Living a victorious life begins with every one of our daily activities. Such an idea might seem small, but it’s really not. The actions we perform daily are what our lives ultimately become. Think of it this way: If we sow to our flesh every day, the results will never be what we desire. But if we sow into the spirit, it strengthens our faith to obtain all the victories God has for us (Galatians 6:8). Just as we train in the gym to reap the physical benefits of a healthier body, so we can train spiritually to receive the glorious spiritual benefits we desire—abundance, health and continuously living a victorious life in Christ.
To help you train, establish these 3 Habits of Spiritually Fit Christians in your life. When you do, you will create habits to keep you strong, protect you from the enemy, and catapult you to victory every time!
1. Focus on Your Faith
“Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].” –Hebrews 11:1 (AMPC)
Spiritually fit Christians don’t become that way overnight. They consistently work to strengthen their faith.
Faith is a spiritual force that, when fully developed, gives God’s people the ability to obtain His promises—spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, financially and relationally. On the other hand, faith will not benefit us if we don’t learn how to use it and apply it (Hebrews 11:33-34; Matthew 8:1-10; Mark 2:4-5, 5:34).
There are three fundamental ways you can focus on your faith:
• Faith comes by consistently hearing the Word. Listen to sermons and speak scriptures aloud to generate and build up your faith on a daily basis (Hebrews 1:1, 12:2; Romans 10:17).
• Faith is fed by reading and studying the Word and praying in tongues. As you wouldn’t run a race without feeding your body the proper nutrients, you can’t run the marathon of life without feeding your spirit (Jude 20).
Faith is released through our words. We have the God-given power to deliver words of hope and faith into our own lives, and into the lives of others. Doing so has the power to alter the course of any circumstance (Mark 11:22-24).
2. Reside in Faith
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” –2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)
Walking by faith is a privilege. It’s a gift from God that keeps us in a place of peace, confidence and security—no matter what’s going on around us or in our world. When situations arise, learning to reside in that place of faith is key to walking in peace and coming out victoriously.
The way we keep ourselves residing in faith, and not opening the door of our heart and life to fear and doubt, is by spending time in the Word every day. Being in the Word—reading it, studying it, praying it and thinking about it—gives us confidence. It helps us know with absolute certainty what God says about our situations and that He is moving on our behalf—all the time. And because of that, when life’s challenges come our way, we don’t move out of that place of peace.
For example, if gas prices soar, we remain consistent in our faith by rejoicing and thanking Him that we have more than enough to pay for gas and other staples according to (Philippians 4:19). No matter what we see around us, or what the devil tries to throw at us, we can remain unmoved and stay exclusively in faith (Romans 12:2). Spiritually fit Christians walk by faith and not by sight!
3. Respond in Faith
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” –2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
God never promised us that we wouldn’t have trouble. However, the Word says that when trouble comes, we can rely on the Lord and His strength. Spiritually fit Christians know that God has given us everything we need to overcome. We can rely on speaking His Name, pleading His blood, and declaring His Word. Our words literally set the stage for either victory or defeat.
Brother Copeland encourages us to respond to any challenges with our words. For instance, if you have received a diagnosis, you can respond by declaring God’s Word, “Lord, Your Word formed this earth and is settled in heaven. And Your Word says that I am healed, whole and prosperous. I declare that by Jesus’ stripes I am healed, and I take my healing now in Jesus’ Name” (1 Peter 2:24).
If you’re facing any kind of trouble, don’t give in and don’t give up. Keep speaking God’s promises over yourself and your life. As you do, you will be giving final authority to the Word, and you will see victory. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind—and with these three working in us, we can respond in faith.
As you establish these 3 Habits of Spiritually Fit Christians in your life, they will keep you strong and protected from the enemy and catapult you to victory every time. If something tries to come against you or your family, you can respond in the triumphant fullness of your faith and defeat the enemy every time.