting wood, working the gardens, ect. I can usually get in several hours a day just with the i-pod.

Bring every thought captive to the Mind of Christ. 

Pray that He controls our thoughts and instructs us by His Holy Spirit.

Prove that the Word of God exists in us by Loving one another.

Do you really want Great Faith? Ask, Seek, Knock until you get it then Glorify your Father in Heaven by being a "doer of the Word and not just a hearer."

Love 
J&E