Faith to believe God while counterattacking depressing thoughts, terrifying fears, and discouraging doubts takes physical and mental work. If you don’t put up a resistance, these adverse phobias will have you to believe that only a few are privileged to the success that comes with faith. But, you know that is simply not true. It may appear that way because just a few are willing to undergo the calisthenics that strengthens faith to believe the impossible.
Resistance training includes:
Prayer– You have to pray for the discernment to believe the impossible. Be honest with God and tell Him, “I don’t believe—HELP!”
I just prayed for my own unbelief for what I’m asking God to do in my life. I’m deliberately acting as if my faith is functioning in full force.
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. (I John 5: 14, 15 NIV)
Perseverance– Genuine faith tells you to continue to trust God for as long as it takes to receive His promises. To persevere means to resist the temptation to cave-in when things seem too hard to push on. Remember, any prayers that are in God’s will; He will honor.
I know without a doubt that what I’m believing God for is in His will. I have Scriptures to prove it.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4 NIV)
Endurance– You have to trudge on even when you become weak from struggling through the rough patches. You can’t put all your concentration on the hard places and lose sight of the prize waiting at the end. Keeping your eye on the “prize” will give you the strength to endure.
Since God told me okay through His Scriptures, I’m going for it.
Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing. James 1:3,4 AMP)
Defiance – By the time you reach this stage in your resistance training, you should have the toughness to defy the lies that will try to stop you. The audacity of the devil trying to discourage you is ridiculous. Knowledge about his plots should energize your faith to function on a whole new level.
God has invested too much in me to give up on Him.
So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently say, “The Lord is my Helper [in time of need], I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6 AMP)
Forbearance– You will now wait on God’s promises. This doesn’t mean that the enemy won’t still try to stop you, but what it does mean is that you have come too far to stop now.
I’m going to wait this one out! Waiting. . .
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
God is faithful; don’t give up!