Stand Firm

If you do not stand firm in faith, you shall not stand at all. 
Isaiah 7:9b ​

In this passage, Isaiah is trying to explain to the king the need to stand strong. At that time Israel was being bombarded on several sides, enemies surrounding them, and Isaiah was trying to explain that their faith in God would lead them through the troubling times. It’s a good reminder to us, we all have troubling times.

I look back on 2018 so far and call it the Year of Crap and Upheaval. I feel like the ground underneath me is constantly shifting, the number of attacks on my spiritual, mental and other aspects of life have been substantial. Just since December, so much of my life has changed. If fact, there is very little that is similar. I live in the same house and I work at the same place, although in a completely new position. Even something as insignificant as a change in my vehicle has upset me because it is just another thing to add to the growing list. It's not so much what has been shifting and changing, but that there has been so much. I'm still standing. It is faith that has brought me this far without collapsing under the weight of the stress. Don’t get me wrong, there have been a lot of tears--a lot--and moments of deep depression, as well as other signs of the stress on me mentally, spiritually and physically. My walk with God has remained consistent. A good part of that has been getting to write and reflect on God in these messages. It has forced me to give Him more of my concentration, my time and serious thought. This is only one of many ways that my walk with God holds strong. I must stand firm in my faith, as the scripture says, or I will succumb to the stress and the upheaval and no longer be standing at all. 
 
How do you keep your walk with God strong? Or, more specifically, how is He keeping that walk strong? And are you responding to those invitations that He brings into your life? How often do you speak with God? When was the last time you had communion between just you and Jesus? Do you ever simply sit in the presence of the Holy Spirit and let Him fill you? These are only a few of many ways our relationship with God builds and strengthens and becomes a foundation. Don’t put a whole lot of pressure on yourself, simply take a little time to reflect and let God speak into your life on this subject or whatever is weighing on your heart today. How do you learn to stand firm in faith? By building that foundation with time. Give Him your time. ​