"My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory" (Philippians 4:19), wrote Paul to his disciples. This is a formula of an immutable spiritual law. Speaking of "riches in glory", he meant God's substance which can be appropriated and shaped in order to meet every human need.

We get hold on this generous and abundant substance through faith and corresponding actions.

It has been said that faith without works is dead. This statement should be reconsidered in the light of our now understanding faith. Faith is not just a religious dogma, and, as a result, "works of faith" are not just religious observances or rituals. First of all, faith is the power to shape substance. It is active and dynamic. Activity of faith starts on the invisible plane, from which it naturally flows into the world of manifestations.

We all are known by our outward expressions. So, looking at someone, we usually don't need to ask that person about his/her beliefs. They are evident by what he/she says and what he/she does. Our light, or lack thereof, cannot be hidden.

Faith should not be reduced to theorizing or intellectual speculations. It should move us to act as we never acted before, to enlarge our sphere of involvement and influence. Faith promotes expansion, new interests, new endeavours, and new achievements.

One lady wrote to her spiritual teacher a following letter:

"Please expect big things of me, and help me to pass your expectations! I'm not asking for flattery; I'm begging you to take me out of my safety zone, where nothing happens, and take me to that point of no return where everything happens".

She expressed genuine spirit of faith. It is the nature of faith to challenge and to inspire us, and if this does not happen, faith is dead. However, the word "dead" is too strong, and it should not be taken literally. I am convinced that faith within a person cannot be dead but it can be grievously neglected and undeveloped.

Some people think that faith is the key to eternal security. In a sense, they are right. But our security lies only in upward and forward movement, not in coward attempts to hide from life. Our security lies not in attempts to protect our inward and outward possessions at all cost, but in stretching beyond ourselves.

The practical way to exercise faith is trying to do something new and challenging every day. Unless we act in such a way, we will never know how much we're able to do. At the same time, there are no reasons to be in a hurry. Let us not attempt to move mountains before we get used to move stones.

To act in faith, we do not need to ask permissions of others, or to seek their approval. This would indicate that we don't value the authority and inspiration of God within us.

Faith is a mixture of trust in God and self-reliance. They are not opposed to each other, as many spiritual seekers think, but supplement each other.

The Bible says of Abraham (who symbolizes the quality of unfolding faith) that "faith worked with his works, and from the works faith was made complete" (James 2:22). Acting in faith, we acquire greater faith and greater power - for work at higher level.

Are there limits for the development of faith? It is difficult to answer this question. But is is clear enough that the vast majority of us haven't reached our limits.