O Blessed Savior, in Your Word You encourage me not to succumb to evil, circumstances or trials, but to stand in faith. How do I do that? The first thing that comes to my mind is that I must have something firm and unyielding to stand on. Your Word teaches me that a wise man builds his house on a strong foundation by digging down until he finds rock. You characterize the wise man as being one who hears Your Word and puts it into practice. When a crisis comes into my life, what helps me stand is knowing You and trusting You … for You are My Rock. To be successful in building my life on a strong foundation, I must count the cost of being totally “sold out” to You. Being “sold out” means I am willing to give up control of my time, talents and resources. The quality materials I use to build my life must be based on sound doctrines and righteous living which meet Your standards. To find these materials, I must get beyond basic teachings to a more complete understanding of faith and Your Word.
In order to be effective in standing, I feel I must develop a “warrior’s attitude”. To be victorious, I must be strong in You and Your might … not mine. I must put on the armor You gave me to use in standing against my enemy’s schemes. I must also understand that I do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but the rulers and powers of darkness. That is why I need Your armor (truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and Your Word) to stand my ground and be able to prevail. I cannot waffle, I must stand firm … not in my power but Yours. To be successful, I must be endued with the power of the Holy Spirit. You left Him with me to give me wise counsel (a battle plan), help (the munitions I need) and comfort (binding up my wounds). I must also get into the habit of turning to You in prayer in every situation I find myself so that I can immediately mobilize You power in overcoming evil with good.
I have come to realize that when evil, circumstance or personal struggles push themselves into my life is the time I put You to work. When others abandon me, I know You will not. It is in Your strength that I overcome. I am no longer weak and defeated as I once was because, as Your child, I’ve been infused with Your power, purity, wisdom, love, generosity and compassion. In Your greatest time of trial, You withstood torture, torment, abandonment and death to prevail by rising from the dead. As a result, I know that out of the ashes and debris of bad decisions, disappointments and failures I too can arise. I understand that I will have to pass through seasons, like a farmer, where I must endure hard work and unyielding circumstances to reap my harvest. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
Ephesians 6:13 Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after You’ve done everything (you can), stand.