The just shall live by faith
Romans 1:17
God wants you to move from a survival mentality to a position of ruling and reigning; from just getting by, to really believing Him '...to do exceedingly abundantly above all that [you] ask or think...' (Ephesians 3:20 NKJV). You're not told to cope with the devil, you're told to resist him and he will flee from you (James 4:7). The Greek word for flee means 'to run in terror'. Picture yourself waking up in the morning and the devil saying, 'Help, they're up again!' Paul writes, '[Don't] give place to the devil' (Ephesians 4:27 NKJV). Satan has no place in your life unless you give it to him!
His goal is to separate you from your faith, because faith is what pleases God (Hebrews 11:6). Faith makes you an overcomer (1 John 5:4). Faith brings answers to your prayers. '...when you pray... believe that you receive... and you will have them' (Mark 11:24 NKJV). If you really believe that, you'll act on it. The Bible says, 'Fight the good fight of faith...' (1 Timothy 6:12), so there must be enemies of our faith. And one of faith's biggest enemies is your ignorance of God's Word. 'My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee...' (Hosea 4:6). Medical science teaches that you can be exposed to a disease and not get it because you've been inoculated against it. Likewise, religiosity can inoculate you against real faith. Negative people can do that too. You say, 'How can I strengthen my faith?' The Bible says, 'Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God' (Romans 10:17 NKJV). So live in God's Word.
Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.
His goal is to separate you from your faith, because faith is what pleases God (Hebrews 11:6). Faith makes you an overcomer (1 John 5:4). Faith brings answers to your prayers. '...when you pray... believe that you receive... and you will have them' (Mark 11:24 NKJV). If you really believe that, you'll act on it. The Bible says, 'Fight the good fight of faith...' (1 Timothy 6:12), so there must be enemies of our faith. And one of faith's biggest enemies is your ignorance of God's Word. 'My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee...' (Hosea 4:6). Medical science teaches that you can be exposed to a disease and not get it because you've been inoculated against it. Likewise, religiosity can inoculate you against real faith. Negative people can do that too. You say, 'How can I strengthen my faith?' The Bible says, 'Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God' (Romans 10:17 NKJV). So live in God's Word.
Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.
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