Devotional - Stand Firm

by Molly

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.”

1 Corinthians‬ 16‬:13‬-14‬ NIV

Times are tough for many at the moment, and there are additional challenges for those of us who want to hold fast to a Bible based Christian faith. I regularly pray the above verse for our family. When the storm clouds gather, weariness and disillusionment seem overwhelming and we wonder how we will get through the next day, never mind walk well in the future, how can we ensure we stand firm in our faith? 

How also, do we stand strong in the face of fierce ideologies which are blatantly opposed to orthodox Christianity and, more difficult to discern, subtle false doctrines only a hair’s breadth away from the truth? Studying and meditating on God’s Word, being around other Christians for both accountability and encouragement and a daily habit of prayer are all essential.  God too will test and refine; the intensity and frequency of these seasons seems to be increasing as I get older, but each time God uses them to strengthen and equip me for further battles.

I may be wrong, but having prayed with many faith filled intercessors over the years, I wonder if the challenges our children will face will be far greater than those we have come up against. I am convinced that above all else, I need to do my utmost to equip our children to stand firm in their faith, to be strong, resilient, resourceful, discerning, courageous and compassionate. 

So be encouraged…our children may struggle with many things over which their peers sail with ease, but it’s imparting these foundations of faith as we do life together, pray, read the Bible and have deep conversations that I personally am convinced is the most important commission we have.

Prayer Prompt

We can pray this verse for our families, and maybe ask the Lord to show us any other ways we can equip our children. I felt His prompting to look at apologetics when our sons were teenagers; this has helped them greatly to defend their faith both for themselves and others.