Walking by faith and not by sight is a constant exercise through life, it’s not a “one and done” deal. Exercising those faith muscles requires a spiritual endurance that no matter HOW old you are in Christ is a work out EVERY TIME. (Take it from one who accepted Christ 34 years ago 🙂 ). What are you going through? What are you believing God for? Don’t stop! Your blessing or answer could just be right around the corner! Press on soldier, we are a fighting a battle that God has ALREADY through Jesus won! The Bible says in Revelations 12:11:
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
This is where we dig our heels deep into our faith, this is where we read our Bibles to get strength from the examples of those who walked the great walk of faith before us! This is where we determine to look at things with our spiritual eyes and NOT with our natural ones. If you are going through a trial or tribulation, if you are struggling DON’T LISTEN to the taunts of the enemy! He’s a liar! The very last thing he wants is for you to be victorious in Christ! But here is the thing:
JESUS HAS ALREADY WON THE BATTLE THROUGH HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION
JESUS HAS DEFEATED SIN! DEFEATED DEATH! WE ARE VICTORIOUS IN HIM!
Hey, we are NOT to be led by our feelings but by our FAITH! If you are struggling right now, instead of focusing on the problem, focus on what God has brought you through in the past! Sometimes we have to encourage ourselves! God IS not a good that He would lie! This is where we hold on to our promises! This is where we allow Holy Spirit to bring to our remembrances the scriptures that we have hidden in our heart, for a time such as this! Jesus never said as believers our lives would be easy, on the contrary – Jesus said the following in John 16:33:
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Romans 8:5 tells us:
“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.”
I know when we are going through it goes against the grain of our feelings, but one of the things that we need to remember is that there is POWER in PRAISE. No matter what we go through in life, God is STILL worthy of praise. Praising God angers the enemy, he doesn’t want us to praise God, that’s why he presses us and does everything he can to try to get us to turn FROM God. There really IS power in praise and God asks us to do this, not because He NEEDS our praise, but He knows that it allows Holy Spirit to empower us. Want an example of what I’m talking about? Take a look at the story of Paul and Silas in Acts 16:16-40 below:
“Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her. When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household. When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.” But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.” The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed. They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city. After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them. “
Notice how Paul and Silas sang songs of praise in spite of the situation they were in – and a mighty deliverance occurred, not only for them – but the jailer AND the jailer’s household were ALL saved! No matter what we go through in life, God IS worthy of praise and we must ALWAYS deem in our hearts to praise Him. Praise is a POWERFUL weapon, in this case it set the captives free! Never doubt that God IS able to do GREAT things, even if it looks impossible in the natural, earthly realm it IS possible with God. And I will say this – God IS the same today as He was yesterday as He will be tomorrow!
GOD DOESN’T CHANGE!
Luke 1:37 tells us:
“For nothing will be impossible with God.”
There is NO situation that is bigger or greater than God. Sometimes we have to remember that we only see in part, but God sees in full. God IS trustworthy and our steps are ordained by Him.
We also have to remember that when God brings us through things in life, it becomes part of our testimony – something to share with others as to what God has taught us, what God has done in our lives, because OUR God is NOT dead, He is very much alive and He is AND wants to use you as His vessel to show and testify to the truth of His Word, as those who proceeded us did in the Word of God.
GOD IS FAITHFUL!
We are to walk by faith and NOT by sight and there are times when we just don’t know HOW God is going to deliver us through trying times, He never said we wouldn’t have them – but He DID say He would be there for us. Joshua 1:9 says:
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Psalm 23:4 says:
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
God IS still doing the same thing now as He did in the Bible with the disciples with us. He is STILL healing, STILL providing, STILL blessing, STILL saving in my life and in your life too. You only have to ask for eyes to see, ears to hear, a nose to smell His sweet fragrance and a heart to receive ALL the Father wants to reveal in your walk with Him to you.
God IS able and He definitely IS willing! There is power in our words, what we speak over ourselves, our homes, our loved ones.
BE CAREFUL THAT YOU ARE NOT UNKNOWINGLY SPEAKING CURSES DOWN UPON YOUR FAMILY BY YOUR WORDS!
REMEMBER THAT OUR WALK IS ONE OF FAITH NOT SIGHT!
There is a strong battle going on in the spiritual realm, we always have to be conscientious of that! But in doing so, don’t be filled with fear but faith! Praise Him with your words – even if it means opening up the book of Psalms and reading them out loud! Sometimes we have to encourage ourselves in Him! John 1:14 shows how powerful words are – the scripture below indicates that!
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
God is greater than ANYTHING that troubles us, we just have to have faith, walk with endurance and pray, praise Him for His faithfulness, and most of all believe. God IS in control – no matter what the world would says, no matter what you encounter, God IS great and He is greater! Praise His name!
9
0
20