Is it possible for faith to permeate our everyday life? If yes, what would that look like, and how could we grow in that kind of faith?

Today, I believe everyday faith is possible. But I haven’t always.

I Used to Like Jesus… Contained

I used to categorize my life into “faith” activities and “normal” activities.

I couldn’t understand – and, in all honesty, felt annoyed – when others made everything about Jesus. To me, birthday parties, Christmas buffets, and family gatherings were the fun stuff of life, not spiritual events.

And I preferred my fun to be Jesus-free.

I’m not saying I didn’t have a relationship with God. I did. But I liked Jesus best… contained.

Today, I Like Jesus… Everywhere!

Later in my life, after coming out of a season of rebellion as a young adult, I found myself wanting desperately to be all God’s, and I wanted him to be all mine.

(You can read more about my journey out of rebellion against God in the article “How to Gain Freedom Through Christ to Be Yourself [3 Steps to Get You Started].”)

The trouble was, I didn’t know how to translate my desires into everyday reality.

When I observed other Christians, I often witnessed a natural, everydayness about their faith. I wanted that. I just didn’t know how to get it, or how to find practical ways to grow in everyday faith.

So, how did I progress from wanting everyday faith to experiencing everyday faith?

Believe it or not, my breakthrough arrived through a story I heard about a little bird.

How Everyday Faith Became a Part of My Every Day

So, here I was, finally fully committed to God and on a mission to grow in character, to grow in freedom, and to grow in faith.

Up until this moment in my life, faith had looked like this:

• Attend church on Sundays.
• Join a women’s Bible Study once a year.
• Ask a friend to pray for me when I’m in dire straights.
• Believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins.
• Set aside time to read my Bible and pray.

All good things. Right?

The rest of my life – my everyday life – played out in a type of neutral universe where faith never gained room to grow:

• I washed dishes.
• I cleaned my house.
• I enjoyed family gatherings.
• I ate out with my husband on date night.
• I relaxed with my favorite evening TV shows.
• I read books… etc.

I lived two separate lives: my “faith” life and my “everyday” life.

And that was fine.

Until it wasn’t.

Because I noticed other godly women who were able to live out an everyday kind of faith, a natural faith that permeated their character and daily lives; and I wanted what they had.

Experiencing My Everyday Faith Breakthrough

One day, I joined a weekly Bible study group with several women from my church. Our study delved deep into the fruit of the Holy Spirit and how God grows our character, including our faith.

Each week, we focused one of the spiritual fruits listed in Galatians:

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

Galatians 5:22-23 NLT

Several weeks in, we studied the fruit of faithfulness.

Naturally, our conversation turned to the topic of faith. And from there, everyday faith, including what that type of faith could look like.

I will never forget the message of faith one of the women shared that night. To the best of my memory, this was Vera’s story:

Vera and the Little Birds

Vera told us about her love of birds. She explained how God often revealed his presence and his love to her through birds.

Sometimes, she’d discover a colorful feather on the windowsill just outside her kitchen window, and it would remind her that God loved her.

Other times, twittering birds in the backyard reminded her that God was near.

Often, a pretty bird would land on her windowsill, stare at her through the glass, then flutter away.

Over time, she’d come to expect God’s little love messages, for they came almost every day. She’d whisper, hopefully, “What will it be today, Father? A feather, a birdsong?”

I found myself leaning forward with eager ears as she finished her story.

“Just the other day,” she said, “I was out walking, and a robin flew above my head and landed on a wire close by. I knew that little bird was sent just for me. God, saying hello.”

I was astounded.

Never had I considered that a bird on a wire could be there just for me.

But this dear woman’s love for God, her simple hope, her everyday faith, inspired me to look for God everywhere from then on.

If God was truly, always reaching out to me, I didn’t want to miss his hugs or hellos or words of encouragement.

I was determined to embrace this kind of everyday faith for myself.

Embracing Everyday Faith for Myself

A short while later, I joined another Bible study, this time on the topic of faith, which was exactly what I wanted to grow in!

(And isn’t that just how God works? He plants a seed in our hearts, and when the time is right, he provides the food and water for the seed to grow.)

Through that study, I was inspired to search for evidence of God’s hand in every part of my day:

• If my son slept 15 minutes longer than usual in the morning, I’d thank God for gifting me the extra time for coffee and prayer.
• If a friend called to check on me, that was God supporting me.
• If I suffered through an uncomfortable doctor appointment, I’d thank God for carrying me through.
• If a bunny hopped across our front lawn, that was God saying hello. (Just to be clear, I’m not saying the bunny IS God. I’m saying God used the bunny to remind me he’s always with me.)
• If I was exhausted and miserable from an afternoon of soothing a crying baby, I’d thank God for using motherhood to grow my character.
• If I attended a wedding, I’d marvel at God’s plan to unite man and woman for his glory.
• If someone made me laugh, that was God cheering me up.
• If I met an elderly woman on walk, I smiled and greeted her because God had sent her into my day.

