Practicing Faith

 

     Practicing your faith is how you prepare for spiritual warfare.  You have to exercise and workout what you believe to be able to stand firm when it matters.  You have to know what the Bible says to be convicted to stand true to it.  You are investing your time and energy into your relationship with God.  This may cost you sleep, free time, or in some other way, but it makes you stronger in the long run.

    Faith is a commitment signed at salvation in the blood of Jesus and you admitting you need him.  You declaring your faith makes a statement of where you stand in the world and who you belong to.  It is the beginning of building your foundation in faith.  It goes deep and is strong.  You can be confident that it will hold up against any enemy if you do it God's way.  If you build it on your own without God it will crumble to dust.

    The shield of faith is heavy, but not nearly as heavy to fight the eternal battle without it.  It's barrier is your trust in God.  The more you pick it up the easier it becomes because your faith is getting stronger.  God will prove Himself consistent.  It is you that has to prove it to yourself to be faithful.  

    Your faith does not control God, but it gives you self-control and clarity in how God is directing you.  Faith simply gives you access to God.  He is the one in control.  You can get with His program or you can walk away and loose grace.  Having faith is about God, not you.  It is you submitting to His authority and trusting that it is right.  You become loyal to your eternal family.

    Your faith allows you to be in God's presence to know Him better.  The better you know Him the more you understand.  Change comes with understanding, but you are the one who changes not God.  Your faith becomes stronger with understanding that turns into wisdom.  It enables you to carry the weight of faith.  

    A key factor to faith is forgiveness.  The weight of faith becomes a lot easier to carry when you are able to forgive.  Bitterness, anger, and hatred are heavy loads that deplete your endurance and ability to love.  They will make it where you are unable to move forward or hold the shield of faith for any battle.  Forgiveness is essential to be able to carry the shield of faith.  Let go of grudges and hurt feelings to be strong.  It doesn't make you a pushover.  It makes you are warrior whom mind will not be muddled by negative feelings.  It helps you from succumbing to fear, doubt, or evil thoughts.

    You only need a little faith.  It goes a long way.  A little faith can move mountains, but you do have to believe.  Faith in God in all things is good faith.  When you are struggling to move forward you only need to lean on God more.  You don't need more faith you need more dependance.  Practicing your faith is practicing in changing your perspective on situations and who God is.  Challenge your focus to understand Jesus better.  This is how anything becomes possible.

Deuteronomy 7:7-11, Psalm 36:5-9, 100, Isaiah 25:1-3, Matthew 6:28-30, 8:26, 16:7-11, Luke 17:5-6, 1 Corinthians 10:12-13, Ephesians 2:8-10, 6:13-16, 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5, & 2 Timothy 2:11-13

Faith Strategy

 

    Faith is your action strategy for spiritual warfare.  It is your shield from Satan's fiery arrows.  When you enter into spiritual warfare it is a risk, but with a wise strategy, sound direction, and clarity it is a lot less risky than doing nothing.  You can be secure in your actions instead of acting impulsively.  

    When Satan is shooting his arrows, they are meant to kill your testimony, drive, or even your life.  If they hit and get past your armor then he causes doubt, insecurity, temptation, guilt, depression, and more things that steal your ability to live abundantly.  Every arrow that hits is a short win for Satan.  He knows your habits, attitude, how you think, fears, and weaknesses.  He will use what he knows to make a strategic plan.  He is not stupid, but he is not too creative either.  

    Satan's main strategy is to keep you busy, distracted, or confused.  All of these will keep you from serving God's plan for your life.  He will cause chaos in your life to try to keep you away from God.  Your Shield of faith is your defense against Satan.  Your strategy is to stay close to God and listen to the Holy Spirit.  You do this by spending time in God's Word and prayer.  

