"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." II Timothy 1:7
Jesus never promised that when we choose to follow Him, everything would be easy. But, He did promise that He would be with us in the midst of the storms. Life with Jesus does not mean it is always smooth sailing, but it does mean He will guide us through it all.
John 16:23: "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. "
The Lord reminds us that we will have troubles, but He also tells us to take heart because He is the victor over all of life's circumstances. And when He lives within us, we are victorious as well.
What do you do to get through life's battles?
How do you respond to painful shots?
When we face hard times, the Bible encourages us to do these things:
I Corinthians 16:13: "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. "
1. Be on Your Guard
Being on guard means staying sober and alert. However, we often become spiritually hypnotized by fear; we get caught in a trance of confusion, bitterness, hopelessness, and frustration when facing life complications. This state causes us to lose focus on our faith and our trust in God's promises. When we allow circumstances to rattle our defense, we can easily let our guard down. When our guard is down, we are vulnerable to attacks.
2. Stand Firm in Faith
The word fear comes from the Old English word "faer," meaning sudden ambush or attack. That is exactly what fear does—it attacks us spiritually and ambushes our trust in God. Faith is what helps us to stand firm against fear's attack. And when our faith is strong, we are protected against the enemy's shots.
3. Be Courageous
Joshua and the people of Israel were preparing to go into Jericho to begin the conquest of the Promised Land when the Lord spoke to Joshua: "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." Joshua 1:9.
Fear will stop you from reaching your God-given goals and dreams. The way to overcome fear is by girding up the loins of your mind with courage and determination, trusting in the promises of God. If you move in faith, God will move with you.
4. Faith is our Greatest Weapon
The Bible tells us in Ephesians to put on the whole armor of God. One of the pieces in this armor is the shield of faith.
Ephesians 6:16: "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. "
Faith can extinguish all the flaming arrows. Notice the scripture does not just say "arrows," but it says "the flaming arrows." And not just some of them, but "ALL" of them.
Faith is our greatest weapon against the attack of the enemy and challenging life circumstances. No matter how many arrows get shot at us or how fiery they are, faith fortifies our position in Christ.
Conclusion:
A Christian and Philippine Politician, Corazon Aquino, once said, "Faith is not simply a patience that passively suffers until the storm is past. Rather, it is a spirit that bears things—with resignations, yes, but above all, with blazing, serene hope."
"But my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him." Hebrews 10:38.
Have a Blessed Week
Pastor (Rev. Elias Limones)
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