My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise. - Psalm 57:7 NKJV
Can we honestly say we are steadfast in our relationship with God? How about with other people such as friends, coworkers, and family?
What does it mean to be steadfast? To be steadfast means to adhere to one, be devoted or constant to one. It also means to be continuous and consistent while waiting, persevering through even the most desperate situations and not grow faint.
Apostle Paul urged the assembly of God to …. not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. - Gal 6:9 He said there would be a reward for staying the course as a committed follower of Christ Jesus. Again, he said But [as for] you, brethren, do not grow weary [in] doing good. - 2Th 3:13 I think Paul got it. He knew how difficult the road was to walk with God and remain consistent in Him even through chains, sickness, and persecutions. Paul stayed.
Other definitions for steadfast are, to fix or fasten the eyes on, gaze upon or to fix one’s mind on something. Immovable. Today we live in such a fast, always on the move, environment that most people don’t set their eyes on the person in front of them let alone on the Spirit of God that they cannot tangibly see. Sadly, this fast-paced life has slowed the growth and progression of many Christians.
Today there’s an app for everything on our smartphones, and we expect the app to make our lives easier and faster, to connect us to a needed source or help us do something. This includes the Bible. I have had conversations with people who don’t read the word, they listen to it and believe that to be sufficient; they are “listening” to it while they sleep and think they are getting it in them. I’m not saying this is not a good practice, but it is not sufficient if it is the only source of connection to the word of God. The Bible tells us that faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ (Rom 10:17). This kind of hearing means to perceive, to understand and receive. When we are asleep, we do not hear with open ears and open minds, our faith does not come forth without the word of Christ.
Those who abide or remain in the word are the Lord's disciples. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. - John 8:31 NKJV We can’t be steadfast in something we know nothing about, and we can’t be disciples of Christ if we are not discipled by His word.
Psalm 119 is a very long psalm that is full of wisdom. It speaks of how the law of God is good and capable of keeping us from sin. I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Ps 119:11 When we have the word in us, stored in our hearts and minds, it will be an active and powerful force to reckon with should sin come along to offer the tastes of this world. There is nothing more powerful to keep us steadfast in the Lord and in relationships with others than the word of God, the sword of the Spirit. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Heb 4:12
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. Tim 3:16-17 This verse reminds us that there is nothing that can compete with the word of God, it always prevails, and never returns void. When we read the word with the intent to find God in it and apply His will to our life, the Holy Spirit will cause the word to be performed in us. For God always watches over His word and accomplishes what it says.
“[Is] not My word like a fire?" says the LORD,
"And like a hammer [that] breaks the rock in pieces?” - Jer 23:29
Consistently Inconsistent
A consistently inconsistent walk with God will bring the same effects to other relationships. A life lived in the soul will bring soulish results but a life lived in the Spirit will bring life because the lust of the flesh will not be fulfilled. Everyone is selfish to some degree; everyone is co-dependent or self-sufficient in ways that hinder relationships. If these are not characteristic of you then perhaps you’re a people pleaser or avoider. Maybe the hurts and wounds of previous relationships have caused you to handle current ones in a fashion that is not healthy. The word of God is your solution.
There is nothing we can’t resolve when we apply the word of God to any issue. It may take a while to see the desired results but know that when we use the word to speak to God about our situations, He hears it before we receive an answer, the moment we speak it.
Steadfast in Battle
In the book of Daniel, chapter 10, we read that Daniel has been crying out to God in a humbled way and from the first day he did so his prayers were heard, but it took 21 days before a response came. There was warfare in the air, and the angels of God had to battle before an answer could be received. Daniel continued to fast and pray until results came. When we remain firmly planted with the resolve to be healed, delivered, reconciled, or any other need to be touched by the hand of God, we will eventually obtain victory.
It is important to understand that we, as soldiers of the cross in Christ Jesus, have been given all that is needed to prevail in this life. God’s word is a sword, fire, and a mighty hammer; it is a defender of the weak and a strengthener to the weary.
I will leave you with these famous words in hopes that you will learn how to stand steadfastly in the LORD and all that He has deposited in You be used for good and not for evil.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. - Eph 6:11-13
Let’s pray,
Heavenly Father, I come boldly before Your throne and ask for mercy and grace in this season of war. I pray Your victory over every circumstance in my life, those I have control over and those I don’t. I ask You O God to create a clean heart in me and renew a steadfast spirit within me so that after I have done all to stand, I can stand until You bring the victory. In Jesus name, Amen