​1 Timothy 6:12 (MEV) says the following, “Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life, to which you are called and have professed a good profession before many witnesses.” In 2 Timothy 2:3 (Phillips), Paul writes, "Put up with your share of hardship as a loyal soldier in Christ’s army."
 
        Faith is a fight. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) tells us to, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” The reason God’s Word tells us not to lean on our own understanding is because if we rely on our own reasonings, thoughts, and feelings, that is where Satan can defeat us. He defeats us in the realm of our reasoning.
 
        2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV) says, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

        Things will push against us. We can’t control everything that comes across our path. But we can control our response in the power of His Holy Spirit. Is it possible, as 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 says, to be pressed, but not crushed, perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not abandoned, and struck down, but not destroyed? Yes! Yes, it is.

        Faith is what moves God. Without it, it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6). God does not respond to our bawling, squalling, and pleading. He responds to our faith. And faith is a choice. When negative or troublesome thoughts come contrary to the Word of God, we do as 2 Corinthians 10:5 (VOICE) tells us. We cast them down. “We are demolishing arguments and ideas, every high-and-mighty philosophy that pits itself against the knowledge of the one true God. We are taking prisoners of every thought, every emotion, and subduing them into obedience to the Anointed One.”

        Hebrews 4:11 (KJ21) says something interesting. It says, “Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall according to the same example of unbelief.” Labour to enter into rest? Sounds a bit counterintuitive, doesn’t it?

        Why must we labour? Because as soon as we’ve entered into the rest of believing God’s Word, are fully persuaded that what He has promised He will perform (Romans 4:21), Satan will do everything to get us out of that rest. He knows if he can do that, he can steal our victory. How many healings, financial breakthroughs, deliverances have we allowed Satan to steal from us because we haven't held fast to the Word of God, but rather listened to the lies of the evil one?

        When Satan attacks our thoughts and causes us to look at the contradictions, symptoms, and lack, we must examine our commitment to God and His Word. Are we a tiny bit persuaded, half persuaded, I’m getting there persuaded, I’m sleeping better at night persuaded, or fully persuaded God is faithful to His Word and will bring about what He has promised? 

        When we’re fully persuaded, then we’re at rest. Today, my friend, whatever you’re facing, whether it be poor health, fractured relationships, no money in your bank account, or the recent loss of a loved one, determine in your heart to be fully persuaded what God has promised He will do. Then enter His rest and stay there, unmovable, your feet forged in concrete, until your answer arrives.

            Paul writes to Timothy, his son in the faith, “Constantly keep in mind Jesus Christ…risen from the dead…” (2 Timothy 2:8 AMPC). Paul wrote second Timothy from a dank prison cell shortly before his martyrdom. He knew the resurrection of Jesus was foundational to the faith. Why did he need to tell Timothy to constantly keep it in mind?
           
         When Jesus rose from the dead and conquered the devil, He did it for us. As the Son of God, He wasn’t subject to sin, sickness, or poverty. He was not defeated. But you and I were. Jesus won the victory on our behalf and gave it to us. Just writing this makes my spirit rise. We need to constantly remember what Jesus accomplished when He came out of that tomb.
           
          The Scripture tells us when Christ rose from the dead, we were raised up too. “He (God) took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah” (Ephesians 2:6 MSG). We became joint heirs with Jesus. “Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17 NIVUK).
           
         When Jesus rose from the dead, the Father put all things (except Himself) under the feet of His Son. “All this will happen to fulfill the Scripture that says, ‘You placed everything on earth beneath His feet...” (1 Corinthians 15:27 VOICE). That means that all things are under our feet because we are in Christ Jesus.

          God expects us to rule and reign in life. “If one man’s sin brought a reign of death--that’s Adam’s legacy—how much more will those who receive grace in abundance and the free gift of redeeming justice reign in life by means of one other man—Jesus the Anointed” (Romans 5:17 VOICE).
           
         When we remember Jesus, risen from the dead, Satan can’t talk us out of our victory. We won’t believe him when he tells us we’re going to fail, our bills won’t be paid, we’re going to get sick and die. We’ll tell that old liar Jesus rose from the dead and won the victory. Defeat isn’t part of our vocabulary, because when push comes to shove, we remember Jesus, risen from the dead.