7 Essentials to Stand Strong in Your Faith

Photo by Ameer Basheer on Unsplash

There is no doubt that we all want to stand strong in our faith. This is not a matter of wishful thinking. There is a biblical prescription for you to stand strong in your faith. You must apply these essentials to your life for you to experience that strength.

There is work to be done. Each of these things requires that we employ some discipline, take some necessary steps to internalize them and allow them to define a new reality for us. Trembling in our faith is not God’s plan for us. These essentials transform us so we can stand strong.

So, here are the seven essentials to stand strong in your faith:

Truth

By truth, we mean the Bible. This is the recorded Word of God. In it, you find most of what you need to know about God (the rest you find in your personal relationship). You also find guidance for your life, the reality of sin and death and the powerful God who has conquered both for us. It is a guide to help live a life of victory over sin and death. It defines the truth. Jesus said the truth would set us free. That truth is the gospel, the good news, that God loves us and has created a path for us to be fully reconciled to him. When we live in this truth, we begin to be equipped to stand strong.

Righteousness

This means we live in right relationship with God and with others. Our relationships are characterized by honesty, integrity, peace and understanding. We obtain right relationship with God through salvation and obedience. His part is to save us and empower us to live obediently. Our part is to believe, surrender and follow him.

Readiness

To stand strong we must be ready. Readiness is an attitude and an action. We don’t go through our day without a thought for our spiritual well-being. Instead, we intentionally prepare ourselves for each day and the challenges we may face. We are ready, armed with the gospel and the determination to face each obstacle with strength and peace.

Faith

In Hebrews 11, the great faith chapter, it says that without faith it is impossible to please God. Without faith, we cannot even be saved. We live lives that are wholly wound up in the faith that God is all he says he is. He is a God who is there, all the time, with all power and wisdom. We can fully rely on him. He doesn’t lead us astray. His promises are solid. We can build our lives on his word. You must believe in order to stand strong in your faith.

Salvation

We can absolutely be assured of our salvation. We experience God’s saving power when we surrender our lives to him. When we express by faith our repentance and our goldy sorrow for sin, he saves us and sets us free from the bondage of sin and death. We may not always feel it, but we can know that we are saved. That assurance helps us stand strong.

Word of God

God’s word is absolutely reliable. When we treasure his word and keep it in our heart, it gives us power for living. We must be avid students of the Word. We need to read it repeatedly, study it, memorize it and use it each day. Applying God’s word to our lives will transform us.

Prayer

Sharing our hearts with God is essential. We can pour out all our needs to him. But there is more to prayer than that. Expressing praise, worship and thanksgiving in prayer is important. These prayers tend to change us and strengthen us. Interceding for others has the profound effect of strengthening our own spiritual lives. We should be praying all the time!

Paul says all of this in this familiar passage:

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.

Ephesians 6:13–18 (ESV)

Your turn

Ask God to help you put on the full armor each day. Don’t embark on your day without being fully equipped to stand strong in your faith.