Holding on When You Want to Give Up
By Alexis A. Goring
Bible Reading
“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” - 1 Timothy 6:12 NIV
Life can be tough for everyone. Nobody has it completely easy. And if you’re a follower of Jesus Christ then you know that you’re also in a battle, because the devil doesn’t want you to have the eternal life that Jesus offers.
Often, the devil’s attacks are relentless. I know that we can become so worn down by the evil forces in this world that we feel like giving up. We might even allow ourselves to be attacked without fighting back. The Bible gives us weapons to use for this spiritual warfare and God hasn’t left us without help. But lately, I’ve realized that I haven’t been fighting as hard as I should. How often have I allowed the devil to beat me down while I stayed defenseless? It’s very easy to listen to negativity and throw yourself a pity party. But in recent years, God helped me realize that I am not defenseless; I can actively and effectively fight back!
We have the power that raised Christ from the dead inside of us (Romans 8:11). Let’s exercise our authority as a Child of God and fight back with the Word of God! Ephesians 6:10-18 teaches us how to be prepared for this daily battle and to win with God on our side. It’s called putting on and activating the Armor of God:
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
Isn’t that a powerful promise to cling to? God has given us everything we need to defeat the enemy and to be victorious in Jesus Christ. I’ve learned to pray the Armor of God verses in the Bible at the start of every day. I’ve also learned some additional and practical steps to take to overcome attacks from the enemy.
Step One: Go to God. He is our Heavenly Father and stronger than Satan (our ultimate enemy). Read John 16:33.
Step Two: Ask Jesus Christ, our Savior, to pray for you. Read John 17:6-26.
Step Three: Listen to Gospel music and worship God in song. Read 2 Chronicles 20:22.
Step Four: Read the Bible and apply Scripture to overcome your struggle. Read 1 John 4:4.
Step Five: Call a Bible-believing pastor, God-fearing friend, or Christ-following family member and ask them to pray for you. Read Ephesians 6:18.
Step Six: Invest in Christian faith-based counseling services.
Step Seven: Change your environment by going outdoors for a walk in nature.
One of my favorite Gospel music artists, Dr. Juanita Bynum, says sometimes you need to “praise your way through” dark times and spiritual attacks. Listen to her song “I Don’t Mind Waiting” for the encouragement your heart needs. Here’s the link.
Another song that illustrates my devotional points today is “Hold On, Don't Let Go” by Richard Smallwood & Vision. I encourage you to listen to it too. Here’s the link.
Remember: God loves you, and He’s with you, staying by your side and fighting this battle for you and with you! So, when life hits hard, and the enemy’s attacks are relentless, go to God because He promises to be there for you. Remember, Jesus Christ has already defeated the devil and with Him, we will ultimately win!
Intersecting Faith & Life:
How does it feel to know that the Creator of the Universe fights for you and with you against attacks from the enemy?
Further Reading:
Proverbs 21:3
Psalm 119:160
1 Thessalonians 5:8
2 Corinthians 10:4
1 John 5:4
The Armor of God—What it Is and How to Use It
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/FMNG
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