This blog is based on a message by Pastor Todd Cosenza.
Faith is already in you—now let it grow
If you know the Lord Jesus, you already have faith. It took faith to be saved. The goal isn’t to manufacture faith from scratch but to give your faith a little booster shot—an increase so that faith becomes the steady rhythm of your life, not an emergency tool you pull out once in a while.
Scripture that shapes the message
Pastor Todd anchors the talk in these passages:
- Hebrews 10:36–39 — Persevere and don’t shrink back.
- Habakkuk 2:4 — “The righteous will live by faith.”
- Hebrews 11:1–4 — Faith defined and early examples (including Abel).
- Genesis 4 — The story of Cain and Abel, illustrating offerings made by faith.
What it means to “live by faith”
Hebrews 11:1 gives a practical definition:
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
That definition has two parts:
- Internal clarity — Know what you want. Faith starts with vision and a clear internal conviction about the desire or promise you are trusting God for.
- External assurance — Be convinced about what you cannot yet see. You act and live as if the unseen promises are already on their way.
Faith is not occasional—it’s daily breathing
Pastor Todd compares faith to breathing. You don’t breathe only when you feel like it or only when you face an emergency. Faith should be that constant, continuous inhaling and exhaling toward God. To “live by faith” means faith is the daily way you operate—trusting God moment by moment.
Hebrews 10:38 quotes Habakkuk to emphasize this: “the righteous will live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). The Hebrew behind “live by faith” is rich—it carries ideas like make alive, nourish, restore, preserve and be whole. A steady life of faith does more than win isolated victories; it produces life, repair, and wholeness.
There is no spiritual middle ground
Using a vivid image—rolling a ball up a ramp—Pastor Todd points out: either the ball has enough momentum to continue upward or it rolls back. There is no place where it just sits. Spiritually, you are either moving forward by faith or you are shrinking back and sliding backward. Hebrews 10:39 summarizes it: “But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.”
God commends faith even when the outcome waits
Hebrews 11:2 explains that the ancients were commended for their faith. Some received the things they hoped for in their lifetime; others did not, yet they were still praised for trusting God. Pastor Todd emphasizes: when you step out in faith—even if the visible result hasn’t arrived—God notices and will reward and commend you.
Examples given include praying for a friend who later passed. That prayer was not a failure; God commends faith. Likewise, a congregation’s effort toward a building project that was postponed was not judged as a lack of faith. God honors the faithfulness of the heart.
Faith follows God’s own pattern
Hebrews 11:3 reminds us that God created the universe from nothing—what is seen was not made out of what was visible. God modeled faith first: He had an internal vision, then brought the unseen into being. We are invited to walk in the same path—seeing inwardly what is not yet visible outwardly and partnering with God to bring it to life.
Offer God your very best—this is the engine of faith
Abel’s story (Hebrews 11:4; Genesis 4) illustrates the heart of living by faith. Abel gave the fat portions, the firstborn—his very best. Cain gave only a token. The difference was faith. Living by faith means making your life an offering of your best to God—not just in giving money, but in time, energy, attention, and the choices you make every day.
This is the train engine, not merely a car attached to the train: when you give God your best, you free yourself to move forward. The posture is:
- Give the best of your energy to worship, service, and loving others, trusting God to replenish your strength.
- Give the best of your time, trusting God to multiply opportunities and seasons.
- Give the best of your resources—money, skills, influence—believing God will reward and bless the generosity of faith.
Practical steps to apply this faith booster
Here are simple, intentional ways to make faith your daily practice:
- Get clarity. Ask God, “What do you want me to pursue?” Be specific—faith starts with knowing.
- Declare assurance. Even if you don’t see it yet, live as if the promise is being formed inside you.
- Offer your best. Put your time, energy, and resources on the altar—like Abel’s fat portions—then release them to God.
- Persist. Hebrews 10:36 calls for perseverance; expect opposition and refuse to shrink back.
- Practice breathing faith. Make short, daily moments of trust part of your routine: before you get out of bed, in the middle of your day, and before sleep.
Closing encouragement
This is your faith booster shot: a reminder that faith is meant to be lived, not used only in crises. A life that constantly expresses faith produces nourishment, restoration, and wholeness. God commends faith—even when the visible result is delayed. So choose today to live by faith, offer your best, and keep walking forward.
Application Questions
- What specific thing do you need clarity about right now? How can you describe it in one sentence to God?
- Where in your life are you holding back instead of offering your best? What would it look like to give that to God this week?
- What daily habit will remind you to “breathe by faith”? (Morning prayer, a short declaration, journaling a promise, etc.)
