Standing Firm with the Sword of the Spirit

Jan 16 – Jan 23

Life Is a Daily Battle

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  01/18/21

Yesterday we looked at the mistake Christians sometimes make of seeking the power of the Spirit as a substitute for faithfully practicing the spiritual disciplines.

Another significant mistake Christian’s sometimes make when embracing the Spirit-filled life is the expectation that a dose of God’s power will remove all unpleasantness, temptation, or struggle from life. That simply is not the case. The power of the Holy Spirit enables us to withstand evil and temptation and to persevere in times of persecution or hardship, but the power of the Holy Spirit is never a vaccination against difficulty.

I can assure you from my own walk with the Lord that life is a daily fight against the push and pull of the world. Life is a daily battle against temptation. It is a daily struggle against countless forces that seek to destroy our health, finances, emotional well-being, families, friendships, and the preaching of the Gospel. God gives us His Holy Spirit to help us endure and overcome in difficult times, but His Spirit does not prevent difficulties from coming our way.

Prayer: Father, help me not to be surprised by the difficulties of life. I recognize that today I will face struggles. Thank You for Your Spirit who will help me to overcome the temptations and difficulties of this day. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“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” (Ephesians 6:12).