Silas
Beloved of All
Your desire to walk in obedience to God is a good and right desire, and thank you for sharing it so openly. The longing to please Him and to see His power at work is something He honors, and it is good to bring that longing to Him in prayer.
Scripture is clear that the foundation of our right standing before God is not our obedience to the law or our ability to keep a perfect record. Righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ. We are saved by grace through faith, and that faith itself is a gift from God, not something we earn. The Holy Spirit is also received by faith, not by works. Even the miracles God does among His people do not come because someone has lived a flawless life or maintained a constant level of holiness. They come through His grace as we trust Him.
At the same time, true faith is never empty. The Bible teaches that if faith is genuine it will show itself in how we live. Just saying we believe is not enough, even the evil spirits believe that God exists. Real faith produces a changed life and a willingness to obey. Abraham is given as the great example. God counted his faith as righteousness, and that faith was then seen in his obedience when he was willing to offer Isaac. His works did not earn his righteousness, they proved that his faith was alive. In the same way, our obedience does not make God accept us, it flows from the fact that He already has accepted us through Christ. Faith must come first, and then works follow as the evidence of that faith.
You mentioned that with God all things are possible, and that is true. Yet our faith is meant to rest on the Word of God, not on the desire to see spectacular things. Many people believed in Jesus when they saw His miracles, but that kind of faith that only looks for the spectacular is shallow and Jesus did not entrust Himself to it. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Without faith it is impossible to please God. That faith sees more than what is visible, trusting what God has promised even when we have not yet seen the fulfillment. Many of the faithful in the past died still trusting God without having received all that was promised in their lifetime, and they are still honored for that trust.
You also prayed against principalities and powers in high places. The Bible teaches that there is a real spiritual conflict around us, and our weapons in that conflict are not physical. They are spiritual and they are mighty through God. The Word of God, faith, and prayer are the weapons He has given us. Faith acts like a shield that can quench the attacks of the enemy, and prayer brings our requests before God. We do not need to live under constant harassment, but we do need to use the spiritual resources God has provided.
It helps to remember that even great men and women of faith had moments when their faith wavered. Abraham, who is called a man of faith, at one time out of fear said his wife was his sister. The prophet who called down fire from heaven later ran and hid in a cave. God does not highlight those lapses to condemn them, He shows us that He works with imperfect people and that faith grows over time as we walk with Him and learn His faithfulness. If you feel that obedience feels impossible right now, do not be discouraged. Faith develops as you come to know God more deeply through His Word and fellowship with Him.
So I will stand with you in prayer, not that God would reward perfect obedience with favor and miracles on demand, but that He would deepen your faith in Jesus Christ, and that obedience would naturally flow from that faith.
Heavenly Father, I lift up this dear one to You in the name of Jesus Christ. Thank You that salvation and righteousness are by faith in Your Son alone. I ask that You increase faith through Your Word, and that this faith would produce a life of willing obedience from the heart. Help to walk in the power of Your Holy Spirit, which is received by faith. Guard against the schemes of the enemy by the shield of faith and by the power of Your Word and prayer. Teach that Your will is good, and that even when answers are delayed, You are faithful. Let Your glory be seen not in repeated words for blessing, but in a life that trusts You, obeys You, and rests in Your grace. In Jesus name, amen.
Scripture is clear that the foundation of our right standing before God is not our obedience to the law or our ability to keep a perfect record. Righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ. We are saved by grace through faith, and that faith itself is a gift from God, not something we earn. The Holy Spirit is also received by faith, not by works. Even the miracles God does among His people do not come because someone has lived a flawless life or maintained a constant level of holiness. They come through His grace as we trust Him.
At the same time, true faith is never empty. The Bible teaches that if faith is genuine it will show itself in how we live. Just saying we believe is not enough, even the evil spirits believe that God exists. Real faith produces a changed life and a willingness to obey. Abraham is given as the great example. God counted his faith as righteousness, and that faith was then seen in his obedience when he was willing to offer Isaac. His works did not earn his righteousness, they proved that his faith was alive. In the same way, our obedience does not make God accept us, it flows from the fact that He already has accepted us through Christ. Faith must come first, and then works follow as the evidence of that faith.
You mentioned that with God all things are possible, and that is true. Yet our faith is meant to rest on the Word of God, not on the desire to see spectacular things. Many people believed in Jesus when they saw His miracles, but that kind of faith that only looks for the spectacular is shallow and Jesus did not entrust Himself to it. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Without faith it is impossible to please God. That faith sees more than what is visible, trusting what God has promised even when we have not yet seen the fulfillment. Many of the faithful in the past died still trusting God without having received all that was promised in their lifetime, and they are still honored for that trust.
You also prayed against principalities and powers in high places. The Bible teaches that there is a real spiritual conflict around us, and our weapons in that conflict are not physical. They are spiritual and they are mighty through God. The Word of God, faith, and prayer are the weapons He has given us. Faith acts like a shield that can quench the attacks of the enemy, and prayer brings our requests before God. We do not need to live under constant harassment, but we do need to use the spiritual resources God has provided.
It helps to remember that even great men and women of faith had moments when their faith wavered. Abraham, who is called a man of faith, at one time out of fear said his wife was his sister. The prophet who called down fire from heaven later ran and hid in a cave. God does not highlight those lapses to condemn them, He shows us that He works with imperfect people and that faith grows over time as we walk with Him and learn His faithfulness. If you feel that obedience feels impossible right now, do not be discouraged. Faith develops as you come to know God more deeply through His Word and fellowship with Him.
So I will stand with you in prayer, not that God would reward perfect obedience with favor and miracles on demand, but that He would deepen your faith in Jesus Christ, and that obedience would naturally flow from that faith.
Heavenly Father, I lift up this dear one to You in the name of Jesus Christ. Thank You that salvation and righteousness are by faith in Your Son alone. I ask that You increase faith through Your Word, and that this faith would produce a life of willing obedience from the heart. Help to walk in the power of Your Holy Spirit, which is received by faith. Guard against the schemes of the enemy by the shield of faith and by the power of Your Word and prayer. Teach that Your will is good, and that even when answers are delayed, You are faithful. Let Your glory be seen not in repeated words for blessing, but in a life that trusts You, obeys You, and rests in Your grace. In Jesus name, amen.
