At the beginning of the new year this year, the Lord revealed to me that I was entering a season where Satan was going to tempt and test me, but to hold fast to His word and cling to Him. The last few months have been one thing after another, in which Satan has diligently used to try to through me off course and abandon my God-given purpose.
I was at a church service one evening that was set aside specifically for prayer and restoration of marriages. At the prayer service, there were three women, who were married but were there by themselves, went to the altar to pray for restoration for their marriage. They went to war, cried out to the Lord, and pled the blood of Jesus over their wayward husbands. I was in such awe at the faith of these strong women that never lost their boldness and did not stray from obedience of the Lord, no matter how much of a battle it probably was for them. They chose to not give up, to keep pushing forward, and refused to surrender to the works of the devil.
As I was praying in agreement with them and asked God to see the faith of these women and to honor their faith by answering their prayers, God showed me that this was the exact type of faith that He wanted me to embody during this difficult season: the type of faith that was stubborn. Faith that was persistent. Faith that kept pushing forward and to continue the fight, to continue running my race, no matter how many times Satan tried to get me to throw in the towel. Faith that is kept in obedience to the Lord’s commands and instructions even when it seemed futile. Faith that kept believing that God is good, that He is the redeemer and the Savior, and that His perfect plan for every area concerning my life would come together in due season.
When Satan would tempt me, God instructed me to do what Jesus did when He was in the wilderness- respond with truth and His word. When demonic oppressions have risen against me, God has instructed me to take up His full armor and to refute every accusation.
Every tactic and every strategy being used by Satan was meant to weaken my faith, but God is using it to deepen and refine my faith. A refiner’s fire is not meant to destroy, but to remove impurities, making us more and more into the image of Christ. I know that once I pass each of these tests, the genuineness of my faith will be proven as more valuable than gold… for all those who endure to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13).
“You have tried my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tested me and You find nothing evil in me; I intend that my mouth will not transgress. Concerning the deeds of men, by the word of Your lips I have kept away from the paths of the violent. My steps have held closely to Your paths, my feet have not staggered.”
- Psalm 17:3-5
“So that the genuineness of your faith, which is much more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested and purified by fire, may be found to result in Your praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
- 1 Peter 1:7
“Consider it pure joy, brethren, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
- James 1: 2-3
“And let us run with perseverance that race marked before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”
- Hebrews 12:2