God was suddenly everywhere I looked. And I loved him for it.

Why I Choose to See God Everywhere, Every Day

You may feel that some of the items listed above are a bit of a stretch.

For instance, maybe the lady on the sidewalk just happened to be strolling at the same time as me, and it wasn’t a supernatural meet-up, and I shouldn’t place significance on common, everyday occurrences.

You may be right.

But I would like to share with you two reasons why I choose to see God everywhere every day – yes, even in the bunny on the front lawn.

Reason One: “If I Err, I’ll Err on the Side of Faith.”

You know that Bible study about faith I mentioned above? It was Beth Moore’s study Believing God. And in it, she said something that has stuck with me ever since.

Beth said (I’m paraphrasing from memory) that if she was going to err, she’d err on the side of faith.

In other words, when a bunny crosses my lawn, it’s okay if I believe it’s a random bunny doing random things while I randomly glance at my front lawn. Nothing wrong with that.

BUT –

• I can also choose to believe that God is all-powerful and even commands the animals. (Just think of how he caused a donkey to talk, ravens to feed Elijah, locusts to swarm, etc.)
• I can hold on to hope that God will send me another love message (and he does!).
• And I can feel love from God when I see the bunny, and I can love God for sending the bunny.

“If I err, I’ll err on the side of faith,” hope, and love.

“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

(1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV)

Reason Two: I See More with My Eyes Open

Imagine walking outside with your eyes shut tight, then demanding that God show you his handiwork in nature. How can he, if you refuse to open your eyes and look around?

I’ve learned that the more open I am to recognizing God’s hand in the ordinary and extraordinary details of my life, the more I notice. And the more my faith grows.

“Then Elisha prayed and said, ‘O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.’ So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

(2 Kings 6:17 ESV)

Finding God in the everyday moments of life takes practice. It’s like exercising a muscle.

God is everywhere, holding all things together. The more open you are to seeing God everywhere, the more you’ll find him.

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

(Colossians 1:15-17 NIV)

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I’m sharing with you my experiences and the lessons I’ve learned, not as a prescription or rule book, but as a message of hope. Do I already live every day, every moment with faith? Goodness, no. No one could, and no one will until Christ returns to perfect us. BUT, I’ve grown in faith, and I will continue to grow in faith as I continue to journey this life with my Savior and Guide.

“…[L]et us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith…”

Hebrews 12:1-2

What Does Everyday Faith Look Like?

Over the years, I’ve grown in my understanding of faith and how to incorporate that faith into my everyday life.

Before I share with you a few practical ways to grow in everyday faith today, it’s essential for us to understand what faith really is.

Christian faith is:

• believing Jesus is the Son of God who died to pay for our sins,
• believing Jesus defeated death and rose from the grave,
• believing Jesus ascended to the Father in heaven,
• believing Jesus sent his Holy Spirit to indwell all those who put their trust in him, and
• believing Jesus will one day grant us eternal life because of our faith in him.

Whew! That’s a mouthful.

Our Christian faith journey, however, doesn’t end there.

To be sure, Christian faith must begin by believing in what Jesus accomplished.

Praise God! Becoming a child of God is as simple as believing these truths and giving our lives to Jesus. That’s why people who come to Christ on their deathbed are gloriously saved by faith. They needn’t work to get to Heaven and be with Jesus.

But for those of us who continue living on earth after conversion, our faith journey shouldn’t end with this one decision of faith.

True faith in Jesus involves a lifelong growth process of trusting, loving, and obeying God. That’s because a personal relationship with Jesus changes us.

For a more in-depth look at how your relationship with Jesus Christ is a journey of ever-increasing freedom through Christ, check out this article: How to Gain Freedom Through Christ to Be yourself [3 Steps to Get You Started].

Not instantly, mind you.

But true faith, bit by bit, affects our daily lives by changing us from the inside out.

God is everywhere, holding all things together. The more open you are to seeing God everywhere, the more you’ll find him.

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Here are a several pictures of what faith looks like in the life journey of a growing Christian:

• Faith is getting to know God more and more.

“And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent.”

(John 17:3 AMPC)

• Faith is believing God is who he says he is – Savior, Master, Counselor, Father, Friend, and more.  

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

(Isaiah 9:6 NIV)

• Faith is hoping for the gift of eternal life, even though our eyes haven’t seen heaven, yet.

“Faith is a sure confidence of things that are hoped for, and a certainty of things that are not seen.”

(Hebrews 11:1 NMB)

• Faith is growing in character by the power of the Holy Spirit.

“But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].”

(Galatians 5: 22-24 AMPC)

• Faith is obeying God, one step at a time, even though we can’t see the end of the journey.

“But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him.”

(1 John 2:5 NLT)

• Faith is pursuing prayer, even when we haven’t seen results, yet.

“Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you.”

(Matthew 7:7 AMP)

• Faith is the thrill of knowing that no matter how well I know God, he is always more – the journey of faith is never-ending and ever-increasing.

