Do you really believe the Word of God? Do you stand on what He says to you? The secret to victory over the world is found in faith. 1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. The reason some haven’t experienced victory, or least in some areas of their life, is their hearts are not fully converted. That’s not to say they’re not saved; rather, they have not come into full belief or agreement with God. They have not come to a place of full repentance, which in essence, is an ongoing process. You might ask, “What do you mean by that?” Simply this: repentance means to change the way you think or to change your mind. So yes, with the help of the Holy Spirit, you ceased being a sinner by changing your mind about sin. You turned away from darkness and turned to light, and from the authority of Satan to God, so that you were able to receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ (see Acts 26:15-18). However, the way you think still needs to change to conform to His way of thinking. This is known as the renewing of the mind. Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. The more time you spend communing with Him, the more you read the Bible and listen to His voice, the more your thinking will align with His.
One aspect of belief that is worth serious consideration is His Word for you personally. For example, the Bible clearly says God loves you. You have to take that personally, regardless of your life experiences. “He loves you” (or “us”) is not some generalization that’s been watered down to mean, “Oh, God loves everybody.” His love is not flippant; it is deep! The God of the universe seriously loves you, which means what He says to you is trustworthy. 1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation concerning our sins.
Psalm 56:12 Your vows are binding upon me, O God; I will render thank offerings to You. God takes His vows seriously. He does not break them. They are binding like a legal contract which cannot be broken. His Word is praiseworthy; in fact, a sign of our belief is our praise of His Word. Psalm 56:10-11 In God, whose word I praise, In the Lord, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid . . . Part of praise is declaration. This is where the rubber meets the road. There are times circumstances contradict the reality of His promises. When your world is collapsing around you, it is time to remember what He said to you in the Bible and by word of prophecy. Zero in on it, and maintain a firm conviction. We live by faith; not by sight. Declare it out loud in the face of adversity.
Where people lose hope, which shipwrecks faith, is when they use negative circumstances against the Word of God. “Look at the mess I’m in, I thought God said He was going to bless me!” Did you forget about the trying of your faith (see James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-9).
Are you now saying God is no longer good because everything has turned upside down? Maybe, just maybe, He is in the process of turning you right side up. The purpose of our faith is the salvation of our souls (1 Peter 1:9); not having things our way.
Regardless of how one wound up in the situation he finds himself, God didn’t cause bad things to happen. He knows the ending from the beginning, and has prepared the way to your purpose.
Think about King David for a moment. The Lord had the prophet Samuel anoint him to be king over Israel (see 1 Samuel 16:1-23). Did he immediately become king after he was anointed? No. How long did he have to wait? It took approximately 15 years to get him there. That journey included Saul, with his army, chasing David all over the country in order to kill him. David spent his time running and hiding on the way to the throne. At one point, those who joined him talked about killing him as well. That did not look very promising, did it? What did David do? He encouraged himself in the Lord (see 1 Samuel 30:5). Have you ever felt afraid? Consider Psalm 56:3, When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. What’s the result of deciding to trust the Lord at such times? Just as we read in verse four: In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?
Getting back to your circumstances. Things could be all hunky-dory, you could be in the pits, or somewhere in between. Regardless of where you find yourself, praise Him for His Word. Use His Word against anything negative, instead of the other way around. “I don’t care what it looks like. God said!” Declare His promises in both good times and tough times; especially, in tough times. The pits are the perfect place to praise! That’s trust and that’s an act of true worship!
