Faith is the guiding force in my life. My faith is reflected in how I approach my day. It affects my choices and inspires me to be a better person. I prepare for my day by nourishing my mind and heart in the presence of Jesus. I read my Bible to strengthen my faith and keep me grounded in what truly matters. I call it priming the pump of faith.

But what does it mean to “prime the pump of faith?”

First, I’ve got a story about how this article came about. It all started with our leaking lake pump. We use our pump to draw water from the lake to nourish the lawn and flowers on our property. This is a common practice on many lakes around the US.

This pump is older and has been losing its prime. Meaning the water that should remain in the pump reservoir is leaking. This reservoir needs a small amount of water to create pressure to pull water from the lake. We must manually refill it when it empties to start the water flowing again. Because of the leak, we’ve been running the pump daily to keep it primed so it has the power to water the vegetation.

How does this relate to our faith?

Understanding Priming the Pump of Faith

Much like the reservoir of a pump needs some remaining water to draw water through the system, we need to keep our faith primed to draw upon the power of the Holy Spirit and live life to the fullness God intended.

We must keep our faith primed so the living Word can circulate in our minds and hearts to nourish our souls.

God’s Word keeps your faith primed for action. Reading or listening to it each day helps you live in the strength and power of the Holy Spirit. It provides you with hope, courage, and resilience in the face of adversity. You find wisdom in its pages and examples of how to live as a follower of Jesus. Your daily bread keeps you connected to the Lord and nourishes you daily.

When we read God’s Word, we deepen our relationship with our Creator, who loves and knows us intimately. We are precious to Him, and He wants to spend time together.

His Word gives life, light, and nourishment to walk on this earth and follow His ways. It holds the truths of who God is and who we are in Him. Knowing God is the foundation for a life with purpose, peace, and joy.

 

Practical Steps to Prime your Pump of Faith:

Chat with God daily.

1. Read (listen) a portion of Scripture each day. As you read, underline the words that explain the character of God and then highlight the words that describe who you are as His daughter.
2. Write down what you heard as you read the passage. Did anything stand out, a particular verse or word?
3. Reflect on what you read. Look up any word that stood out. What is God calling you to apply in your life today?
4. Thank God for what He showed you about Himself in the passage. Praise Him for how you’ve experienced His presence in your day.

Use a notebook to record your thoughts. At the end of the month, look back over what you wrote. Look for any repeated ideas God might be showing you. Highlight what was impactful during the month and praise Him for how He is growing your faith and your relationship with Him.

Use notecards to collect your prayers, thoughts, and concerns. Write them on one side and record how God has answered on the other.

Connect with a community of other believers to share what you’ve been learning. Or meet a friend for coffee and share what God is doing in your life.

A Primed Faith

Priming the Pump of Faith is an ongoing process and requires intentionality. Faith is a personal journey. No two are alike because God has uniquely wired us. Sometimes it can feel like one step forward and two steps back, but each challenge teaches something about ourselves and God’s faithfulness.

Priming our pump of faith is worth the investment in time. God has so much He desires to share with us. We won’t understand everything there is to know about God, and that’s ok. But as we spend time with Him daily, our faith will be nourished, and our relationship with Him will deepen. We can live a life of purpose, peace, and joy with Him. And as we do, we will encounter His presence in the ordinary moments of our day.