God's Word on That

Tag: faith

  • I Fight the Good Fight

    I put on the full armor of God so I can take my stand against all strategies and tricks of the devil. [I participate – for it is really Jesus who does the work.] For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:11-12). Father, I acknowledge that the devil is always at work in the darkness. I must not be naïve and deny how much he desires to take control of this season of my life. Therefore remind me, please, to put on the full armor, so when the day of evil comes, I will be able to stand my ground. Please don’t let me forget I have a very real enemy who wants me in bondage. Help me to discern his schemes and take my stand against him in the power of Your Holy Spirit.

    We must always wear the armor; we must always be ready.

    I stand my ground therefore, having tightened the sturdy belt of truth around my waist, having put on the breastplate of righteousness; and having shod my feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, I take up the shield of faith [my strong faith] and I quench every fiery dart the wicked one brings against me. I put on the helmet of salvation, and take up the sword of the Spirit — the Word of God — that I may fight the good fight (Ephesians 6:13-17).

    I continue to build my life on the foundation of my holy faith, and continue to pray as I am directed by the Holy Spirit. I live in such a way that God’s love can bless me as I wait for the eternal life that our Lord Jesus, in His mercy, is giving me. All glory to God, who is able to keep me from stumbling and who will bring me into His glorious presence, innocent of sin and with joy (Jude 1:20-21, 24).

    In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence… When I am still, I know You are God (Proverbs 14:26). You are my loving God, and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer; my shield in whom I take refuge, who suppresses [evil] people under me (Psalm 144:2).

    Dearest Lord, work for us; for nothing restrains You from saving by many or by few (1 Samuel 14:6). All those assembled will know that the Lord God doesn’t save by sword or spear, for the battle is the Lord’s (1 Samuel 17:47).

    Father God, how I pray that You may count me worthy of Your calling, and that by Your power You may fulfill every good purpose of mine and every act prompted by my faith (2 Thessalonians 1:11). A man can receive nothing unless it is given to him from heaven (John 3:27).

    Whatever I do in word or deed, I do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Colossians 3:17). God has promised: Those who know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits (Daniel 11:32).

    Lord, what would You have me do? (Acts 9:6)

  • I Must Fight

    The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has appointed me to bring good news to the poor [for whenever I give dignity to the downtrodden, I spread the good news of the gospel]; He has sent me to comfort the broken hearted [for whenever I give of myself to those who feel need, I give comfort], and to announce captives will be released and prisoners will be freed [for whenever I help someone to avoid sin, I help release that soul from bondage] (Isaiah 61:1). Jesus, You are in heaven now, seated in the heavenly realm. I understand that I am Your eyes and ears, Your feet, Your hands — that to get Your work done, it is up to us — the Body of the Church — to do it. And so I pray, Please empower us and embolden us.

    We are privileged to be part of His Body, His workforce.

    I fight the good fight for what I believe. I hold tight to the eternal life God has given me, which I have confessed (1 Timothy 6:12). I throw off everything that hinders and [especially] the sin that so easily entangles, and I run with perseverance the race Christ Jesus marked out for me, looking away from distractions to Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).

    I keep myself in the kingdom of light, in love, in the Word; and [in so doing] the wicked one cannot harm me (1 John 5:18). I submit myself to God; I resist the devil in Jesus’ power, and the devil must flee from me. I draw near to God, my Father, and God draws near to me (James 4:7-8). God said, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” So I say with confidence: The Lord is my Helper, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? (Hebrews 13:5-6)

    I set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be moved (Psalm 16:8). Because of Christ Jesus and my faith in Him, I am able to approach God with boldness, freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12). I have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the Blood of Jesus, my Commander (Hebrews 10:19). Let us approach the Throne of Grace with confidence so we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our times of need (Hebrews 4:16), for grace teaches us how to live in freedom.

    May God Himself, the God of Peace, sanctify me through and through. May my whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless unto the coming of our Lord, Christ Jesus; the One who called me is faithful and He will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

  • To Be a Soldier For Jesus

    The Word of God tells us war is raging in the heavenly realms over our lives (Ephesians 6), and often we don’t realize the contest that may be waging over us at any given moment. At first we are of little threat to the evil one because we do not know truth. Once the Word springs to life in our souls, however, we go from ‘being of interest’ to ‘being of concern’ to the devil. ‘Success’ describes how we handle relatively manageable challenges that any unbeliever could manage just as well. ‘Victorious’ describes how we live as overcomers in the midst of satanic opposition! You know what the devil can do. Are you ready to stand and learn to fight?

