THIS WEEK’S THEME: Stand firm in the Lord
DEVOTIONAL:
The theme of week two of Lent is “Stand firm in the Lord.” This can be more challenging than it sounds. There are day-to-day struggles and temptations that cause it to be very difficult to stand firm in the Lord. An encouraging word is written in Deuteronomy 31:6 – “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
The daily struggles can weigh one down to the point where it seems that all hope is lost. It is important to remember that God is with you in your trials. He will always be there to give you strength for the battle raging around you. He promises us in Deuteronomy that he will never leave us, nor forsake us. It is important to replay these positive words over and over until they are engraved in your heart. This will help you stand firm in the Lord, even when feeling disappointed.
Also important in standing firm in the Lord is keeping your focus on the right thing, Jesus, rather than your problems. A verse encouraging us through our temptations is 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to humanity. God is faithful and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, so that you are able to bear it.”
This reminds us that though we do have daily struggles, God is faithful. Temptations range from being involved in illegal actions to simply lying to a friend. Satan tries to take our eyes off the prize by tempting us. These temptations in life cause us to take a step back in our walk with God. Instead, trust Jesus in every single circumstance. He is the only one who will be with you through the storms.
Standing firm in the Lord is very important, and also very difficult. Ephesians 6:11-16 provides us with advice in how to stand firm in the Lord. Standing firm in the Lord is done by putting on the full armor of God. In these verses, this includes filling your life with truthfulness, righteousness, peace and faith. To put on the full armor of God you must include him in all you do. Prayer is very important in standing firm in the Lord because to include him in all you do you must have a strong relationship with God. Another way to have a strong relationship with God is to set aside intentional time for worshipping. Including God in your daily life by surrounding yourself with friends – or even one friend who you work together with – to keep each other accountable is important. A final way to help you stay firm in the Lord is find a mentor. This can be a parent, someone at church or work, but they can help you because they have gone through similar situations.
Standing firm in the Lord is hard to do, but with the full armor of God you can overcome your struggles and temptations.