Strengthen Your Faith (V)

We have considered how God’s word, prayer, godly association, and overcoming fear can strengthen our faith. Another important factor is obedience to God and the maintenance of a good conscience.

Today’s Bible verse reveals that we become strong by obeying God’s commandments. Obedience strengthens faith because it gives us a good conscience and confidence before God. Paul emphasised the relationship between faith and a good conscience. Genuine faith proceeds from a pure heart and good conscience (1 Timothy 1:5). But putting away a good conscience would weaken and shipwreck faith (1 Timothy 1:19).

When your conscience condemns you, it will undermine your confidence to approach God and exercise faith. A damaged conscience literally destroys capacity to exercise faith. But a clear conscience which comes from an inner life that is clean and transparent before God will generate boldness to exercise strong, active faith. Hence, Paul instructed believers to hold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience (1 Timothy 3:9).

In the same vein, John the Beloved declared that when our heart does not condemn us, we have “confidence towards God”. We would then see the result of our faith in answers to our prayers because we keep the commandments of God and do those things that are pleasing to Him (1 John 3:21- 22).

Beloved, if you want to strengthen your faith, take obedience to God seriously. A good conscience strengthens confidence, and confidence enables you to exercise faith boldly. May the Lord grant us grace to walk in obedience and maintain a good conscience, in Jesus’ name.