Strong Christian

 

    Life is hard and dangerous at times.  Seems like people fight over every aspect of living: education, religion, finance, politics, relationships, and even God.  Evil has won out in the culture throughout the world.  You can't escape. There is no point in running.  All that is left is to stand firm and fight.  Otherwise, you will find yourself normalizing the culture and making it out like it is okay.

    How can you find contentment when you see or living in despair?  We all want to be successful in our endeavors, but the only way to actually do that is to make sure that they are God's endeavors set for you.  Even then, you are not guaranteed not to hit obstacles, speed bumps, or other things.  He allows that to stop you for a purpose: other people, personal growth, or becoming stronger in your relationship with Him.  

    Jesus is the answer, but you still have to be aware of the enemy (Satan).  He likes to attack when things are going good and when he has a foothold to keep you away from Jesus.  He causes the most harm through doubt, discouragement, diversion, implementing feelings of failure, and denial.  You have to find your strength daily to fight him off.  You are fighting for vitality, renewal, spiritual power, and to be equipped to serve Jesus.

    The Holy Spirit plays a huge part in your daily, sometimes hourly, renewal in faith and strength.  He is God's gift to you at the moment of salvation, so we can have a piece of heaven on earth and understand what we are fighting for.  He is personal.  He is not far away, but with you all the time.  

    The Holy Spirit should be precious to you because He gives you assurance.  He is permanent, so no one can take Him from you.  He is the seal placed on our soul that gives us peace over God's ownership over us.  His seal means that we do have a place in Heaven.  It is protection from all sorts of evil.  We may experience a lot, but it could always be worse.  

    The worst thing we can do is to grieve the Holy Spirit.  That show a lack of faith or a weak faith.  If we are depressed, then we need to become more faithful to fight it.  If we live in despair, then we need to take personal responsibility to be a disciple.  We are not in this world just for ourselves.  It is about being there for other people and serving God too.  

    The Holy Spirit gives us power to be more than what we are.  He makes us strong to speak boldly, be faithful, and act courageously in the world we live in.  We all need to learn how to become more reliant on God.  It is the only way to be a strong Christian.  We are not perfect, but we are loved in a way that can't be put into words and that makes us want to be better.  

    This love teaches us grace.  That is how we can be thankful for what we have even when we are in pain.  All you have to do is believe in the promises that God made in the beginning of time.  It has proven itself throughout the Bible and beyond.

Acts 2:38-41, Romans 8:15-17, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, & Ephesians 6:10-12