5-Day Devotional: The Inner Resistance of Faith
By Stephen Puricelli
Sometimes, the biggest lie we believe is that there’s more to be gained from disobedience than from obedience to God. Satan, whom Jesus calls “the father of lies” (John 8:44 NIV), has a singular purpose on this Earth: to convince you that a lie is the truth. For him, it doesn’t really matter what the lie is, because all lies are untruths which can divide us from God.
Living a faithful life means maintaining a commitment to inwardly resist believing the lies that besiege us. These lies are all around us:
- Your past defines you.
- God couldn’t possibly love you. You deserve better than that. You are your income.
- You’re really something.
- You’re really nothing.
- God doesn’t really exist.
A little lie taints the whole truth. Why? Because a lie detaches you from reality. This is true in any relationship. Want to ruin a work, romantic, or friendly relationship? Lie. Want to ruin your relationship with God? Trust a lie.
“...Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 NIV
Refuse to accept what Satan tells you is true. Refuse to accept what sin would like you to believe. We all wrestle with an inner resistance to faith. Resist the lies that are fighting for a place in your heart.
In a 2010 article in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 81 former political prisoners in East Germany, all of whom had been subjected to horrible abuses, were examined. It was found that about two-thirds of the adults suffered from PTSD, and the other third did not. Here’s what’s interesting: Of those who did not suffer from PTSD, the correlating factor was their inner resistance to believe what their captors said about them. Many were forced to sign false confessions to crimes and resigned themselves to their fate. But those who resisted were preserved emotionally and found without any negative symptoms.
No matter how you’re struggling, look to Jesus as your strength to fight back with faith. Resist the accusations of Satan. Resist the temptation to agree with Satan. Resist resigning yourself to the fate of unbelief. Christ makes all things new; turn to Him in faith to find rest in the fight.
DAY 1: LEAN ON GOD
Read: Proverbs 3:5-6
It’s so tempting and easy to get in the habit of only trusting in yourself, your understanding, and your way of doing things. Maybe your parents, boss, spouse, or friends have hurt you or let you down. How could we possibly trust someone else? But the beginning of faith is trusting God, even when it makes no earthly sense.
Respond: Where are the places in your heart where you only trust yourself? What’s one thing in your life God is asking you to submit to Him that you haven’t?
DAY 2: THINK ABOUT IT
Read: Philippians 4:4-8
What you think about is what you’ll become. What you focus on is what will motivate you. Everything, good and evil, begins with our inward thoughts. Therefore, it’s vital that we think about the things that are important to God.
Respond: Where does your mind drift off to? What do you think about, obsess on, and allow to preoccupy your mind? Do you fill your thoughts with the things of God?
DAY 3: ANXIETY
Read: 1 Peter 5:6-10
Our anxieties are found in trying to control what is not in our control. But the right response to anxious situations is to humble ourselves before God. His ultimate promise is to lift us up in the world to come, no matter what things look like in the world we’re in.
Respond: What do you try to control that’s simply out of your control? How can you place that thing under “God’s mighty hand” (1 Peter 5:6 NIV)?
DAY 4: LOVE=TRUTH
Read: 1 John 2:3-11
The state of our heart can be found in and demonstrated by our actions. We must not mistreat the people around us if we claim to truly believe in Jesus. If we believe and trust Him, our actions will overflow with love.
Respond: Memorize 1 John 2:6 (NIV): “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”
DAY 5: TURN BACK
Read: James 5:19-20
When you see someone about to be hit by a car in a parking lot, you instinctively reach out to save them. Without thinking, you try to turn them back. But what about spiritual death? When you see a family member, friend, or coworker about to head down a path toward spiritual isolation, self- destruction, and separation from God, how do you respond?
Respond: How do you respond to those around you when they are walking away from God? Do you avoid it, fight back out of self-righteousness, or engage in love? Is it more difficult to speak to a family member, a friend, or a coworker? Why do you think that is?