Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4). We as Christians are world overcomers. But the victory we have has been provided to us and not because of us. The bible says that the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in us (Romans 8:11). As God begins to bless others through us, His children, lets remember that the results we see here in this life is because of the one who lives in us and not because us.
Living by faith is something that cannot be done passively. Living by faith is an ongoing process. The bible tells us to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12) which tells me that faith in God’s Word is something that I’ll have to contend for. But in my contention for the faith, character is being built. Assurance in that which I’ve given my life over to is being reinforced. My beliefs are being established and testimonies of the goodness of God are being collected which can be shared with those who follow behind.
Faith lives in a realm of existence that’s outside of that which can be seen or touched. Faith thrives in a place where the senses cannot roam. So if I am to believe that which my senses are unaware of, there has to be a guide or roadmap to show me what exists beyond my senses. That roadmap is God’s Word. The bible is the substance, the tangibility, the evidence, the proof of the things we cannot see (Hebrews 1:11). Allow it to lead and guide you. Stand on God’s Word, for He shall surely bring it to pass in your life.
First impressions speak volumes. They can both attract or deflect people. The bible calls us ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). We are His representatives here in the earth. Our quest to win the lost begins long before we open our mouths to utter anything about God. We’re being watched. We’re being judged. We can’t afford to allow anything to taint the image of the one we’ve been sent to represent. Let’s work to create an image of Christ in our physical bodies that speaks exceedingly well of Him.
Joy of the Lord is here. It doesn’t leave when things go wrong in our lives, then come back when times are good. Joy is here. It’s here whether we feel joyful or not. Resist the temptation to attach joy to a thing, a place, a person or a status of life. Joy is a spiritual force. The bible calls it our strength. So when trying times come, tap into the joy that is within you, regardless of how you feel. Energize yourself by tapping into joy and overcome the circumstances of life with the strength of joy that is within you.
Focus your attention on the things of God and you’ll deal with problems with the greatest of ease. Why and how can this be? Because your problem will become a blur. It’ll be reduced to background noise in your life. The bible has a lot to say about the mind and what we focus our attention on. Colossians 3:2 tells us to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. When we set our minds on something, everything else becomes a blur and what we focus on becomes larger than life. When we set our minds on the Word of God the walk of faith becomes a cake walk.
Sinner saved by grace is a phrase I’ve heard my brothers and sisters in Christ describe themselves as. And quite frankly I’ve never understood it. It’s like describing yourself as being clothed and naked at the same time. Someone who was once a sinner, but who has been saved by grace is no longer a sinner. Once born again the bible calls us the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). So if you’re a sinner, I would encourage you to join the family of God! Become a new creature in Christ Jesus (Romans 10:9-10). If you’re a Christian, identify yourself with Christ and understand that it’s impossible to be a sinner saved by grace.
Becoming Christlike in our spiritual journey requires us to set our hearts on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:2). The bible tells us that Christ came and gave us an example in that we should follow in His steps (1 Peter 2:21). Following an example that is less than the one Christ left us, in any area of life, is to follow an example that will yield results that are less than Christlike. If we have a mentor who showed us how to overcome, why would we strive to follow a lessor example?
The Source of Lies is our arch enemy, Satan (John 8:44). We all have an internal voice which speaks to us continuously. It’s vitally important that we learn to identify the source of the voice that we hear within. The bible says that the father of lies was a liar from the beginning. It goes on to say that there is no truth in him. When you identify the source you’re hearing as Satan, immediately dismiss what he’s saying. If the father of lies is speaking to you, he’s lying to you. He’s lying to you about who you are, what you have or what you can do in Christ. He is the source of all lies.
Life and peace are rare commodities in this day and age. Yet, the bible tells us how to obtain these precious virtues. Romans 8:6 says, “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace”. Anxiety is the current “hot topic” in the world. And rightly so, considering where we currently are as a society. But God beat us to the punch. He gave us an answer for anxiety and the cares of this world before they ever came on the scene.
Uncovering lies of the enemy should be our quest in life. However uncovering his lies isn’t enough. We must be prayerful in seeking the truth which is to replace these lies. The scriptures say “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). I’d like to focus on the “rightly dividing the Word of Truth” portion of this verse for a moment. It’s discovering truth within “the Word of Truth” which is the bible, that replaces the lies we may have been exposed to all our lives. The truth, when embraced will make one free.
The Peace of God ruling and reigning over our hearts and minds gives us the courage to face any adversity in life. But how is such peace obtained? The key to experiencing the Peace of God is anchoring our minds on God and what He has spoken to us in His Word to us…the Bible. According to Isaiah 26:3-4, the result of tethering our minds to God’s Word is called “Perfect Peace“.