Stand Firm in Your Faith

He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
Psalm 40:2 ESV

The key to standing firm in your faith and keep believing in His promises is by focusing on the word, which is the absolute truth and not in your circumstances and what is going around you. God’s truth and His word always takes precedent over your circumstances.

Renewing our minds daily in the word and keeping our focus fixed on the absolute truths of the word of God is crucial especially in the days we live in where deception and lies are prevalent.

Keep in Step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-25)

Paul states in the scripture that we are to walk by the Spirit so you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. He states many works of the flesh to stay away from otherwise we won’t enter the kingdom of God. Paul calls us to walk in the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness and self-control. He says that those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Therefore, we are called to live by the Spirit and not by the flesh. The Spirit reveals to us God’s will in His word whilst the flesh will look at the circumstances around us. Renewing your mind in the word will help align your soul to His will and truth which would also help you stand and not be double-minded.

Building on a Solid Foundation (Matthew 7:24-29)

Jesus calls us to listen to His teachings and His word and only when you follow it you would be wise like a person who builds a house on solid rock because that house is built on an unshakable foundation. The rains may fall, and the floods may come, fierce winds may beat upon this house, but it will stand firm because of its strong foundation, the rock, that is in Christ Jesus (Matthew 7:24-25). The rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He (Deuteronomy 32:4).

We are to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the word of God, be sober-minded and watchful because our adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). 1 Peter 5:9 states that we are to resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

How do we resist the devil? James 4:7-10 shows us that we are to firstly humbly, submit ourselves to God then we are able to resist the devil and then he will flee from us. It also says we are to draw near to God, and He will draw near to us, to cleanse our hands, purify our hearts and not be double-minded and once we humbly come before Him, He will exalt us in due season.

When, at times, it may seem you cannot find your faith and are tempted to give up, lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees (Hebrews 12: 12). Therefore, be made strong even in your weakness by lifting up your tired hands in prayer, praise and worship and strengthen your weak and trembling knees by kneeling also in prayer, praise and worship, for as you keep walking forward on God’s paths all your stumbling ways will be divinely healed! (Hebrews 12: 13). Let us keep pressing toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14).

Lift up your eyes to the hills from where your help comes from, from the Lord who made heaven and earth (Psalm 121:1-2). His grace is always sufficient for you, for His power is made perfect in weakness therefore when you are weak, then you are strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Jesus states in Luke 10:19 AMP that He has given us authority [that we now possess] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and [the ability to exercise authority] over all the power of the enemy (Satan); and nothing will [in any way] harm us. God has put all things under Jesus’ authority, except God Himself (1 Corinthians 15:27). As believers of Jesus Christ, we are joint-heirs with Him (Romans 8:17). Therefore, as joint-heirs with Christ everything is also put under our feet giving us dominion upon this earth. Satan may have power, but we have power, dominion and authority upon this earth.

Satan has no power over us, only the power that we give him.

To fight against the enemy the scriptures teach us to cast down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12), be on guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous and be strong (1 Corinthians 16:13).

In Matthew 4 when Jesus was tested in the wilderness by Satan, we see how effectively Jesus fought and opposed the devil and won. He used the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. The word of God needs to be so deep within us and a part of us that we are able to use it against the enemy at any time upon his onslaught. We are to arm ourselves with the scriptures and be ready and waiting. It’s not sufficient only knowing the scriptures but knowing it’s meaning within its context is very important. We are to seek God for a deeper understanding of the scriptures so that we aren’t easily deceived. We are to also know, believe and stand firm in many truths of the Bible in its entirety, NOT partly. In this chapter Satan also knew the scriptures but he tried to pervert the scriptures in order to trap Jesus. Of course, he could not succeed since Jesus was the word made flesh (John 1:14) and thus was one with the scriptures. Therefore, if our King and Lord used the scriptures to fight against Satan, how much more should we be studying and arming ourselves with the word, becoming one with the word to fight against our enemy when he seeks to kill and devour us.

2 Chronicles 20:15, 17 says to do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s, you will not need to fight in this battle. It also tells us to stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.

How to stand firm in this evil day? Ephesians 6:11, 16 tells us to put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes and in all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. Upon your salvation you gained an enemy and entered a war where your enemy wants to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10) you. Although the war has already been won by our savior Jesus Christ, we still are required to stand firm in battle to not allow the devil to steal the word that’s in our hearts so that he won’t be able to kill or destroy us.

So put on God’s armor by saying this prayer that is based mainly on Ephesians 6:10-20 before you start your day to stand firm against your enemy, the devil.

Heavenly Father I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity to come before You to put on Your armor. I declare that I am strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Father, I put on the whole armor of God so that I am able to stand against the wiles and schemes of the devil in the evil day, having done all, to stand firm. I fasten on the belt of Your truth and put on the breastplate of Your righteousness, to guard my heart for out of it are the issues of life and everything I do flows from it (Proverbs 4:23). For I am the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). As shoes for my feet, I put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace, Your peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7), so that I may share your gospel at anytime and anywhere. Above all else I lift up my shield of faith that I have in Christ to quench all of the fiery darts of the evil one. I take up my helmet of salvation to protect my mind from the devil’s lies and deceits, knowing that is by grace I have been saved through faith, not at my own doing; it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). I take up my sword of the Spirit which is the word of God that I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you Father (Psalm 119:11). Jesus help me to be alert and conscious and to persevere and remember to always come to you in my time of need, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. I pray also Holy Spirit, that You give Your saints and I the right words and boldness to proclaim the mystery of the gospel. I pray all of this in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.