    In the name of the Lord Jesus, my Savior, I put on the whole armor of God that I may be able to stand against the tactics of the devil. For I wrestle not against [mere] flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places. I take unto myself the full armor of God that I may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all I can, to remain standing (Ephesians 6:11-13).

    I stand, therefore, with God’s truth like a belt around my waist (Ephesians 6:14). Your Word, O my God, is truth (John 17:17), and contains all the weapons of my warfare, which are not carnal but are powerful through God to the pulling down of all strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4).

    I have on the breastplate of righteousness, which is faith and love [to protect my heart]. My feet are ‘sandaled with readiness’ for [spreading] the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:14-15). In Christ Jesus I have peace (Ephesians 2:14), and pursue peace with all men (Psalm 34:14). I am a minister of reconciliation proclaiming the good news of the gospel (2 Corinthians 5:18).

    I take the shield of faith, wherewith I am able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. I take the helmet of salvation [holding the thoughts and purposes of God’s heart in my heart], and I wield the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:16-17). In the face of all trials, tests, temptations and tribulations, I cut to pieces the snare of the enemy by speaking the Word of God. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).

    Thank You, Father God, for providing the armor. I will pray at all times [on every occasion, in every season] with all manner of prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and I will stay alert and watchful in this, with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18). My power and ability and sufficiency are from You, God Himself, who has qualified me as a minister and a dispenser of Your new covenant of salvation through Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:5-6).

  • The Lord Is Our Strength

    Because God is with me, I will be strong and very courageous. I will be careful to obey all the law God gave me, and I will not turn from it to the right or to the left, that I may be successful wherever I go… He has commanded me: Be strong and courageous. I will not be terrified, nor will I be discouraged, for the Lord my God will be with me wherever I go (Joshua 1:7, 9). He has promised.

    God is always ready to support and strengthen us.

    The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect me from the evil one… And I will never tire of doing what is right (2 Thessalonians 3:3, 13). When I hope in You, O Lord my God, my strength is renewed. I will soar on wings like eagles. I will run and not grow weary. I will walk and not grow faint (Isaiah 40:31). My God gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak (Isaiah 40:29). You, O God, refresh the weary and satisfy the faint in heart (Jeremiah 31:25).

    I truly thank You, O Lord Jesus, my gracious Lord who has given me strength; that You considered me faithful, appointing me to Your service (1 Timothy 1:12). I can do all things through Christ Jesus who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13). O my Strength, I will sing praises to You for You are my stronghold, my defense, the God who shows me loving-kindness (Psalm 59:17).

    I love You, O Lord, my strength! You are my [unmoving] Rock, my [surrounding] fortress, and my [ever-present] deliverer. You, my God, are my rock in whom I take refuge [from all my weariness]. You are my shield [from all unpleasantness] and the horn of my salvation [from all my difficulties], my [glorious] stronghold. I call to You, O Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies (Psalm 18:1-3).

    I do not grieve [pout or feel depressed], for the joy of the Lord is my strength (Nehemiah 8:10). The Lord is my strength and my song. He has become my salvation [in all things]; He is my God and I will praise Him; my Father-God and I will exalt Him. (Exodus 15:2).

  • When We Need Strength To Serve

    I look to the Lord and His strength. I seek His face always — at all times in everything I do (1 Chronicles 16:11). I know that the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9).

    God is always watching to strengthen His people.

    The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is my strength in times of trouble (Psalm 37:39). I will be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10). Father, please strengthen me with all power according to Your glorious might, for my strength must come from Your mighty power within me, or I can do nothing.

    Lord, You lift up those who are bowed down. Therefore I will be of good courage because You, O Lord of Hosts, strengthen my heart (Psalm 146:8). I will be of good courage and You will strengthen my heart for all my hope is in You, Lord God (Psalm 31:24). God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (Psalm 73:26).

    It is You, O God, who are my strength and power; You make my way perfect. You make my feet like the feet of a deer; You enable me to stand on the heights (2 Samuel 22:33-34). You broaden the path beneath me so my ankles do not turn (Psalm 18:36). Surely God is my Savior; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my saving Lord. With joy I will draw water from my well of salvation (Isaiah 12:2-3).

