Yesterday we looked at the importance of God's Word to strengthen our faith. Yet there is something more we need to do to see our faith grow. We must use it.
In 1 Timothy 6:12, Paul says this about faith,
Fight the good fight of faith.
Faith is made for conflict. It does not grow without conflict. It does not grow without pressure. You need to use it.
Remember our illustration of the body builders and how a proper diet is essential to building muscle mass? Well, they will also tell you that it is not enough to drink protein shakes and eat tuna fish, you have to work those muscles if they are going to grow. They work those weights every day in order to build their muscles.
The same thing is true when it comes to faith. Faith is a muscle that you have to use. It is not enough just to listen to your Bible teaching CDs all day long. Hearing alone is not enough to develop faith. You must use your faith muscle.
That is what the fight of faith is all about. You exercise your faith when you are standing in the midst of your storm, and you are assailed by temptations and every kind of trial that tells you you're not going to make it, that you are going down with the ship.
As you stand in the midst of your storm, and the wind is howling around you, and the lightning is flashing, and the waves are breaking over the bow of your little ship, stand up and say, "I believe God, that it is going to be just as it was told me." That is where the fight of faith comes in.
No matter what you may be going through today, exercise that muscle of faith. Trust God to do just as He has promised.
~Bayless Conley~
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