For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 2 Cor. 4:15-16
No matter how many struggles we go through in this life, we have hope in knowing that we have eternal life with God through faith in Jesus Christ. This eternal perspective keeps us rooted and grounded in faith. Not only that, but we have a relationship with God, and therefore, witnesses of the Godhead (Holy Trinity), and of His divine power working on the inside of us.
This Scripture says that the spirit man is being renewed daily, which lets us know that we’re going from one state of glory to another. Now, I don’t know about you, but that gets me excited when I think about how God is working on the inside of me; knowing that when He finishes what He started that it’s going to be great!
We can rejoice in knowing that although our physical bodies are aging, our inner man is being renewed daily. This should remind us to set our affections on things above; Colossians 3:2.
Embracing this reality helps us to strengthen our hearts as we come into agreement with God’s divine process for spiritual transformation. In addition, every step of spiritual progress carries over with us into eternity!
In Romans 8:18, Paul said, “I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.”
Walk Closer With the Lord
The Bible gives us a metaphor that just as birth pains increase in intensity and frequency before the birth of a child, so too will world events intensify before the return of Christ; Matt 24:8.
God is calling us to walk even closer to Him during these times of uncertainty so that we will remain in faith and not lose heart. As simple as it may sound, we know that distractions or difficult circumstances can create distance between our walk with the Lord.
For example, Peter, one of the Lord’s disciple’s, followed Jesus at a distance after Jesus’ arrest. Let’s look at Matt 26:57- 58.
And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end. Matt 26:57- 58
This indicated a shift in Peter’s actions, which probably had to do with fear and doubt, then later the denial of Jesus. Peter experienced a moment of weakness, which the Lord had already foreseen. So, He prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail; Luke 22:32.
We sometimes go through things in this life that can rattle us to the point that our faith may be holding on by a thread. This is why it’s important that we stay in a community of like-minded believers.
It’s the Lord’s will that we strengthen one another, even more so, as the return of Jesus Christ is vastly approaching; Hebrews 10:25. The Lord prophesied to Peter that when he returned back to having faith in Him to strengthen his brothers; Luke 22:32.
A Yielding Heart
What God desires to do in our lives require not only faith but also a yielding heart. God’s ongoing work in us is based on how much we yield to His Word and specific instructions given to each of us from the Holy Spirit.
As Spirit-filled believers, we must follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, you must have a heart that is sensitive to the promptings of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is available to help navigate you through this world to fulfill divine purpose.
In the Old Testament, the Israelites followed a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night as their guide during their journey through the wilderness, but through various test and trials, they went astray in their hearts; Exodus 13:21.
Let’s look at a cross-reference in Hebrews 3:8-10
Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, 9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years.10 Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.’ Hebrews 3:8-10
The Israelites had a history of going astray in their hearts. Not only that, but God said they didn’t know His ways. The Bible says that the Israelites knew Gods acts, but Moses knew His ways. Why? Because Moses had a closer walk with God.
God desires that we know His ways. In other words, His divine nature. God can take a situation that seems like the devil is winning and turn it around for His glory, while you reap the benefits.
Understanding God’s ways comes with experience in walking with the Lord. As you continue walking with God along your spiritual journey, you learn gradually how to trust in God’s process and timing.
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent; John 17:3.
Understanding God’s ways will keep your heart sensitive to God. Someone with a hardened heart didn’t just wake up one day with a hardened heart overnight. It usually happens gradually.
How do you keep your heart strong in faith? You have to shed off the desires of the flesh.
Shedding the Flesh
And those who are in Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:24
The flesh can reroute your destiny and choke out divine purpose if you allow it to go unchecked. Faith is not a moment—it’s a journey of letting go of the old and embracing the new creation Christ has made you to be.
Did you know that snakes shed their skin several times a year? The average snake sheds 2 to 4 times per year. If they don’t it can lead to several problems.
Other animals, such as eagles shed old feathers and grows new ones. In contrast, we are exhorted to shed off the lust of the flesh and renew our inner man.
Condition of the Heart
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. 2 Cor. 13:5
I have a small garden in my backyard, and I check it often to see what type of condition my plants are in. I check whether my plants need watering, whether they need pruning, or whether it’s time for me to harvest what I’ve planted.
In a similar manner, you must take time to examine if your heart is spiritually healthy, and whether you’re experiencing spiritual growth. If not, then you should address whatever may be causing the problem instead of avoiding it.
The Pruning Process
“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will bear more fruit. John 15:2
In the natural gardening process, you have to prune dead leaves. Spiritually speaking, it’s about surrendering control and allowing Christ to reshape your heart.
God will prune what is not fruitful as you yield to the Spirit. God will tell you some things you need to get rid of that’s hindering your spiritual growth.
And every act of obedience, no matter how small, invites Him to deepen His life within us. Understand that transformation takes time, but every step of surrender allows godly character to take root in you.
The Uprooting Process
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–You Must Uproot Worry
- Do not let your heart be troubled; John 14:1.
- Worrying can not change the circumstance; Matt.6:27
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–You Must Uproot Bitterness
- Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many. Hebrews 12:15
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–You Must Uproot Procrastination
- What has God been telling you to do?
- Sin of omission- Therefore, whoever knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin”. This verse
highlights the responsibility believers have to act upon their knowledge of
what is right; James 4:17.
The Cultivation Process
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
I exhort you today to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit. The joy of the Lord is your strength and obedience is the way back to joy. Choose joy as an act of your will. You don’t have to be a slave to your emotions.
The Bible says that we’re no longer slaves to sin or the flesh to obey it in its lust. Therefore, your spirit man should be dominating your flesh.
Practice regularly sowing seeds of truth, which is the Word of God. The result is that faith, hope, and love will develop as you cultivate the garden of your heart. I exhort you to let the Word of God abide in you richly!
In summary, faith in the life of a Spirit-filled believer is something that is continual. The Bible says we go from faith to faith, glory to glory. The more you understand the truth, the more you can freely walk in it. Keep sowing goods seeds and you will reap a harvest!
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:9