As I mentioned earlier in this series, I said the Lord spoke those words to me down in my spirit: “Keep the switch of faith turned on…”
I knew what He meant in that there were some areas of my life that I had started out believing God for but over time and because of life and the distractions it can bring, had begun to “coast”. I was not as aggressively pursuing the Lord and His Word in those areas. There is no neutral gear for us spiritually. We are either moving forward in our walk with the Lord or we are beginning to move backwards. In other words, I wasn’t necessarily moving forward with my faith and had just begun to coast and let some things I was doing consistently, to slip.
Many people are being beaten up by life and not realizing that life does not have to be that way. We all have problems, difficulties, and challenges but I want you to know that when life gives you lemons, you can overcome them every single time.
James 1:2-4 | AMPC (2) Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. (3) Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. (4) But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.
Trial or Temptation: (Greek: “peirasmos”) A putting to proof of what you believe by the experience of adversity.
Adversity = pressure in our lives. The enemy is desiring to generate pressure to get you off of what you believe through the adversity.
What We Need to Know About Troubles:
- The temptation, test, or trial is not coming from God.
James 1:13 | TPT (13) When you are tempted don’t ever say, “God is tempting me,” for God is incapable of being tempted by evil and he is never the source of temptation.
- God does test us, but never with adversity. His tests are always tests of obedience to His Word.
- The pressure is coming from the enemy because of what you believe.
Mark 4:14-15 | NKJV (14) The sower sows the word. [15] And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.
James 1:12 | NKJV (12) Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Endurance – the ability to last, especially despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions.
How to Develop Endurance:
- You must train before the competition begins.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25 | NLT (24) Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! (25) All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.
- You cannot be entangled with the affairs of this life. (taking on the cares of this life).
2 Timothy 2:3-4 | TPT (3) Overcome every form of evil as a victorious soldier of Jesus the Anointed One. (4) For every soldier called to active duty must divorce himself from the distractions of this world so that he may fully satisfy the one who chose him.
If you are worried, you are contemplating how you can solve your own problems.
1 Peter 5:6-7 | AMPC (5) Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, (7) Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. [Psa 55:22]
- Make the Word of God first place in your life by spending time in it.
Psalms 1:1-3 | AMPC (1) BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. (2) But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night. [Rom 13:8-10; Gal 3:1-29; 2Ti 3:16] (3) And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]. [Jer 17:7-8]
- If you won’t quit because of weariness, you will win.
Galatians 6:9 | TLB (9) And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up.
- Count it all joy when the test shows up.
James 1:2 | NLT (2) Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.
Hebrews 12:2 | AMPC (2) Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. [Psa 110:1]