    The shield of faith has benefits which are found in God's Word.  You can find many of them in the hall of faith found in Hebrews 11.  The belt, breastplate, and shoes are on a Christian at all times even if you do not know how to use them well.  Faith on the other hand you can put down.  There are times in your life that your faith is stronger than other times.  It is not a linear timetable.  You have to choose to take up your faith for battle every day.

    Walking in faith is you being prepared for spiritual battle.  You walk with urgency and intention.  You choose to face the demonic attacks instead of trying to hide or ignore.  You push past your insecurities, doubt, and fear to walk with Jesus.  Walking with Jesus will make you bold, confident, and hopeful.  He is not intimidates, so when you are with him it is easier to feel courageous.  

    You may have to walk with Jesus for a while before you feel it, but after a few victories you see how powerful God is and it rubs off on you.  You also need to walk into battle with your fellow believers.  You are stronger together than when each trying to fight an army on your own.  The strategy is simple link shields in Bible study, walk out together, and place scripture on your shield to put out the fires.  Walk in confidence because you have God and other Christians fighting with you.  

    Alone you are easy to pick off.  At the same time if you do not join the fight you make God's army a little weaker.  He made it where we need each other for a reason.  You are stronger together.  You may not like everyone, but you can still be united.  

    Your faith strategy is choosing to believe in God's Word.  Then walk into the world prepared and confident that He is protecting you.  Walk in truth and ignores all of Satan's lies.  Trust in God's power over what may be visible in front of you. Trust in God's plan.

Proverbs 3:5-6, Ecclesiastes 4:4-12, Jeremiah 29:10-14, Mark 11:22-26, Romans 10:16-19, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, Ephesians 2:1-10, 6:13-16, Philippians 4:10-14, Hebrews 11:7-31, & 1 John 5:1-5

Shield of Faith

 

    Faith is trusting in God no matter what.  It is the shield that covers your entire body armor of truth, righteousness, and peace.  As Satan's arrows are aimed at you the shield will protect your armor.  The arrows will not penetrate what God is protecting, but that does not mean that you will not feel the impact or the heat from the fire arrows.  Your faith is your shield from evil.  Yahweh Magen is your shield.

    You hold the power of faith when you pray and know God will answer.  When you ask you receive.  You no longer fear the world because you know God is stronger than anything that comes up against you.  It allows you to handle life's stressful situations with grace, patience, and stride.

    Faith is not something you should talk about, but utilize everyday.  It should be your testimony not a sermon.  Faith is your relationship with Jesus in action.  It is simple, but it can't be explained.  You have it or you don't.  The best explanation is you believe in something you didn't see, but know it is real to the point you would be willing to die for your belief.  For Christians it is the death, resurrection, ascension, and upcoming return of Jesus.

    The shield of faith is powerful because you use it every day.  You keep it in top condition as you walk through life with Jesus.  Life is always changing.  Nothing stays the same, but your faith and what it is rooted in.  This gives you the security to go through life surefooted and strong.  You have to workout your faith.  Trusting God is simple, but you have to work through your own issues to put your trust in God.  It sometimes takes trials and tribulations to trust God in every area of your life.

    Faith gives your conviction for what you believe.  How you live it out is evidence to the world of why you believe in Jesus.  The more you walk in faith the more clearly you can hear the Holy Spirit guiding you.  If you are not living out what you claim to believe, then you faith is dead.  It will not protect you and it does not hold any power.  When you live by faith you are living as if God has already given what you asked for (or need) to you even though you haven't received it yet.  God keeps His promises and all you have to do is live like you have them already.

Exodus 11:4-12:13, Joshua 2:8-21, 6:24-25, Proverbs 30:5-6, Daniel 6:6-23, Ephesians 6:13-16, Hebrews 11:1-3, & James 2:19-26

How to use Peace

 

    To be able to use the shoes of peace your first need to put on the belt of truth and breastplate of righteousness.  You need the truth that comes from the Good News to have salvation.  Once you have salvation, you can start using the Bible for protection and advancement in spiritual warfare.