    Lord God, You told me: in repentance [turning to You] and rest [abiding in You] is my salvation; and in quietness [listening for You] and in confidence [knowing You will act] is my strength. So I turn to You, O my God, and I quietly wait for You (Isaiah 30:15).

    I am confident of this: I will see Your goodness, O Lord, in the land of the living. I will wait for You, my Lord God. I will be strong and I will take heart, and I will wait for You (Psalm 27:13-14).

  • Verses To Help Us Forgive

    I know who I have believed, and am convinced that You, O Lord, are able to guard what I have entrusted to You. I entrust this situation to You, my sovereign Lord (2 Timothy 1:12). Lord God, You will take up my case; You will redeem my life. You have seen, O Lord, the wrong done to me. Uphold my cause! (Lamentations 3:58-59) O merciful Lord, open my eyes to see that when You are upholding my cause, I don’t have to. Help me to lay this burden down and let You carry it instead.

    Do not let un-forgiveness ruin your soul.

    As one of God’s chosen, I am to be accepting of others and forgiving others, especially when I have a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven me, so also I must forgive (Colossians 3:13). I am to be kind and compassionate, forgiving others just as God also forgave me in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 4:32).

    Whenever I stand praying, if I have anything against another, I must forgive so that my Father in Heaven will also forgive me and hear my prayers (Mark 11:25). Jesus said: “Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and comes back to you seven times saying “I repent”, you must forgive him.” (Luke 17:3-4)

    Jesus, when Peter asked about forgiving his brother seven times, You told him that our Father will also not forgive us if we do not forgive from the heart (Matthew 18:21, 35). Lord Jesus, please teach me to grasp how to forgive from my heart.

    Lord, if being obedient to You causes me to suffer, I shall commit myself to my faithful Creator and continue to do as You ask. You are honorable and always faithful; You will always cause obedience to bear fruit. (1 Peter 4:19)

    You have shown me what is good, and what do You, Lord God, require of me? Only to act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with You, my Loving God (Micah 6:8).

    O my wise and compassionate God, according to Your Word, love is the most excellent way to deal with anything (1 Corinthians 12:31). O Father, please cause the love of Christ Jesus to compel me to do what is right in this challenging situation (2 Corinthians 5:14).

  • To Overcome Un-forgiveness

    Each of us has faced overwhelming challenges to forgive. Eventually though, truth begins to eclipse any excuse: we won’t be OK until we forgive. God’s unrelenting insistence on our forgiveness is for our own sakes, not the sake of the one who hurt us — our un-forgiveness doesn’t hurt them! God is faithful. He will plead our case and take up our cause… but only when we make a deliberate decision to cease representing ourselves in the matter.

    We never look more like Jesus than when we forgive.

    Keep in mind that forgiveness is not defined by a feeling, although it will ultimately change our feelings. Forgiveness is our determined and deliberate willingness to let something go — to release it from our possession and send it to God. God is not asking us to let “it” go haphazardly into the black hole of nonexistence. Forgiveness is the ongoing act by which we agree with God over the matter, practice the mercy He extends to us, and surrender the situation, repercussions, and the hurtful person into His hands.

    Pray for willingness-to-forgive to come to you, but also pray for that person you are having trouble forgiving. There are three parts to ‘forgiveness’ praying: (1) prayers for a forgiving attitude in yourself, (2) prayers specifically about the person you are struggling to forgive, and (3) prayers for the person you are struggling to forgive.

    Your ways are not my ways, Lord God. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are Your ways higher than mine (Isaiah 55:8-9). I may not always understand Your ways, my Lord, but they are always prosperous (Psalm 10:5). Your ways are always righteous (Psalm 145:17). Your ways, O God, are holy (Psalm 77:13). Your ways are loving and faithful(Psalm 25:10). I have considered my ways, Lord (Psalm 119:59), and I choose Yours instead. Please keep me from deceitful ways (Psalm 119:29). Lord God, loving Father, help me to walk in Your ways (Psalm 119:3).

    Father, I forgive everyone who has trespassed against me so that You can forgive me my trespasses (Matthew 6:12). Father, Your Word tells me to love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27-28). So I come before you in Jesus’ name to lift up _____ before You. I invoke blessings upon him/her and pray for his/her happiness. I implore You, please, to bless him/her. And not only will I pray for _____, but I set myself up to treat him/her well; I will be merciful, sympathetic, tender, responsive, and compassionate toward him/her even as You are, my loving Father. For I am Your child and want to be an imitator of You, my Lord God (Ephesians 5:1), and I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).

