We know that our faith is supposed to be built up through prayer, but it’s hard to know how this can happen. St. John of Kronstadt gives us one key—honesty:

If you wish that God should speedily give you hearty faith in prayer, strive with all your heart to speak and to do everything in regard to other people sincerely, and never be deceitful in your dealings with them. If you are straightforward and truthful with others, then God will give you straightforwardness and sincere faith also in reference to Himself.

The only way to grow in our faith in the God of Truth is to be true ourselves.