Do Not Abandon Your Faith in God!

      by Richard A. Cox Jr, Author of the book I, We, Us:  A Journey of Personal Growth and Development

” The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” I Timothy 4:1 (NIV)

     We are living in a time where your faith in God is tested on a daily basis. It is being tested in every area of your life.   The devil is very busy trying to discourage you to give up the good fight of faith.   As Christians we have an assurance in God’s Word that whatever comes our way that God has the power and ability to help us. God can conquer any situation or circumstance we might face.   Be encouraged because you have the Spirit of God within you to give you strength to overcome. In 1 John 4:4 (KJV) it declares, “you, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” If God is in your life you are on the winning side. In Romans 8:31(KJV) it says, “what shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life, choose Him today. Join the winning team.   We have the victory in Jesus Christ our Lord.  

     Your trials and tribulations in life are to make you stronger in your faith.   As your relationship grows with Jesus Christ you will learn that whatever situation you may encounter, He is with you. Remember when you were sick, God healed you, when you were in the courtroom, God was your lawyer and pleaded your case, when you loss your job, God provided an even better job that included a bonus and raise in salary. It is those testimonies of our faith that we need to recall and cling to in our times of trouble.  

     If you are at a point in your life where your faith is weary, and you feel like abandoning your faith in God. Stop! Think! Reflect upon what God has already done for you in your life.   Do you remember other challenging tests you have faced in life where you did not see your way? What happened? God stepped in right in the nick of time.

We have a promise in Hebrews 13:5 (KJV) where Jesus said “… I would not leave thee nor forsake thee.” Jesus tells us in John 10:10 (KJV) that “the thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”   It is God’s desire for us to succeed in life and live it to its fullest.

     Do not let some of these concerns listed below cause you to abandon you faith in God:

• Fear - Many times fear eats away at our faith in different areas of our lives. For example, you may have thought about applying for a new position at work and because you were rejected for a similar job in the past fear has stopped you from applying for the position. We must increase our faith in God through daily prayer and reading the Word of God. This will begin to strengthen out trust in God.   In Psalm 91: 4-6 (NIV) it says “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. God has not given us a spirit of fear. In 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV) it say, “for God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”
  

• Rejection - We try so many times to move forth in the things of God and sometime we get discouraged when we encounter rejection after rejection with our attempts to succeed. Some times we need to talk with a trusted friend to help us to analyze if there are changes we need to make to turn our rejections into acceptance. Rejection is sometimes a way for God to stop us from going into a direction that might jeopardize our personal relationship with Him.   We need to realize that God is with us to help us. In Hebrews 13:6 (NIV) it says, “so we say with confidence, the Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
  

• Anxiety - Anxiety sometimes makes us lose our spiritual focus. We let our circumstance dominate and smother our faith. We must focus on God’s strength through us to conquer our circumstances. He will give us an inner peace in our time of anxiety. In John 14:27 (NIV) it Jesus declares, “peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. “   God wants us to cast our cares and concerns upon Him to handle. In 1 Peter 5:7(NIV) it says, “cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
  

• Depression - When things do not turn out the way we think it should it sometimes causes us to get depressed about our situation. We must understand that God is directing our lives and He has a purpose why things work out the way that they do. Do not sit around and have a pity party for yourself.   Get focus of God and keep working for Him. In Romans 8:28-29 (KJV) it says,” and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” God will use every experience in our lives to make us more like Him.

     Let us not forget that we left the world and we are now apart of the God’s army.   In Colossians 1:21-23 (NIV) it says, “once we were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation. If you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”

I pray that your faith will be renewed in the Lord. Stir up the Spirit of God within your soul. In Exodus 14:13-14 (KJV) it declares, “do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still.” Do not abandon God because He has not abandoned you. Wait for your change to come.