God's mighty power that saved us is the same power that raised Christ from the dead (1:19-20a). Trust grows as you look for Gods presence in what feels dark and heavy. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. They can remind you of the truth when youre struggling. Snodgrass, Klein, Ephesians, NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, Zondervan, 1996). This is like taking up your shield for the day ahead. He does not always give you the big picture, but He will show you the next step. for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure (Philippians 2:1213). Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10), My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19), God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8), I will never leave you nor forsake you. So we can confidently say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me? (Hebrews 13:56), The Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. To experience the full life God has for you, it's important to know his recipe for spiritual growth. We serve. Fellow believers can remind you of Gods character through encouragement and accountability. The important thing is that when you pray, you are engaged with your higher power. Give today! What they really needed was power. 11 Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually [longing to be in His presence]." 1 Chronicles 16:10-11. God is present and is making Himself known. Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus. Yet, most of us sit and wait for God to make it happen, and then we wonder why it is that we dont experience breakthrough as often or as fast as wed like. God is completely trustworthy, but He does not ask you to trust Him blindly. Breakthrough happens when we take the first step against barriers in our life. There is no better protection you can have than God guiding you from within and transforming your thoughts and desires so that you love Him and want to follow Him. Learn about Cru's global leadership team. In your waking up. When youre in need of strength, remember that God is the number one healer and can guide you in endless ways. A shield would have been the Roman soldiers greatest defensive tool against his attackers. How To Be Spiritual And Connect With God Without Going To Church Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. It also held a sheath for the sword to sit in, ready for the soldier to draw. He will sustain you and grow your faith in the waiting. Remove whatever the enemy is using to blind them and keep them from trusting Christ. The Christian life isnt a standard of performance or a code of ethics; its a vital personal relationship with a loving God. Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries. Community reminds you that you are never alone, even in hard times. When times are good, it can feel easier. Admit Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Lia holds a BA in Psychology from The University of California, Los Angeles and an MS in Marriage and Family Therapy and Pupil Personnel Services from San Francisco State University. To trust is to believe in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of something. You simply claim by faith the righteous character of God made available to you through Jesus. The belt of a Roman soldier sat around his waist and was used to keep the body armor in place. One of the best choices you can make is to read Scripture and commit some of it to memory. Approved. Self-Control and the Power of Christ | Desiring God So my trust must be in Him completely. Terms of Service When I take a deep breath, hold it for a quiet moment and offer a sweet smile to myself, I bring a drop of peace to my world. Living this way is worth it because the result is intimacy with Christ and readiness for spiritual warfare. The spiritual realm is very real, and Christians must learn how to fight the battle taking place there. How to Trust God, Even in Difficult Times | Cru It can feel like everything you thought to be true about your life was a lie, and as such, Kaiser explains, you may feel "disconnected and detached from the things and people you used to enjoy." Advertisement Your friends and family are enjoyable. Luke 9:1. The soldiers traveled long distances at a time, and their shoes allowed them to move quickly. Instead, Christians have endless opportunities to clothe themselves with spiritual armor and grow in righteousness, hope and trust in God. How to Receive Power from God (Christianity): 11 Steps In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city. Please fill out your contact information if you wish to have a mentor discuss this article with you. We can be filled with the Holy Spirit by trusting God to produce in us the fruitful life he has promised as we live for him. Beliefnet is a lifestyle website providing feature editorial content around the topics of inspiration, spirituality, health, wellness, love and family, news and entertainment. The good news is that God gives you every resource you need to engage in spiritual warfare. This is when youre truly letting go and letting God handle everything. Faithfully continue to seek the Lord, but wait on His timing. The things you felt secure in all of a sudden feel shaky and uncertain. Develop your leadership skills and learn how to launch a ministry wherever you are. Every gift is DOUBLED up to $50,000 to minister to military families. The Holy Spirit came to convict the world of sin and justice. Even in His resurrected body, Jesus can only be in one place at a time. Pray for the help you need. 4 Ways to Strengthen and Improve Your Spiritual Life | Chopra Night of Open Heaven || Day 46 [100 Days Fasting & Prayer] 4th July It is normal for people to go to school, study, and take classes throughout life to improve their minds and intellect. Then, we dont just pray for help hour by hour; we trust those specific promises hour by hour. By trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit, you are getting to know God on earth. You need a strong foundation of Scripture to stand on, especially when you feel uncertain. You can trust Him to sustain you, provide for you and be with you even in the midst of your hardship. How can I gain spiritual discernment? - CompellingTruth.org In trust, you do not look for security in other things; you look to God to hold you securely in difficult circumstances. 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. Must you become a better person so that God will accept you? 1. Firstly, these powers can offer us peace, confidence and hope in our lives. He reminds them that this life will have hardship and that our bodies will fail, but God is still working for our good. 6. & Privacy Policy. 20 Bible Verses about Power Through God - Online Bible Thank goodness! Every gift is DOUBLED up to $50,000 to minister to military families. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact. Answering these questions will help you stay alert and ready to ward off spiritual attacks. Jesus knew the disciples didnt have enough food to feed thousands, but He asked them to bring to Him the small amount of food they did have five loaves of bread and two fish and He supernaturally multiplied it. View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages. They can pray for and support you. Jesus placed great emphasis on the Holy Spirit. He is in all of it. A. ", because if it is not known, abuse become inevitable. He protects His people and equips His people for every spiritual battle. And say to God, I believe you; help my unbelief. He pays attention. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. Attend Church meetings and conferences. "Dear Jesus, I want you in the center of my life and commit to serve and obey you through your power. Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others. When Peter says, Whoever serves, [let him serve] as one who serves by the strength that God supplies (1 Peter 4:11), we do this not only by praying for that supply, but by trusting in the promise of the supply in specific situations. Gods unchanging character can give us a firm foundation when things feel unsteady and uncertain. All fields are required unless otherwise indicated. He also gives you other believers to walk with. put to death the deeds of the body (Romans 8:13). The most fundamental reason we should desire these gifts is the Bible commands us to: earnestly desire the spiritual gifts. Paul says this in the same sentence he says, pursue love (1 Corinthians 14:10. The Bible often describes the life of someone following Jesus using the language and imagery of warfare. Leading from values so others will walk passionately with God to grow and bear fruit. Wait on Him to act on your behalf. You can get to know God through personal time with Him and through His Word. Our reconciliation with God is totally dependent on what God has done through Jesus Christ; in the same way, the ability to live a dynamic Christian life also comes totally from God. They can propel you toward God or away from Him. Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation. 3 Ways to Become More Spiritual - wikiHow With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lords people. . Giving thanks fights the lie that everything is horrible. The Armor of God: How to Prepare for Spiritual Warfare | Cru The key to drawing on His strength is faith so that we might live by the . You can tell them the Bible stories, which show God's power. - Stress . How comforting it is to know that the God of the universe is also paying attention to you. This is why Jesus said His departure is to our advantage. And by him we cry Abba, Father. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are Gods children (Romans8:14-16). Night of Open Heaven || Day 45 [100 Days Fasting & Prayer] 3rd July Just how do we follow the command to "be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians5:18)? Her brother Lazarus had passed away, and she told Jesus in verse 21, "Lord, if You had been here, my . Your salvation is the greatest gift Jesus could ever give you. We have to believe in Gods goodness, that God has already willed the breakthrough for our life. So it is important to understand the different roles of each piece of armor God tells you to put on. According to Mark 9, a man brought his son to Jesus for healing from being possessed by a demon. It is your job to . Paul says that God supplies the Spirit to you by hearing with faith (Galatians 3:5).