    True peace that comes from God does not mean that all your problems go away.  When you become a Christians and start following Jesus typically life can become harder, but you have peace in your heart because you know God is in control.  You have His promises to hold onto and know that He is working for the good in the situation.  He may feel silent, but that means He is doing something that will rattle the enemy and is not ready for them to know what it is yet.

    Peace is a gift from the Holy Spirit that can remove anxiety and discomfort in your heart when you surrender them to Jesus.  It allows you to live in harmony.  When you are anxious turn to prayer and remember God's promises.  Write them out if you need to.  Peace become obtainable when you fix your mind on God instead of living life.  Stay close to Jesus in your walk and you can trust that He will guide your steps to safety.  His very presence should give you peace.  Work with other prayer warriors to pursue peace.

    Take advantage of the Bible.  God is the best instructor.  His ways will not lead you astray.  If you need peace go to Him in prayer and Word for instruction on how to proceed.  The Bible doesn't always spell it out, but it does have clarity.  Sometimes you have to keep going in faith before things become clear.  Trust God's Word to guide you, keep you steadfast, provide assurance, is true, and capable of defending you.  This is how you find peace in the middle of spiritual warfare.  

    When you are in battle never forget who is fighting for you.  Pray without ceasing and trust that He is listening and directing an answer to your prayers.  Prayer can provide strategy on how you need to move forward, but always compare it to God's Word.  When you are vulnerable Satan can always put ideas or thoughts in your mind too.  Always compare your plan to the Bible to confirm that it is Biblical or to change direction.

Isaiah 26:1-6, John 14:27-29, Romans 12:17-18, Ephesians 1:12-14, 6:13-15, Philippians 4:6-7, & Colossians 3:12-15

Putting on Peace

 

    You need the shoes of peace in the armor of God to be able to be involved.  It is called Christian walk for a reason.  You were never called to sit on the sidelines and watch.  You are called to be active in the area God has placed on you.  You need the gospel and an active prayer life to be prepared to be active in your calling.

    The shoes of the gospel enables you to be sure-footed and steadfast in your faith.  That means you are prepared for spiritual warfare.  God is the owner of you armor, so you know it is in the best condition.  If it is not working, then it means you are putting it on correctly or at all.  If you want to be victorious, then you need to follow instructions when putting on the armor and using it.

    In your Christian walk you are not sitting and waiting for an opportunity to proclaim God's Word or fight a battle.  You have to be in God's Word to prepare.  You need the truth to protect your core values, righteousness that comes from salvation, and shoes prepared to run or enforce where you stand.  

    The gospel is the good news.  It needs to be shared so other people have the opportunity to obtain peace.  Your faith is your defense, but it is also your testimony.  It helps you move forward prepared for anything, but at the same time giving God's love to the world.  No enemy can steal that from you.  If you align yourself with God, then strongholds, lies, and sin no longer have power over you unless you give it power.

    Get into the Gospel to strap on your shoes because you don't know what the day has in store for you.  I guarantee if you are prepared, then it will be easier to handle.  Your shoes help you be proactive instead of reactive in life.  They help you move forward and not get stuck in the past (guilt or avoidant).  

    Having access to God's Word is a privilege.  Do not disregard it.  Instead allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into clarity and peace.  Find your strength in God.  Allow Him to build up your character to be intimidating to the enemy.  Be prepared to stand your ground with God.

Isaiah 11:1-5, 52:7-10, 59:9-20, Matthew 20:8-16, 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, Ephesians 2:17-18, 6:13-15, & Colossians 2:6-7

Peaceful Lifestyle

 

    You do not wake up one day to a peaceful life.  You have a peaceful lifestyle because of the choices and decisions you make.  Peace is something you fight to obtain.  If you are not willing to cut certain aspects from your lifestyle, then you will never obtain peace.  You have to invite God into your space and allow the Holy Spirit to clean up the mess.

