What steps can strengthen our faith in God's unseen protection and provision? Setting the Scene 2 Kings 6:16: “Do not be afraid,” Elisha answered, “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Elisha’s servant saw only an Aramean army, yet heavenly forces encircled them. Scripture records this event to assure us that God’s unseen protection and provision are every bit as real today. How can we grow into that same settled confidence? Step 1: Recognize the Invisible Realm through Scripture • Scripture opens our eyes before experience does. • Hebrews 11:1—“Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.” • Psalm 34:7—“The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them.” • Treat these verses as fact, not poetry; they describe literal, ongoing realities. Step 2: Ask God to Open Our Eyes • Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see” (2 Kings 6:17). • Pray specifically: “Lord, help me perceive Your hand at work.” • Expect the Spirit to heighten awareness—subtle nudges, timely verses, unexpected peace. Step 3: Shift from Fear to Worship • Fear focuses on visible threats; worship focuses on God’s greatness. • Psalm 46:1—“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” • Sing, speak, or read aloud truths about His character; fear shrinks in the light of praise. Step 4: Rehearse God’s Past Faithfulness • Keep a written record of answered prayers and past deliverances. • Deuteronomy 4:9 calls us to “remember the things your eyes have seen.” • Reviewing this “faith journal” trains the heart to expect God’s ongoing provision. Step 5: Stand on Promises through Obedient Action • Biblical faith acts. Elisha didn’t negotiate with fear; he instructed boldly. • James 2:17—“Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” • Move forward in obedience—give, serve, decide—believing God has already supplied what’s needed (Philippians 4:19). Step 6: Cultivate Christ-Centered Community • God often reveals His protection through the counsel and encouragement of fellow believers. • Hebrews 10:24-25 urges us not to neglect meeting together “all the more as you see the Day approaching.” • Share testimonies; they multiply confidence in unseen realities. Step 7: Persevere in Prayer and Thanksgiving • Philippians 4:6-7 commands prayer “with thanksgiving,” promising God’s peace will guard our hearts. • Regular gratitude keeps spiritual eyes clear, reminding us that God is already at work. Living It Out Today 1. Start each morning reading a passage that highlights God’s sovereignty (e.g., Psalm 91). 2. Pray, “Lord, open my eyes,” and expect Him to answer. 3. Replace every fearful thought with a spoken promise such as Romans 8:31—“If God is for us, who can be against us?” 4. Act on what you know He has said, even before you see results. 5. End the day recording at least one evidence of His provision—no detail is too small. Those who walk this pathway discover, like Elisha’s servant, that “those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” God’s unseen armies still stand guard, and His provision still arrives on time. |
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