“Frankly, I stand amazed at the unfathomable complexity of God’s wisdom and God’s knowledge. How could man ever understand his reasons for action, or explain his methods of working? For: ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become his counsellor?’ ‘Or who has first given to him and it shall be repaid to him?’”

(Romans 11:33-35 PHILLIPS)

Now let’s discover how to grow in this kind of faith – the kind that permeates your every day.

Practical Ways to Grow in Everyday Faith Today

Here are a few practical steps you can take today to progress on your journey of growing in everyday faith.

(For even more ideas to activate faith in your life, grab this free printable: 31 Practical Ways to Grow in Everyday Faith – Checklist and Guide.)

1.      Instill God’s Truth About Faith into Your Heart

Here are a few verses to encourage you in your faith growing process:

• We can trust that Jesus will continue to teach us and grow our faith.
  • “…[looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfector of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity]…” (Hebrews 12:2 AMP)

• We can be free from condemnation during our faith journey because God himself has gifted us with the faith we have.
  • “…God has measured out a portion of faith to each one of you.” (Romans 12:3b CEB)

• We can ask God to reveal to us, as individuals, how to increase our faith.
  • “The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Show us how to increase our faith.’” (Luke 17:5 NLT)

Practical Application:

As a practical way to step forward in faith, I encourage you to complete at least one of the following action steps for each verse:

1. Memorize the verse to instill God’s truth about faith into your heart.
2. Tape the verse to your kitchen window to review while washing dishes or cooking.
3. Read the verse aloud during your quiet time with God and ask him to fulfill his Word in you.

(For even more ideas to activate faith in your life, grab this free printable: 31 Practical Ways to Grow in Everyday Faith – Checklist and Guide.)

2.      Be Honest About Your Faith

You don’t have to pretend with God.

Remember Romans 12:3 from above? Well, here’s the full verse:

“Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.”

(Romans 12:3 NLT)

God knows you, and he knows how he’s gifted you. And he loves to give even more gifts!

Going forward from today, be honest about how you feel, what you think, and what you believe. Never hesitate to come to God and say, “Increase my faith!”

Remember how I shared earlier about God sending me love messages through nature, such as a bunny crossing my lawn? Well, whether God intentionally sends those bunnies or not, I believe he’s pleased with my faith. In fact, I believe it’s my faith that prompts him to send more bunnies my way. I think he likes that I’m expecting his “Hello.”

God also knows how he made you, and he loves how your mind works.

Practical Application:

Imagine you spot a bunny crossing your yard, then complete the following mini quiz.

Mini Quiz:

Which of the following scenarios best reflects your reaction?

• Scenario One: You’re grateful that you happened to see the bunny at just that moment. What a treat!
• Scenario Two: The bunny reminds you of your belief that God made everything and every creature.
• Scenario Three: You thank God for where you live, that bunnies frequent your area, giving you opportunities to enjoy God’s creation.
• Scenario Four: You believe (with gusto!) that God sent that exact bunny at that exact moment just for you.

Whichever scenario best fits your faith and personality, you can be sure that God is pleased with your faith in how he made the world.

(For even more ideas to activate faith in your life, grab this free printable: 31 Practical Ways to Grow in Everyday Faith – Checklist and Guide.)

3.      Practice Recognizing God in the Everyday

When I heard Vera’s story about the bird outside her window, it sparked faith inside me, and I began finding God everywhere, every day!

You can – with practice – begin to recognize God in your everyday, too.

Practical Application:

Read the following examples of practicing faith in the everyday. Pick one to try.

• You can fold your laundry with faith. How? By believing that your work is done unto the Lord, with every fold of every shirt, you are glorifying God with your body.

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

(Colossians 3:23-24 ESV)

• You can read a book on the couch under your favourite blanket with faith. How? By trusting God to speak to you through the book, comfort you through the book, relieve stress in your body through the book, or even to convict you through His Holy Spirit to put DOWN the book, if needed.

“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”

(Isaiah 30:21 ESV)

• You can thank God for sending you a day of sunshine and above-average temperatures with faith. Why? Because:

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above…”

(James 1:17 AMP)

(For even more ideas to activate faith in your life, grab this free printable: 31 Practical Ways to Grow in Everyday Faith – Checklist and Guide.)

Let’s Grow in Faith Together!

Remember, every Christian’s journey to increasing faith will look different.

God is creative and wise. He knows how he made you, which means he’ll guide you along a faith journey perfectly suited to you.

• You can be confident that it is possible for faith to permeate your life, to infiltrate even your most mundane moments and elevate the significance of your highest highs.
• You can be confident that as you open your eyes and heart to find God in the everyday, he will continue to reveal himself to you and help you grow in faith.
• You can be confident that, although God has called us to put our faith into action, we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ and not by works.

Let’s grow in faith together – faith that focuses on Jesus Christ – every day.

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With love,