Eight guidelines to help strengthen your faith in God and to help you feel secure.

Since the beginning of time, every generation believes that they are living in the last days.

The phrase “last days” have been used so often that it has become a cliche and nobody believes it anymore. Most people do not care about the times and so continue to live their lives as usual.

Whether or not we are actually living in the last days, it is still imperative that we warn about God’s impending judgment and encourage repentance.

Our main purpose for warning is to strengthen the believers and to encourage repentance among non-believers.

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:  For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,  traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,  having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (2 Timothy 3: 1-5)

It is obvious that we are facing all of the above problems and many people are feeling fearful and unsafe.

Some Christians are even doubting their faith in God. They are tired of the constant trials and they just want to feel safe and secure.

If you are feeling this way, the following are eight things that you can do to help strengthen your faith in the Lord.

1.  Flee youthful lust.

Pursue righteousness and peace. Doing the opposite of what the world is doing will defeat the enemy of your soul.

Flee also youthful lusts, but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.  But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 

 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2: 22-26)

2.  Stick to your roots

The world consists of many theories, hypothesis, and knowledge. They are the wisdom of this world that you do not need.

The wisdom that you need comes from God. Therefore, stick to the God of the Bible that you have known since your childhood.

But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3: 14-15)

Stick to the Christian values and principles that you learned at home and in church. Do not forsake them. 

3.  Know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord.

No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”(Jeremiah 31: 34)

Previously in the Old Testament period, the word of the Lord could only be heard through the prophets, priests, and scribes. The Lord anointed them for this purpose because they know the heart of God.

They teach the people the laws of God and they also encourage them to live a holy life to God.

Under the new covenant, all of us can receive the Word of God directly through the reading of the bible.

Therefore, it is possible for every believer to know the Lord personally by asking the Lord for His Spirit of wisdom and revelation to know Him.

You do not have to go to a prophet to know your future because God will give you that information directly. The prophet’s duty is to confirm the Word of God in your life.

4.  Stand on the solid rock of Jesus Christ

Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”(2 timothy 2: 19)

The solid foundation of God must stand and endure the tests of time. No man can defend God. Only God can defend Himself. 

It is by faith that you believe in Jesus Christ because without faith it is impossible to please God.

5.  Stand firm in your faith

The world is filled with various religion and beliefs. People are so gullible that they follow after every whim of doctrine. Stand firm in your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:23-15)

6.  Stand firm in righteousness

When you maintain a principle of honesty and integrity you will be rewarded.

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer. (2 Timothy 2:15-17)

7.  Become a good soldier for Jesus Christ

You, therefore, must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.  And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. (2 Timothy 2:3-5)

Timothy was a young man who gave his heart to the Lord at an early age. He dedicated his entire life to God and as a result, God called him into ministry at an early age.

Timothy was brought up by godly principles established by his mother and grandmother who were praying mothers.

Think of yourself as a disciplined soldier who is dedicated to his assignments.

8. Feel free to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness

“Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. (Colossians 2: 21-23)

Sometimes it appears that Christianity is only about ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’. These so-called rules and regulations of Christianity will chase away unbelievers.

Instead, we need to emphasize a personal relationship with God.

When you develop an intimacy with God and are obedient to Him, He will teach you how to live a pure and holy life. Obedience is better than sacrifice and the traditions of men.

Do not become entangled with traditions and customs, but feel free worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

Additional references: 2 Timothy 1; 2 Corinthians 4:8-12; 1 John 4:4