I want to give you a personalized list of the enemies in your life that pull you down and hold you back from rising above.
Enemies of faith # One: Complaining and negativity. Strive to adopt the attitude on every occasion and at every instance where you’re tested to “in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Put on the spirit of faith and trust, knowing that God has allowed or sent this situation or this little obstacle your way to see how you’re going to react.
Make a list of any of your personal “situations.” Are you truly content in every one? If not, pray the spirit of contentment into every area of your life. This will make a huge difference in your level of faith, not to mention the facial expression of the new you!
Enemies of faith # Two: Criticalness. Fight the tendency within you to become complacent and settled down in spirit‚ the attitude of, “Well, I’m okay‚ but look at so-and-so.” Fight to only look at others with faith and through the eyes of My total and unconditional love. Beware of criticalness, even in small ways.
Enemies of faith # Three: Fight rigidity and dogmatism.As you grow older, it’s a natural tendency to start getting into ruts, whether they be in your behavior‚ reactions, personal habits, pet peeves and preferences, or even in the way you look at life and others. These are ruts that Christians are often unwilling to climb out of, for they are perceived as being a part of you that the Lord is unable to change‚ especially as you get older.
Enemies of faith # Four: The impulse to say, “I can’t!” and “It can’t be done!”You must resist the “it’s impossible” tendencies in your life. Remember that it’s Jesus working through you, and the power to change is nothing of yourself. All it requires is your giving yourself to Him and saying, “Jesus, I want to change, I need to change‚ and I’m willing to make the sacrifices involved in bringing that change to fruition.” When you say, “I can’t‚” it means that your thinking is centered on yourself and your circumstances rather than on Jesus So you’re defeated before you even start. Exercise the weapon of faith against this enemy!
Enemies of faith # Five: The temptation to let down the standard,to seek the easy way out, the lazy way, to not challenge yourself and apply the Word to every facet of your life, desiring to continue to change. The weapon for this is living more in the Word, to love Jesus with all of your heart and soul, and to ardently seek after those times together with Him. Seek at all times to love Jesus more and to be more like Him in all you say and do. Your First Love, is the only antidote to resist spiritual degeneration in your life and give you back the glowing newness of a new spiritual babe, one who is so in love with her First Love and so desirous of becoming all that He wants and knows you can become.
Enemies of faith # Six: Dullness and pessimism.Are you no longer expecting miracles? Has it been a long time since you felt your heart leap with joy over some new truth—or since you did the unusual or offbeat thing, just out of sheer joy and happiness at being one of His chosen few, one of His brides? If it has been a long time, then break out of your ruts and allow Jesus to surprise you, to thrill you, and to manifest His ability and power to regenerate and change you and give you even more zest and fervor for life and living than your earlier years! Strive to be an “up” person. Grab hold of enthusiasm and optimism as opposed to your natural tendency to be a “realist” on all occasions. (Excerpts taken from “Rising Above”)