How can one cultivate and strengthen their faith? #

Scripture repeatedly states:

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
(Psalm 110:10; Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 9:10)

But it also says:

“Perfect love casteth out fear.”
(1 John 4:18)

These statements are not contradictory; they describe different stages of spiritual growth. A house must be built starting with the foundation, not the roof. The journey of faith is an upward climb, like ascending a ladder where each step represents a new virtue. The starting point of this journey is the fear of God. The Holy Fathers teach:

“Keep your mind in hell and despair not.”

The fear of God prevents us from straying from the chosen path of salvation. Yet we must also remember the words of the Savior:

“Without Me ye can do nothing.”
(John 15:5)

Thus, the journey of faith must be accompanied by unceasing prayer:

“Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief.”
(Mark 9:24)

The best practice is to quietly and continuously say the Jesus Prayer, focusing on each word without haste. This keeps you in constant communion with the Lord.

The Apostle Paul writes:

“Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
(Romans 10:17)

Therefore, regularly reading Holy Scripture strengthens and nurtures faith. The Bible offers strength, comfort, and often correction and motivation to keep moving forward, for:

“The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”
(Matthew 11:12)

In addition to Scripture, reading the works of the Holy Fathers is very beneficial. Their writings provide countless practical, hard-earned insights on how to navigate various temptations and challenges.

Frequent counsel from a spiritual father, confession, and partaking of the Holy Mysteries of Christ are also invaluable. It is through the sacraments of the Church that we receive grace, which strengthens us and helps us navigate the stormy sea of life.

The sacrament of confession helps to overcome the heavy burden of pride. Pride distorts our self-awareness, preventing us from accurately assessing our spiritual condition:

“God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”
(James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5)

Humility, in turn, helps us avoid despair over the realization that we cannot yet perform the deeds and miracles promised to those who believe. Before attempting to move mountains with the power of faith, we must first remove the mountain of sin that weighs heavily upon each of us.

— Priest Evgeny Gureev