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Introduction

As a Christian, you’ve been empowered with an advantage that helps you overcome anything the world may throw your way.

Have you been trying your hardest to change or achieve something without results? Have you been trying to do it on your own strength? You were designed to win! When God created you, He made you as a King’s kid—a force to be reckoned with!

As a Christian, you’ve been empowered with an advantage that helps you overcome anything the world may throw your way. But it all comes down to your fight. However, your fight isn’t against people. It isn’t against problems, politics, or even the devil himself. This fight is the fight to stay in faith—even when things don’t go our way.

Have Patience For Your Promise

In Jesus we hear a resounding “yes” to all of God’s many promises.

Do you ever get impatient?

Many of us have learned to claim and speak out God’s promises, then to study and meditate on them. When we do, God’s Word begins to penetrate our hearts where it can produce results. The trouble is, sometimes we stop the process before we get any results because we think that nothing is happening.

Things rarely happen instantly. It’s not like you can just plug a cord into the back of your neck every time you want to download a new truth.

Changing what you believe takes work. It happens as you study line upon line, principle upon principle, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little. It’s through hearing God’s Word repeatedly. It’s like planting seeds.

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 2 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV)

You can’t plant a big garden one day, forget about it, and then expect to get a huge harvest. It has to be watered and weeded. It may take time, but if you keep tending what you’ve planted, you’ll start to see a reward for your hard work.

Protect the truth you’ve planted in your heart by filtering what you watch, listen to and say. Intentionally remain aware of God’s presence. Keep learning more about His promises and keep claiming them for yourself, because as today’s verse says, they are all yours in Christ. The Voice translation puts it this way: In Jesus we hear a resounding “yes” to all of God’s many promises.

Remember, the truth you are planting in your heart begins to choke out all the lies and misbeliefs. The more truths you plant, the more you’ll start to experience those promises in your life.

Consistency is Key

Where you set your mind determines whether you will be permeated by fear or filled with faith.

Have you ever been tempted to give up?

Maybe you’re dealing with a health issue or relationship trouble, you’re trying to lose weight, or you want to start a new habit. You’re thinking, “Where’s God in all this? Why aren’t things happening faster? Why do I even bother to try?”

Anytime you feel this way, you’ve got your mind set on the things of the flesh. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus. A great story to remind us of this principle is when Jesus walked on water. (Matthew 14:29-30) Peter stepped out of the boat to join Him, and as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, he stayed above water. It reminds us of what we need to do today.

We need to keep our eyes on Jesus (His ability, His righteousness, and what He’s done for us), making a conscious effort to bring Him into our everyday lives. When we do, we experience the miraculous. Peter walked on water, and it wasn’t Jesus doing this miracle alone. Peter’s focus played a vital role.

He said, “Come ahead.” Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!” Matthew 16:29-30 (MSG)

The power of Jesus is in you as a believer, but where you set your mind determines whether you will be permeated by fear or filled with faith. It’s not a matter of ramping up your faith or putting on a show. We’ve all been given the same measure of faith, and so that’s not an issue.

You have the ability to control your focus, so set your mind on Jesus, and learn to walk in His power and provision!

Set Your Mind on Things of God

We need to learn to set our minds on the things of the Spirit.

James 1:14-15 talks about lust, which simply means strong desire for something that has the potential to hurt you. When lust is conceived, it gives birth to sin. When sin is accomplished, it brings forth death, which also includes everything that is a part of darkness: depression, unhappiness, sickness, confusion, moodiness, anger, and everything else you can’t find in heaven. When we are wrapped up in self-effort and self-desire, death reigns. Everything good begins to die when you keep your mind set on the things of the flesh.

If your mind is focused on the things of the flesh—your skills and abilities alone, your needs, your wants and your shortcomings—the enemy can tempt you and keep you trapped in condemnation and emotional upheaval.

Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted from God; for God...tempts no one. But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions). James 1:13-14 (AMPC)

However, when we set our minds on the Spirit, Romans 8:6 says it brings life and peace. Setting our minds on the Spirit doesn’t mean we ignore our needs. It means making a conscious choice to allow Holy Spirit to lead us in making the right choices, according to the values, priorities and provision the Bible tells us are ours through Jesus Christ.

We need to learn to set our minds on the things of the Spirit: God’s Word, His promises, provision, purpose and power in us. We need to learn to stay in His joy and peace, and to pull from the resources that are within our spirit man in Christ. In fact, this is crucial!

Don’t fall for the lie that you need a big revelation, the right conference, or the right person to pray for you to overcome temptation. As a believer who is in Christ, you already have all that you need within you to overcome!

We often overcomplicate things, but Jesus’ yoke is easy and burden is light (Matthew 11:30). If you’re relying on just your own ability, victory always seems out of reach. But with Christ and His power in you, victory is already yours. It’s a matter of stepping out, and Holy Spirit in you will empower you to make those tough choices, day by day.

How? By renewing our minds in the Word of God continually. Then, as Jesus said in John 8:31-32, we abide in His Word, we know the truth, and the truth makes us free. If we stop studying God’s Word, we begin to pay more attention to the voice of the enemy—his accusations, condemnation and feelings of being never good enough—and our emotional well-being suffers.

God Backs Up All the Effort You Put In

When you wait on the Lord in this way, it energizes and strengthens you like nothing else.

God doesn’t get tired. He doesn’t run out of patience, energy, understanding, power or provision. Isaiah 40:28-31 says that our God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, “neither faints nor is weary,” and “His understanding is unsearchable.” It also says that if we wait on the Lord, our strength is renewed, and not just once, but ongoing.

Now, what does it mean to wait on the Lord? Sometimes we take this to mean that we should do nothing while we wait for God to drop answers on our laps. In fact, some believe that if you try to better your situation on your own, you’re not in faith. They think that if you take medicine when you’re sick, or seek out financial advice when you’re in debt, you’re failing to “wait on the Lord.” But is that what this verse is talking about?

No, God wants us to do everything we can to better our lives as we stand in faith. “Waiting on the Lord” in this verse is talking about paying attention to Him. Think of it like a waiter in a high-class restaurant. As he “waits” on you, he watches your every move, never allowing your water glass to reach more than half empty. All you need to do is look his way and he’s at your side, ready for instruction.

That’s how you can wait on the Lord—always paying attention and ever ready to receive direction from Him. When you wait on the Lord in this way, it energizes and strengthens you like nothing else.

Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31 (NLT)

Every believer faces temptation. Although the devil doesn’t have the power to make us do things, he will try to tempt us to meet legitimate needs and desires the wrong way.

Many of us have been taught to pray for God to save us from what tempts us, as though He is far away and reluctant to help. But nothing in the New Testament teaches us this. Instead, it teaches us about the power and ability of God within us in Christ to resist and deal with temptation, and to live the incredible life God wants us to have.

So, if God’s power is in us to resist temptation, why do we still struggle? It depends on where we set our minds. Our focus is the switch that determines whether we rely on God’s power in us to overcome temptation or we rely on our carnal minds alone—our own capacity to think, problem solve and rationalize. When we set our minds on the provisions God has given to us, the power of God works with us as we choose to use our willpower to resist and deal with temptation, and it’s amazing what we can do through Him.

Every believer deals with temptation. Giving our lives to Christ does not exempt us from temptation, and being tempted is not a sign that we have somehow failed God. What matters is how we respond to that temptation. Step one is to realize that we are not alone in facing it. We have Holy Spirit in us, which means that we have everything we need to face every temptation and win!

Conclusion

When God looks at you, He sees Jesus’ perfect record.

Understanding that you are right with God in Christ—that as a believer you have Jesus’ righteousness, you qualify for His blessings and provision no matter what, and that you’re forgiven and loved—this truth helps empower you to overcome temptation.

While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NKJV)