We are called to “fight the good fight of faith.” When we decide to take a stand and “fight” for our faith we discover that God is there providing us with the strength and grace to do it. Fighting is not being argumentive or demanding our way. Fighting the good fight has to do with our own desire and passion for God.

Too often we want to just get by on as little as possible. We will only pray “just enough” or fast as little as necessary. All the time God wants us to give ourselves completely to the battle. God may lead us into places where we need to pray longer than we think is necessary. There may be a conviction that we must fast and spend time alone with our Lord. We are fighting the fight of faith because we are battling our own self focus.

The battle becomes harder because Satan will do all he can to weaken us and reduce our spiritual strength. He creates interruptions, false needs and endless distractions to try and defeat us in battle.

In this battle we allow so many things to work on our hearts—people, events, needs, desires, etc. We do not realize that most of these things can cause us to be alienated from our hearts and therefore from God who reigns in our hearts.

We must deal with the things that hide our hearts from God. We must be actively working on them. We decide to no longer conceal to ourselves or try to hide from God what is in our hearts. We will stop all self-justification. There will be no more self-pity. Confession, repentance and openness will allow cleansing in the depths of our hearts. This is the fight, this is the battle.

We discover that Our Father honors his children when they resist Satan’s attacks and willingly sacrifice time, energy, effort, and themselves to fight the good fight of faith.

Let me close with this prayer:

Lord, you have given me so many promises: Promises from your word and promises from your heart. Why do I doubt them? Does doubt come simply because you don’t do things my way, in my time? How much of doubt is centered on me, on my self?

You have answered my prayers. You have encouraged me. You have stretched my money. You have spoken through me. You have blessed my life.

Forgive me for ever doubting. I must submit my fears and feelings to you once again. You are faithful. I will trust you. Trust allows you to work things out your way in your time. Trust is patient. Lord, I do trust you with all of my heart, all my soul and all of my life. I refuse to lean on my own understanding. You are my sovereign King.