Would you like to know one of the most effective, sneaky little tricks that the devil has perpetrated on the church? Everybody knows it but it so easily slips beneath our consciousness. When it's pointed out, people say, “that’s obvious, of course”. But, in fact, it is so common it is barely recognized.

It’s the fundamental belief that we can grow in faith, righteousness and intimacy with God apart from doing what he has instructed us to do. That we can grow strong without exercising our faith.

We ask for more love, for example. We imagine God will hear our prayer and drip more love into our tank. Well, to grow in love we should go do loving acts, say loving words, return kindness when disrespected. Make sacrifices in the name of love. As Paul says exercise yourself unto godliness. 1 Tim 4:7

If we want to conquer fear, we must magnify God in our hearts. We must affirm that His love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Declare, praise and rejoice in God’s attributes and meditate on His word. Take note of His continuous presence and the reality of His favor over you. When God takes His place as great in our own eyes, and we’re convinced that His almighty power and boundless goodness is for us, the terror of our enemies melts. They’ll shrink to grasshoppers before us.

If you want to let God arise, and make His enemies be scattered . . .
Sing unto God, sing praises to his name:
extol him that rideth upon the heavens
by his name Jah, and rejoice before him. Ps 68:1 & 4

Keep asking God for anything you desire or need. Be sure then, to take faith-filled actions and risks that He can bless and draw into. Give Him a place to land.

John G. Lake said, “It is a law of the human mind that I can act myself into believing faster than I can believe myself in to acting.”