“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”
—Colossians 3:1-2

Warrior for Messiah, be assured of this today: as you fight the good fight—clinging to Father God, depending on Him, and trusting that Jesus’ blood has destroyed the power of sin and darkness—you will be victorious. Rest in Jesus, for today’s victory won’t come from striving for perfection. Fleshly striving merely causes us to spin our wheels and dig a deeper hole of frustration.

What determines success is a steadfast heart that keeps pressing into Yeshua against every headwind.

As we draw closer to Jesus’ return, the challenges are coming one after another, seemingly more fiercely and fervently than ever before. The enemy relentlessly attacks our minds with lying, deceptive thoughts that seek to overwhelm us with fear, anxiety, or depression. The mind is complex and each day fields a multitude of thoughts, both conscious and unconscious. Added to these incessant thoughts are surroundings that bombard us with eye-catching distractions. Our constant battle is to stay focused on the truth that reigns from above, because Satan knows that if he can take our eyes off our almighty Father, we will continually strike out in life.

So be steadfast today, keeping your gaze fixed toward heaven and your heart in tune with Father God. Let the sensation of oppression trigger you to step back from the busyness of life and spend time talking to your Compass, the Holy Spirit. Declare God’s Word and call on His Spirit to fill you, go before you, and direct you. As you do, you will find that His love will steer you in the right direction. As you stay sensitive and catch the wind of His Spirit, He will lead you safely to your destination in Him.

And if you feel overwhelmed or as if you’ve gone off course, rejoice. You are in a perfect position to humbly call upon the Lord and be filled with the One who will redirect your path and lead you to victory! Treasured one, Father God believes in your progress, and He sees you as perfect in His Son. Just keep turning your gaze toward your heavenly Father.

In the name of Jesus, I rebuke the thoughts and distractions that keep me from connecting with You, Father. I fix my eyes on You, the Author and Perfecter of my faith. I run my race to the end for Your glory!

Cynthia Schneider, From Passover to Pentecost (Lake Mary, FL: Charisma House, 2021), Used by permission.