Experiencing God brings confident joy and peace that comes from knowing and walking with Him. “Even when you are in the darkest, most hopeless situations, the love of God is more than sufficient to give you hope and life,” teaches Blackaby in his study, Experiencing God.
“God alone can fulfill the deep longing in your soul that we try to satisfy with things, activities, and human relationships. To be loved by God is the greatest relationship, the highest achievement, and the noblest position in life.” – Blackaby
Consider the following daily, practical steps for unshakable faith.
1. Remind yourself of who God says you are: You are His child, known and loved, forgiven, redeemed, chosen, sealed with the Spirit, your name is written in the Book of Life, and your inheritance is in heaven. Nothing can snatch you out of His hand. Let these truths sink in.
2. Pray: God hears you when you pray. Prayer is powerful and God moves as His people cry out to Him. Pour out to God what is on your heart (nothing is too big or too small), and rest in the peace and wholeness found in His presence.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV).
3. Study Scriptures Daily: Reading your Bible to learn God’s plan, His truth, and His ways will be your solid foundation. Just a verse a day will not do it. God’s Word is often how you’ll hear His voice.
You’ll gain strength to persevere under the pressures of this world. I’ve heard it said that we can’t live on “drive through devotions;” rather, we need a nourishing meal of Scriptures to survive and thrive. Digest the Word, meditate on it, and let it sink in to strengthen and change you. God’s Word is our daily bread to nourish our hearts and souls.
John Ortberg, (one of my favorite authors) says in his book, If You Want to Walk on Water You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat, “If you can worry, you can meditate. To meditate merely means to think about something over and over. Let it simmer in your mind. Reflect on it from different angles until it becomes part of you.”
I find that often what I’ve read in the morning, comes into play later on that day. A scripture comes to mind, or God gives me opportunities to live it out.
Consider reading a Psalm and a chapter from Proverbs daily. I also challenge you to read Revelation along with a book by Darrell W. Johnson, Discipleship on the Edge, an Expository Journey through the Book of Revelation.
According to Johnson, Revelation simply means the revealing or unveiling, like the pulling back of the curtain. We are let in on what is really going on. Johnson says, “Things are not as they seem.” And he adds, “There is more to ‘reality’ than meets the unaided senses.”
As disciples of Jesus, we need to study to be informed and to understand the Revelation of Jesus, standing strong as His disciples and keeping the faith.
4. Worship: If we are worshipping, reminding ourselves of who God is – the Creator of heaven and earth, our Strong Tower, Wonderful Counselor, and Healer, the Prince of Peace, the Good Shepherd, the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, Faithful and True – we can’t help but count our blessings and remain strong in the Lord. Worship is not because God needs praise – but because our hearts and minds need it.
Consider taking a “worship walk,” listening to worship music as you enjoy some fresh air. Admire the beauty of God’s creation, count your blessings, and praise God for His faithfulness and goodness. Your spirit will lift, and your perspective will shift to a more positive place.
Is He Worthy? – Chris Tomlin
Spirit Lead Me – Michael Ketterer & Influence Music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABWnLjXer10
King of Kings – Hillsong Worship
5. Put on the full armor of God each day. Pray for and visualize each piece of armor over yourself and your family.
The helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, feet fitted with the sandals of the Gospel of peace, the shield of faith, and the sword of the spirit.
In Ephesians, Paul draws our attention to the unseen world as he describes the spiritual battle that takes place against evil “in the heavenly realms.”
He cautions against lashing out against human opponents as though they are the real enemy or assuming that the battle can be fought using human resources. As individuals, Paul is instructing us to “armor up” to withstand assault.
Ephesians 6:10-18 NIV “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 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. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Ask Yourself:
- What sources (social media, books, mainstream media, friends, or activities) most damage my level of hope, joy, and peace?
- What sources most fuel my level of hope, joy, and peace?
Thank you Leann! So encouraging! God bless you friend!
Linda, happy this encouraged your heart. I’ve needed this reminder and focus. Hugs to you!
Leann,
Thank you for your wonderful words that I needed to hear this morning. I have been waking up at night in a panic over the direction our country is heading in. I am feeling helpless and concerned about our country’s future. The media is not our friend and I am concerned about our corrupt leaders.
I need to remember that God is in charge and look at the bigger picture. He is “The King of Kings.”
Thank you for sharing. You are not alone in how you are feeling. Many feel unsettled right now, or downright anxious. Amen to remembering that God is in charge, He is our King of kings and Lord of lords!