Belief plus actions equals faith! Therefore, everyone has faith! It's surprising how many insist on having no faith. Tell me a person without belief (you can't) because everyone has ideas, opinions, or beliefs. What about action? If you're breathing, there is action! Hence, everyone has movement and activities. Again, belief + actions = faith. The question is not whether a person has faith but what they do with it. Their faith introduces them to a beautiful existence or just the opposite, where Christian Character counts!
There are many faith systems to identify with today – Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Atheism (Yes, Atheism is a faith — Go back to the faith formula), to mention the popular one's today. All have ups and downs, interpret love, develop the character trait of faith, and practice their routines. We must examine them to understand what faith system will ultimately give us the best relationships and results! Eternity! The way to do so is to investigate the system's founders. All of them, but one, have been legally pronounced dead. So, rather than follow death, let's follow the one alive and well according to historical records, first-hand testimonies, and divine wisdom — Jesus Christ! When believing and standing in divine love and practicing the Christian faith correctly, the reality is transcendent living, resulting in a meaningful and resurrected life.
Like all inviting faith systems, Christianity has central spiritual practices to develop the faith trait of Jesus. The practices align with the Father, Son, and Spirit of the triune God. The Christian faith is divided into three movements. Generally speaking, they are the inward, outward, and corporate (church) disciplines, as Richard Foster states in his book, "Celebration of Discipline." The inward practices of meditation (awareness), prayer, fasting, and study open the soul's door to liberating a person's soul from the oppressive way of life. Jesus meant this when he said, "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you (Matthew 6:6-7) NIV)."
To integrate and transform the inner spirit of a person and develop faith, we must be willing to go into the inner world of contemplation by practicing secret disciplines, again, awareness, prayer, fasting, and studying daily. The primary requirement is a longing after God. Be careful because we don't want to become slaves to ingrained practices where we end up bankrupt or, worst yet, so proud because of living right. Remember, Christians are to live right, not be right.
To baptize or induct yourself into faithful living as we see Jesus doing and to develop the faith trait in your character, find trusting people who want the best for you. Be vulnerable and understand who the safe people are in your life. Be open to spiritual practices that connect you with the true God. However, beware! Many wolves, including in the Christian faith, want to teach you their formula of "belief + actions = faith, rather than God's Way, where Christian Character Counts.
With faithfulness,