How can a plan help us persevere in the midst of spiritual hardship?
“When we are defensive and when we don’t really have a plan for our spiritual lives we tend to get bogged down and aimless.”
Owen Strachan shares the importance of being prepared for spiritual hardships.
“The same thing happens in war often times. You think about various military conflicts and the takeaway for Americans in the twentieth century is that there was no big plan after the big offensive, we didn’t know how to play defense effectively and how to make it through the time when the advance was over.”
How do we go on the offensive?
It is crucial to develop spiritual habits and disciplines such as Scripture reading, meditation, and prayer ahead of time so that when we reach a inevitably spiritual valley, our habits help us stay on track. By doing that we cultivate what an even more important understanding that help us persevere.
“What we need most importantly is a huge, soaring, awesome, cosmic vision of God. The way to see that vision is to go back to Scripture.”
Having this souring vision of God doesn’t mean we won’t be be struck by the reality of sin. We can’t avoid facing it in our lives. But it means we are prepared to move move through, and our relationship with God grows deeper. Sometimes, trials and hardships might actually increase instead of decrease as a result of following Jesus.
“Following Jesus does not mean that everything becomes placid and easy for you, but if we have this soaring vision of God we can make it through anything by God’s power.”
Surround yourself and your family with the Holy Spirit and step out on the offensive for your faith. Don’t wait for spiritual hardship to knock on your door before you act and bolster the defenses of your heart and mind. Develop spiritual habits and disciplines ahead of time so you will be ready when you need them the most.
“We are taking stock out of the kingdom of this world and placing it in the Kingdom of God. And God will always bring returns when we invest in Him.”
Key Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Proverbs 9:10; Revelation 12:11
Featured Songs: Anything is Possible by Matthew West; Move (Keep Walkin’) by TobyMac; World Changers by Matthew West
