The Word of God Should Persuade You

Has this ever happened to you? The fight is on! The situation before you may be threatening! You have prayed and even read the Word of God, but the circumstance has taken your full attention. Now all your senses are involved: you have negative thoughts, sadness, frustration, tears, maybe even depression or anxiety. Your life is going in the direction of your dominant thoughts and where you are focused. This was exactly the situation of the Israelites when they were directed to scout out the land God had promised, and Peter, when he tried to walk on water.

God told Moses, “Send out men to explore the land of Canaan, the land I am giving to the Israelites” (Numbers 13:2). That was very clear! God confirmed the land was theirs. They were obedient to His direction to explore the property; however, they looked with natural eyes and saw trouble. They assessed the inhabitants as giants, and themselves as grasshoppers in comparison (Numbers 13:32,33). They stated, “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are” (Numbers 13:31)! Their words contradicted the Word of God, demonstrating unbelief.

Caleb and Joshua, two men among these spies, expressed something very different. “Let’s go at once to take the land. We can certainly conquer it” (Numbers 13:30)! “Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them” (Numbers 14:9)! Their words lined up with God’s Word, showing what they believed and their focus. Their opinion of themselves and what they could accomplish was based on the power of God's spoken Word. They believed Him!

Peter and the disciples were in the middle of a storm sailing across the sea. Upon spotting Jesus walking toward them on the water, fear struck. They concluded that He must be a ghost. Peter said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water” (Matthew 14:28). Jesus said, “Come” (Matthew 14:29). Peter did great, walking on the water until he was distracted by the wind and waves. Then he became afraid and began to sink (Matthews 14:30). Despite Jesus’ command, distraction away from His words caused Peter’s negative emotions to take over. Peter was in unbelief.

It is a battle to remember what God has told you and stay focused on Him during trouble or trial. God calls the dismissal of what He has said a “hardened heart” (Hebrews 3:15). You are persuaded against His truth by a natural event. Disturbances in life may occur and are very real, but when God speaks, His Word is a container of power that will not return to Him void without fulfilling the purpose for which it was sent (Isaiah 55:11). God states, “Today when you hear My voice don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled” against Me because they did not believe what I told them (Hebrews 3:15). The results of this attitude and behavior are to be shut out from receiving the blessing of God (Hebrews 3:19 Amplified). As the Israelites judged by their senses instead of God’s Word, life challenges us similarly.

God is speaking to each of us in the same way He spoke to the Israelites and to Peter. His Word, filled with promises, speaks to us. Circumstances, however, can be overwhelming, attempting to overtake our thinking and our emotions. Doubt may result. So, how can we have the same mind and attitude as Caleb and Joshua? They were the only spies who received the blessing of the promised land because they believed what God said despite what their natural eyes and senses showed them.

First, you must hear from God. What has He spoken to you by His Word? That is your sure foundation. His Word is life (Proverbs 4:22). His Word is power (Hebrews 4:12). Meditate on the Word He has given you, and then “you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8). Decide that His Word is the final authority in your life; be fully persuaded by it. This is you taking a stand! Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. You do this by putting on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10). This allows you to withstand this time of trial, and “having done all, you stand” (Ephesians 6:13). You are established on the Word of truth and power. According to the Word, discover who God has created you to be, and what you are equipped with as a child of God (Ephesians 6:14). Understand the Good News of what Jesus accomplished for you (Ephesians 6:15). You have a shield of faith, so use it (Ephesians 6:16)! You have been given the exact amount of faith needed (Romans 12:3) so exercise it; you have the same precious faith as Peter and the disciples (2 Peter 1:1). The faith you have been given perceives as real fact what is not revealed to your senses (Hebrews 11:1 Amplified); it is faith based on what God has said. Transform your thinking by God’s Word (Romans 12:2) and allow it to act as a helmet of protection against any wayward thinking against God’s Word (Ephesians 6:17). The Word itself is your weapon. During a struggle, knowing His Word and speaking it is essential. Jesus showed us this when He was tempted by satan in the wilderness. He countered every lie of the enemy with the truth of the Word (Luke 4:1-13). Finally, be intimate with the Lord. Be confident in Him. Know that He hears you when you pray. Whatever you ask according to His will, which is His Word, know that you have the petition that you asked of Him as your present possession. Know this when you pray, not just when you experience it in this natural realm. (1 John 5:14,15). Because you know He heard you and answered you, by faith praise Him! Being established on His Word will cause you to do this.

Your senses can be trained to be sensitive to everything around you, to worldly things. Or your spirit can be called upon to rule over your senses, determined to live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). You must decide who and what you will trust and believe, the Word or the world. The presence of difficult circumstances has no impact on the Word of God. Your circumstances may challenge your mind, will, and emotions to engage negatively, but the power of the Word is the same.