    So Father, I thank You that I have great peace in this situation, for I love Your law and refuse to take offense toward _____ (Psalm 119:165). I am blessed — that is, happy with life; I have joy and satisfaction in God’s favor, and in salvation apart from outward conditions — because I take no offense and refuse to be hurt or resentful or annoyed or repelled or made to stumble [whatever may occur] (Luke 7:23 Amplified).

    And now, Father, I roll this work entirely upon You — I commit and trust it wholly into Your hands; and believe that You will cause my thoughts to come into agreement with Your will, and so my plans shall be established and succeed (Proverbs 16:3). Amen.

  • We Have Our Part To Do

    Lord, I have come with weeping; I have prayed as You brought me back. You will lead me beside streams of water on a level path where I will not stumble, because You are my loving Father (Jeremiah 31:9) and You have promised.

    God can direct our paths if we will but let Him

    My Merciful God I have learned the hard way that nothing good lives in me — that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do good but cannot carry it out (Romans 7:18). But in You I have the power I need.

    Father God, Almighty One, You have warned me for my own good not to trust anything about my heart unless it is fully surrendered to You. My heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. I will never be able to understand it. Yet You, the Lord God, search the heart and examine the mind (Jeremiah 17:9-10). Please help me to recognize that the primary target of deception is my heart. In other words, I must be careful not to trust feelings and emotions on their own. I must wear the breastplate of righteousness so I will do the right thing even when I don’t feel like doing the right thing. In the meantime, Lord Jesus, I ask You, please, to knead the right kind of feelings into my heart until I can become strong in this.

    Father, please work in me to understand that sometimes You lead me also on certain paths to humble me and to see what is in my heart (Deuteronomy 8:2). Not that You don’t know already, but You want to show me. Purify my heart, Lord, so You will take joy in what we find.

    Loving God, Father, I am now one of Your chosen people. O God, I acknowledge and accept as fact that I am wholly and dearly loved. In response, teach me how to clothe myself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. “To put on the nature that is mercy in action, kindly in heart, and humble in spirit… and above everything else to be truly loving” (Colossians 3:12 Phillips).

    Father, I desperately need Your Spirit to rid myself of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like a newborn baby, lead me to crave pure spiritual milk, so by it I may grow in my salvation (1 Peter 2:12).

    O Mighty God, please help me to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate and to show true humility toward all men (Titus 3:2).

    Father, You have said fear of the Lord is to hate evil. You hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior, and perverse speech (Proverbs 8:13). Edify me to have a healthy fear of You that abolishes pride, arrogance, and perverse speech.

    Dearest God, as one of Your own children, please direct me to flee from sin and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness (1 Timothy 6:11).

    Father, help me to remember in my impatience that the end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride (Ecclesiastes 7:8).

    Father, You are teaching me that pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice (Proverbs 13:10). Please help me to discern the pride that is involved when I am quarrelsome.

    Lord God, please tutor me gently to listen to advice and accept instruction, so that in the end I will be wise (Proverbs 19:20).

    Lord God, You have told me that in the last days many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate one another (Matthew 24:10). O Father, please keep me from ever turning away or turning cold.

  • God Will Help Us Overcome

    Lord God, surely You desire integrity in the inner self, and You teach me wisdom deep within (Psalm 51:6). Please expose to me the deeply embedded lies I’ve believed and replace them with permanently engraved truth.

    God is always supporting His own.

    Do not withhold Your mercy from me, O my Lord God. May Your love and Your truth always protect me (Psalm 40:11). Father, please help me learn how much Your truth protects me. Without it, I am vulnerable to the enemy and to my own flesh nature.

    Father, help my soul to find rest in You alone; my hope comes from You. You alone are my rock and my salvation. With You as my fortress I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on You; You, dearest God, are my mighty rock, my refuge. Help me to trust in You at all times. Remind me to pour out my heart to You, for You are my refuge. (Psalm 62:5-8)

    God Father, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of anything but one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which You have called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14). Help me to forget all past failures, or even achievements, and to focus on pressing forward with You now.

