When Life Shakes You
“And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.” 1 John 3:19 KJV
It is rather nice to realize that we can assure our own heart. Yes, the Lord will certainly strengthen us in the midst of battle, but like so many others things in our Christian walk, there is an element of responsibility that we have. We have a role to play, and when we do our part, the Lord is free to move through that obedience and faith and establish in our hearts the assurances we are looking for in the situations that are before us in life.
He has given us the Word and there is nothing more powerful than the Word. In fact, when Jesus stood alone in the wilderness facing the temptation of Satan, He withstood him by quoting the Word of God from the Old Testament. Jesus was the Word and so whatever He would have said would have been the Word and ultimately powerful enough to defeat the enemy. But he did not say anything other than the Word that had already been given to man. He quoted the same Word that every other man or women living at that time would have had available to them. In other words, there was nothing else more powerful or stronger than the Word of God which we have.
That means any person living at that time had all they needed for deliverance in their life. They just had to know the Word that had already been given. Obviously, we have a more complete Word today. And if we stand on that Word it will assure our hearts. Once that assurance is deep in our hearts then we can move through faith. Jesus can move through our faith! But it all starts with the Word that we speak to assure ourselves. As we build up that Word inside us then the Word will leap to our minds for every situation that arises.
2 Timothy 1:6 says, “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on my hands.” What is already in you needs to be stirred up, again and again. All that you need is already in you, placed there by God Himself. Stir up the Word inside you.
So, as your day unfolds today and you see trials or adverse circumstances developing, stand on what has already been placed inside you. Everything that you need to have overcoming deliverance is already inside you through the Word, which you already have. It is enough! As you recall the Word you assure yourself. Stir up that which is already there. Already inside you is the inward peace, the abounding love of Christ, the calming assurance in each and every situation.
J Todd Hostetler