REFUSE TO BACK DOWN

“Therefore submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”(James 4:7-8)

We are going to experience trials in life. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) It is a fallen world in which Satan roams the earth trying to draw God’s people away from Him or cause them to give up in fear. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (I Peter 5:8)

We are going to have trouble in this world from Satan and from the negative free will of others. We will also experience consequences of our own bad choices. In all of that, do not forget who died for you! Jesus Christ, and from Him we have all the strength, wisdom and power we need to rise up and move on! “I have heard a message from the Lord and an ambassador has been sent to the nations: “Gather together, come against her, And rise up to battle!” (Jeremiah 49:14)

Call on the name of the Lord, who is our Strong Tower and receive the strength and encouragement you need to move on instead of cowering! He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and we are royalty through Him! He is for you and not against you! Take your stand and put on your identity in Christ and get up and move on! Refuse to back down but instead put on the armor of God and be the child of God you were meant to be!

We are mighty through Christ and you have to choose to take that stand. He does not move, we do in fear, unbelief and sin. “And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

We are mighty through Christ and reach within your heart where the Holy Spirit resides and call on His name for help. He will give you what you need; you are mighty in Him and it is time to take that stand. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” (II Corinthians 10:4-6)

Just take that first step and He will take one toward you and help you the rest of the way. When the Israelites were about to cross over the Jordan into their Promised Land, the Priests had to step into the water before they parted; this is an act of faith that God would part the waters.

“So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest), that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho. Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan.” (Joshua 3:14-17)

As the waters were high in this passage, your trials may be just as overwhelming, but the Lord will not fail you but cause your victory when you trust Him.

“The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.” (Deuteronomy 28:7)