    You have peace in your mind when you choose to follow Jesus, stay emotionally available to love, and embrace the freedom of your salvation.  Work, people, and life events will influence it, but you choose what you invest into your life.  Your shoes of peace is your protection.  You need to make sure you are taking care of them by being in God's Word everyday.

    Peace of the Gospel anchors your inner peace to God.  It gives you the security you need to live a full life.  This is an area in your life that you can't afford to compromise.  Compromise leads to losing the peace in your heart.  It is your relationship with God that fulfills you.  It is your other relationships, things, memories, life events, and ambitions that top it off making you blessed or life is meaningless.  You need God first, then everything else in your life will add to your peace or take away from it.

    The "Good News" is the power of peace.  Your salvation is living in peace with God living in obedience and love.  Using the armor of God is the peace that comes from God to protect you in all circumstances.  The gospel is your justification that leads to eternal peace.  It leads to an intimate relationship with God that gives your life conviction to fight for peace.

    A lifestyle of peace brings stability in the midst of disappointments.  It directs your emotions to be steadfast. Peace with God removes the confusion in life by highlighting the truth.  Your heart becomes durable and strengthens you to handle difficult people and circumstances.  Peace does not have to be far away.  It can live in your heart and be cultivated in your lifestyle.  When you put on the shoes of peace the Holy Spirit gives you love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and the ability to have self-control.

    How you look and comprehend life is your choice.  You can have a heart and outlook of thanksgiving and firm faith or negativity that lacks faith.  You either have unwavering trust in God or trust in yourself.  You either seek to see God working in your life or absorbed by circumstances.  The kind of faith you have will directly affect the kind of peaceful lifestyle you will have.  Pray thanksgiving over what you have, discernment to handle the unknown, and faith that will stabilize your heart and mind.  You put on your shoes of peace to seek understanding, wisdom, and step out in faith securely.

Isaiah 26:1-6, John 14:27-29, Romans 5:1-11, Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 1:12-14, 2:17-18, 6:13-15, Philippians 4:6-7, & 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Walk in the Gospel

 

    The shoe of peace is part of the armor of God where you walk in the Gospel.  You live out your faith.  It is generic where everyone can do it, but personalized to give you purpose.  The Gospel is the truth that gives you righteousness.  It protects your walk in this world.  Obedience to God's Word is the kind of protection that provides peace in your heart and soul.

    You walk in the Gospel when you stand firm in your faith.  You know where the battle line is and you do not run away.  You stand to face it under the protection of your salvation.  You don't stand alone.  You have the Holy Spirit empowering you and you have fellow believers on the line with you.  Together you are strong and steadfast.  Together if you one looses their footing the others would help them from falling or still uphold an unbroken line of defense.

    Walking in the Gospel is about relationships.  First their is your salvation that establishes your relationship with God.  Next it is about your relationship with fellow Christians.  Lastly it is your relationship with the world that will attract to or repel them from from God.  You will never be victorious on your own.  Alone you are easy pickings for Satan.

    To walk in peace is to walk in the Gospel.  You walk in holy love and harmony with the church as a whole, not just a building of people.  Satan likes to tear those relationships up through anger, division, and other tensions.  Your battle for the church is the same as your battle for the family.  You have to learn how to forgive and communicate like Jesus to find healing and unity.  You do not have to like everyone to work with them, but you do have to love them as fellow children of God.

    Walking in the Gospel is not always easy.  Sometimes it takes hard work.  You will face an unfair world and have to accept it to find peace.  You will face cruelty, evil, and other things that are challenging to face.  Remember that you are not alone and God has you facing it for a purpose.  Live out compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, mercy, patience, acceptance, forgiveness, and love in perfect harmony.  Do your part and trust God to take care of the rest and then your will be complete.  

Psalm119:161-168, Isaiah 54:9-10, Luke 1:76-79, Ephesians 2:14-16, 3:10-19, 4:1-16, 6:13-15, Philippians 4:6-7, & Colossians 3:12-15