FaithIsTheVictory | Kristi's Morning Devotional

March 25, 2025March 25, 2025

Walk By Faith

Yesterday we saw how looking on the outward appearance can be deceptive. Today, let’s look at the way God sees things and how that changes our lives.

“But we live by faith, not by what we see” II Corinthians 5:7 CEV

“Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see.” Hebrew 11:1 CEV

“But Abraham never doubted or questioned God’s promise. His faith made him strong, and he gave all the credit to God. ²¹Abraham was certain that God could do what he had promised. ²²So God accepted him” Romans 4:20-22 CEV

God told Noah it was going to flood but it had never rained. At age 600, Noah built an ark, gathered all kinds of animals, went inside and waited for the rain.

At age 75, God told Abraham he would be the father of many nations. At 100, that promise was fulfilled with the birth of Isaac. 25 years and Abraham never doubted God’s word.

At 80, Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt only to be stopped by the Red Sea. God told Moses to hold out his staff and the waters parted. They walked across on dry ground.

David, the shepherd, believed God’s promise to be the protector and defender of the Israelite people, so he faced down a giant with 5 smooth stones and a sling shot.

Daniel refused to honor the king’s order “don’t pray to anyone but me” and his faith protected him in a den of lions.

A leper heard Jesus say, “ask and it will be given to you”. He asked Jesus to heal him, and he was cleansed.

A woman with a bleeding disorder tried everything medically known and had no change but she came to Jesus, touched the hem of his garment and was instantly healed.

The disciples saw a storm and were ready to sink. Jesus saw God’s promise of protection and commanded the waves to cease.

Paul and Silas were in a jail cell after being beaten. They knew that God was with them and began to sing. The jail was shaken, the chains fell off and people were saved.

Right now, I have at least 100 more examples of people, just like us, who believed God’s word, walked by faith and not by what they could see. By faith, they received what God promised.

“But without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and rewards everyone who searches for him.” Hebrews 11:6 CEV

If we believe God is real and we search for Him, He promises that we will be rewarded. The testimony of those in the Bible is for our benefit. When we think that no one could possibly understand what we are facing or going through we have their examples. And we have God’s promise.

“Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! ¹⁶So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved grace, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:15-16 CEV

Walk by Faith!

July 24, 2024July 24, 2024

Stand Guard

This is the end of our walk through Ephesians. I hope you have found some wonderful nuggets of instruction and encouragement.

“This is the last thing I want to say: Be strong with the Lord’s strength. ¹¹Put on the things God gives you to fight with. Then you will not fall into the traps of the devil. ¹²Our fight is not with people. It is against the leaders and the powers and the spirits of darkness in this world. It is against the demon world that works in the heavens. ¹³Because of this, put on all the things God gives you to fight with. Then you will be able to stand in that sinful day. When it is all over, you will still be standing. ” Ephesians 6:10-13 NLV

The first thing that came to mind when I read this this morning was young David as he was about to face Goliath. David knew that he wasn’t going out to fight in his own strength. He knew God was with him. King Saul tried to get David to wear his royal armor – it didn’t fit, David chose to use what God had given him. A sling, some rocks and the supernatural presence of God.

Paul tells us that our fight isn’t with people. It’s a fight of a spiritual nature so it requires a specialized armor, the armor of God. The promise we have is that if we stand, stand strong, we will still be standing victoriously when the battle is over.

“¹⁴So stand up and do not be moved. Wear a belt of truth around your body. Wear a piece of iron over your chest which is being right with God. ¹⁵Wear shoes on your feet which are the Good News of peace. ¹⁶Most important of all, you need a covering of faith in front of you. This is to put out the fire-arrows of the devil. ¹⁷The covering for your head is that you have been saved from the punishment of sin. Take the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.” Ephesians 6:14-17

Every piece of our armor comes from God’s word.

a belt of truth – Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life”. John 14:6

a breastplate of righteousness – we know that “He became sin for us so that we could become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus” II Corinthians 5:21

our shoes are the gospel of peace – “we have peace with God” Romans 5:1

our shield is faith – “faith comes by hearing, and hearing the word of God” Romans 10:17

a helmet of salvation – “by grace are we saved through faith” Ephesians 2:8

our sword – is the word of God Ephesians 6:18

Without God’s word we have no armor; without our armor we cannot stand.

“You must pray at all times as the Holy Spirit leads you to pray. Pray for the things that are needed. You must watch and keep on praying. Remember to pray for all Christians. ” Ephesians 6:19 NLV

Now, more than ever it’s important for us to pray. Pray for ourselves, our families, for each other. Our victory comes by faith.

“Every child of God can defeat the world, and our faith is what gives us this victory.” I John 5:4 CEV

So let’s do as Paul has instructed us to do. Stand Guard and Keep On Standing!

January 21, 2022January 21, 2022

The Power of Prayer

For the last several mornings a bit of my quiet time has had me reflecting on Daniel. When he was a young man, many from the nation of Israel had been taken captive and led away to Babylon.

There he was taken into the king’s palace and groomed to be a royal aid. Daniel remained faithful to the Lord and refused to serve any other gods. The Lord blessed Daniel for his faithfulness. The kings whom Daniel served, recognized his wisdom and promoted him, even over those who were citizens of the land.

The other advisors in the king’s palace were jealous of Daniel and tried to figure out a way to get rid of him. The only flaw they could find in Daniel’s character was his faithfulness to God. The advisor’s had the king draft a law which said anyone praying and worshipping anyone but the king would be sentenced to death in a den of lions. When the king realized he had sealed Daniel’s fate he was filled with remorse. But the law was the law and Daniel was sealed in the lion’s den.

“So King Darius gave the order. They brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May the God you serve save you!” ¹⁷A big rock was brought and put over the opening of the lions’ den. Then the king used his ring and put his seal on the rock. He also used the rings of his officials and put their seals on the rock. This showed that no one could move that rock and bring Daniel out of the lion’s den.” Daniel 6:16-17 ERV

“The next morning, King Darius got up just as it was getting light and ran to the lions’ den. ²⁰He was very worried. When he got to the lions’ den, he called to Daniel. He said, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God been able to save you from the lions? You always serve your God.”

²¹Daniel answered, “King, live forever! ²²My God sent his angel to save me. The angel closed the lions’ mouths. The lions have not hurt me because my God knows I am innocent. I never did anything wrong to you, King.” Daniel 6:19-22 ERV

Daniel’s crime was prayer. God’s answer was deliverance. It was then and it still is now.

“So be humble under God’s powerful hand. Then he will lift you up when the right time comes. ⁷Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you. ⁸Control yourselves and be careful! The devil is your enemy, and he goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to attack and eat. ⁹Refuse to follow the devil. Stand strong in your faith.” I Peter 5:6-9 ERV

We have an enemy, the devil, and he is “like” a roaring lion, but he won’t defeat us or devour us if we stand our ground and remain faithful to the Lord. I like to say the devil is a toothless lion because Christ defeated him and stripped him of his powers.

“He defeated the rulers and powers of the spiritual world. With the cross he won the victory over them and led them away, as defeated and powerless prisoners for the whole world to see.” Colossians 2:15 ERV

The Lord closed the mouths of the lions for Daniel, and He will do the same for us. We have the power in prayer to resist the devil and he must flee!