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Energizing Your Faith

Our faith walk is not a casual swagger through the flower garden under blue skis. Oh, we often wish it were and complain to God when it’s not. Yet He was clear when He told us to “Stand your ground” (Ephesians 6:11 & 13).

The enemy of our soul seeks to put a wedge in our relationship with God. God warned us to “be self-controlled and alert for your enemy, the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

Yet God does not leave us as easy prey. He has shown us the cunning ways of the devil when Jesus Himself was tempted in the wilderness.

The temptations came on the heels of an exceptional spiritual experience. Jesus had just been baptized and felt the favor of God the Father as He spoke from heaven saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).

Every one of the three things the devil used to temp Jesus were things that He was perfectly capable of doing in His role as Son of God. (See Matthew 4)

• He was totally able to turn stones to bread.
• He was capable of throwing himself off the mountain and being unhurt.
• He knew the kingdoms of the world would one day all bow to Him.
  

He also knew that to do these things without the word of the Father would be to put a wedge in His relationship with God. He was very clear in that He only spoke and did what the Father told Him to. “I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me” (John 8:27b). To do anything more or anything less would interrupt His fellowship with God.

We read often in Scripture that Jesus spent time listening to the Father. “…while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed” (Mark 1:35).

Could it be that we sometimes unwittingly find ourselves in the midst of chaos and discontentment or confusion because we have stepped into the temptation to do something we are perfectly capable of … yet without the word of the Father to go ahead?

Could it be that we let our busy lifestyles keep us from the quiet times we need to listen to the voice of our Father and inquire of Him as to what He wants us to do?

For many Christians the restlessness and disquiet of our souls may well be the subtle battle strategy of the enemy of our soul.  Doing what we do well, without the word and blessing of the Father, will leave us weary and with a wedge in our friendship with Him. Our spiritual energy will be depleted.

When our soul is in fellowship with the Father, through times of worship, prayer, obedience and feeding our spirit on His word, there is nothing to compare with the peace He brings to our hearts.  It fuels our spirit!

Don’t let the good rob you of the best. Ask the Lord to direct your decisions. Don’t just ask Him for help when it is out of your comfort zone, but depend on Him to guide even the things you do well.

Spiritual battle doesn’t always look like we imagine. When you feel the wedge in your friendship with your Savior, move quickly to your prayer closet and spend time hearing again the voice of the Father through His Holy Spirit.

Ask Him to increase your hunger and thirst for Him and you will be filled. It’s a promise. (Matthew 5:6)

Why not invite the Holy Spirit to fill you with fresh vision and purpose right now? You can pray a prayer like this: 

Dear Father, I need you. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you by directing my own life. I thank you that You have forgiven my sins through Christ's death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your word that You would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

  
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Gail Rodgers draws from her own life experience in her roles as wife, mother of three, business woman and as a pastor to women. She has a passion for discovering and sharing how the Scriptures apply in very practical ways where we live and walk each day. She resides in Alberta, Canada with her family.

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