Devotional for April 8

He Holds Our Souls in Life 

5 Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.
6 He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.
7 He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.
8 O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:
9 Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.
10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
11 Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.
12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place. Psalm 66:5-12 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Skipping  workouts is NOT the way to grow strong. The spiritual equivalent of skipping workouts is refusing to fight the good fight of the faith (Psalm 78: 1-11). The Bible says we are to put on faith and love as the spiritual body armor protecting our heart. And for the surety of our safety in every battle, we are also to put on as a helmet the hope of salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:8). The battlefield is the mind and like a champion assured of victory (Romans 8:31-39), we are to resist the enticements of the inner tempter to leave the narrow way that leads to eternal life (2 Corinthians 10:4-6; Matthew 7:13-14; James 4:7). The enemy hurls flaming darts of wrong thoughts that reek like dead flies (Ephesians 6:16; Ecclesiastes 10:1). If left unchecked, they will produce a burning stench of wrong desires in heart (Isaiah 55:7-9; Matthew 5:27-29). Let us humble ourselves and trust in the loving care of our heavenly Father (1 Peter 5:7). Fix your eyes on the love of our Lord Jesus Christ and remember that our old self with its evil desires has been crucified with Him (Hebrews 12:2; Galatians 6:14). We are no longer slaves to sin . Thanks to God Almighty, we are now free to choose to live by faith in the Son of God (Romans 6:15-23). And this is the strength of the Lord God that we are to accept and show forth to others (Philippians 2:15). Take hold of the sword of the gospel (Ephesians 6:17; Isaiah 55:10-11), and fight (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

Question

When do we lose the fight of the faith?

Answer

A battle is lost when we take the bait to entertain doubt because of what we feel and rely on our own understanding based on what we see (2 Corinthians 11:2-3; Hebrews 10:38). Such temptations will be completely reasonable to the carnal mind given the circumstances, but such persuasion does NOT come from the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:7-8; Romans 8:6-16; Proverbs 3:1-8). Practice the awareness to know the opportune moment to stand firm in faith (1 Peter 5:8-9). Faith can only be exercised when God allows the temptation to doubt (James 1:2-4). This is the spiritual equivalent of weight training by which we grow stronger (1 Corinthians 10:13).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give me this bread, that he may live in me, and I in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. from the Book of Common Prayer