Actively Choose to Believe God

"Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one" (Ephesians 6:16)

Faith doesn’t become faith until you actually have to use it. Many of us think we have strong faith, but when something difficult comes along our faith is the first thing to fly out the window. In reality, for too many Christians our faith rests not in God but in our checking account. If there’s money in the bank, food in the fridge and a clean bill of health from the doctor, we trust in God. But when something goes sideways, our first reaction is to blame God, as if God’s sole purpose on this planet is to provide us an easy and stress free life.

The flaming arrows that the enemy will throw at us will be lies that will try to get us to doubt God’s goodness in our lives. Look at how Satan drove a wedge between Eve and God. It was with a flaming arrow of doubt, “Did God really say that?” (Genesis 3:1). It is a lie straight from the enemy to think that the presence of spiritual warfare, or trials and difficult circumstances is a sign of God’s displeasure or His powerlessness to protect us. Warfare and trials are simply the price of admission for existing in a broken and fallen world infected with sin.

So when the enemy throws darts of doubt your way, when you look around and begin to ask yourself, “Where is God in all of this,” that’s when you need to engage the shield of faith. Faith isn’t a feeling. Faith is a choice. When spiritual warfare rages all around you, wielding the shield of faith is as simple as making a choice, a choice to actively believe in God, in His goodness and power, despite what your circumstances or even your feelings, may be screaming at you. Faith is a choice.

ON THE COUCH WITH GOD

1. Have there been moments of crisis when you’ve been tempted to doubt the goodness of God? How (if at all) did you overcome that doubt and exercise faith?

2. Do you tend to be driven more by your emotions (heart), your mental state (mind), your physical cravings (body) or your will (soul)? To properly wield the shield of faith, you have to exercise your will and decide that your soul will dominate your mind, body and heart. How often does that happen for you?

NEXT STEP

The next step in actively choosing to believe God is to define your fear and declare your faith. What doubt is the enemy trying to get you to believe? Name it in the space below (warfare prayer to God). What will you choose to believe instead? Name it as well.