What can I pray for you about? My friend asks. Immediately my mind goes to the obvious: life is falling short of my plans. My marriage is a mess of emotions, work has me wound up, bills are adding up, and exercise has gone by the wayside.

Your story speaks to the greatest strength of your life. When we allow a situation to take center stage of our story, we elevate the circumstance as being outside of God’s strength.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]. Proverbs 18:21 AMPC

Stopping short of spewing all these woes to a friend, my spirit sat convicted. I’m so tired of talking about my problems more than the plans and promises God has for me.

Friction ignites a fire, but we often forget that we gather the kindling; a collection of stories that need only a spark and a little hot air to start a destructive blaze.

A dry marriage, a barren womb, a desert season, with no access to Living Water is susceptible to burn quickly. Our human nature can fan the flames with complaining or a few strong words to encourage the spreading of a wildfire. Our enemy is eager to create a spark in the drought places. Satan is hoping an exhausted spirit will breathe a wind in the bone-dry areas of our lives and draw attention for miles.

Staring at the letdowns in life will produce hopeless, faithless stories. Our greatest challenge in a sea of setbacks is to stay focused on the voice of Jesus asking us to trust God’s faithfulness, still.

In scripture, we read how David constantly fixed his focus on the God who is bigger than any giant we face. Jesus is the power in us when the giants come at us.

I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Psalm 16:8 ESV

If we concentrate on the promises of our Almighty God protecting, preserving, providing, for us, we combust a legacy story for His glory.

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body will also rest secure. Psalm 16:9 ESV

That’s what happens when Jesus is the center of our focus.

When we purposely focus our attention on Christ, we are reminded that God is able. We know he is always present with us. The battle is not ours. The battle belongs to the Lord. Our responsibility is to have faith. Jesus is enough. When we set our eyes on him, we will not be shaken. We will rest secure.

Relief is knocking at the door. The well of God’s Word is waiting to drown our worries in Truth. I pray you will soak all your stories in Living Water today.

What we speak and what we experience is what we believe in God. Is your story a slave to your circumstance? Sin feeds on what you believe. The Truth will free the story you tell.

No matter what you are facing today, remember, faith pleases God and opens doors for His supernatural favor, strength, and wisdom. Don’t settle for defeat. Choose to thank Him for what He is doing in your life. Be strong, be bold, and take courage because Jesus has overcome the world!

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] John 16:33 AMPC

Jesus gives us the power to maintain an attitude of victory in the face of adversity. You may be weary and tired, worn down, and ready to give up. You must act on your will, not simply your emotions. Sometimes that means you have to take steps of faith even when you are hurting, grieving, or still reeling from some attack of the enemy.

Keep standing up on the inside and God will step in and do what you can’t do on the outside.