    Lord, please help me not to be like ancient Israel whom You taught to walk and then forgot You. Help me to realize without a doubt that You are the one who heals me. You have led me with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; You lifted my yoke from my neck and bent down to feed me (Hosea 11:3-4). Help me acknowledge You daily, and never to forget who teaches me how to walk.

    Lord God, I acknowledge to You that, like the ancient Israelites, I eat but am often not satisfied (Leviticus 26:26). Help me not to confuse the hunger of my soul with the hunger of my body. If I eat physical food and am still not satisfied, help me discern a far greater need and bring it to You. O loving Lord, You are the only one who can truly satisfy the hungry soul.

    Father, according to Your Word, he who is full loathes honey, but to the hungry man even what is bitter tastes sweet (Proverbs 27:7). I am asking You in Jesus’ mighty name to make even the thought of any harmful substance [or harmful word] on my tongue bitter. Restore in me a taste for what is good and wholesome. Please.

    Lord, I belong to Christ Jesus. Therefore I have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24). O Lord Jesus, help me to live in the reality of this liberating crucifixion! For I know that my old self was crucified with You, my Savior, so that this body of sin might be done away with, that I should no longer be a slave to sin, for anyone who has died has been freed from sin (Romans 6:6-7).

    I will not lose heart, for inwardly I am being renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16).

  • To Overcome Addiction

    Addiction is a yoke that convinces us we must wear it to survive. It is one of the cruelest of all yokes because it deceives us unmercifully and ruthlessly. It comes to us like a friend, promising to bring comfort, but no ungodly master is a more unyielding dictator. Nothing makes us feel more powerless. The accuser of the brethren chides us constantly with his tally of failures, and convinces us that we are unable to derail the miserable cycle of self-loathing.

    But no matter whether your addictions are to substance or behaviors, God can set you free. What He requires from you is time, trust, and cooperation. Be tenacious and patient, child of God! If you fall, don’t listen to the accusations and jeers of the evil one. Get back up and walk with God again. How many times? Until you’re free.

    However long and unforeseeable the road, God will lead.

    Lord God, I praise You with my whole heart because You said that whenever the wicked man forsakes his ways and the evil man his thoughts and turns to You, You will have mercy on him, for You will freely pardon (Isaiah 55:7). Thank You, my God, that no matter how I’ve been enslaved, You can set me free (Romans 6:19).

    Help me, Lord, to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that in all things You work for the good to those who love You, who have been called according to Your purpose (Romans 8:28). Please help me see the condition in that promise! You are not obligated to work all things together for good for those who neither love You nor are called according to Your purpose. You obligate Yourself to that awesome promise only when I offer You my aching heart and commit myself and my suffering to Your good purposes. If I do, You promise to do more with my life than I could ever conceive. And I know that strongholds are not exempt from this list. As hard as it may be to comprehend, You can and will work this terrible challenge for good – if I will cooperate with You and see myself as one called according to Your purpose.

    Lord God, lift me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire. Set my feet on a rock and give me a firm place to stand. Put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to my God! “Blessed is the one who makes the Lord his trust.” (Psalm 40:2-4) O Lord, like David, help me to rejoice in Your strength and say to You, “How great is my joy in the victories You give!” Father, please grant me the desire of my heart — to be free from this addiction — and do not withhold the request of my lips (Psalm 21:1-2, 5). Through the victories You give, may Christ Jesus’ glory be great!

    Dearest God, no matter what I once was, I have been washed, I have been justified, and I have been sanctified in the mighty name of the Lord Jesus and by the Holy Spirit of my God (1 Corinthians 6:11). For this I thank You. I am so thankful that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life has set me from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, You did by sending Your own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering for me (Romans 8:1-3). And since You do not condemn me, I have no right or place to condemn myself. Please keep me and not let me get caught up in a defeating cycle of self-condemnation.

    O Lord God, please forgive me for my self-loathing. Help me to praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful; I know this full well (Psalm 139:14).

    Lord God, help me not to give the devil any opportunity to control me. I have too long given the devil a foothold (Ephesians 4:27). Please help me to stop offering him so many opportunities to bring defeat into my life. Your plan for me is victory. I will trust in You.

    I confess to You, my God and Father, that I am overwhelmed by the task ahead, But I am thankful that You have authority over all things. Heaven is Your throne and earth is Your footstool (Matthew 5:34-35). Therefore anything over my head is under Your feet.