Swimming Upstream – The Presidential Prayer Team

Fight the good fight of faith. – 1 Timothy 6:12

Have you ever felt like you were a salmon swimming upstream? Life, especially the Christian life, at times can feel like a fight against the current. It can feel as though you’re working hard to battle forces that are trying to push you in the completely opposite direction of where you want to go. You are not alone! Paul encouraged Timothy to keep fighting, despite any discouragements or fear he was facing.

It is true that God often calls His children to go against the “flow” of the world, and it is rarely easy. This is where determination and faith come into play. God calls all of His followers to be warriors in this world. They have a purpose greater than themselves as they fight for their faith. Those that struggle for God may not always appear to win but, despite wins or losses, they carry on and keep their eyes fixed on Him.

This fight is not only something that God calls His people to, but it is something for which He equips them. He provides armor for the battle. Where are you in your faith fight today? Are you still pushing strong, like the salmon? Have you grown weary and need someone to come alongside to encourage you?

Wherever you find yourself, the good fight of faith is not finished. Ask God to renew your focus and rely on Him for the strength to press on. Talk to Him about what you struggle with, and rejoice with Him over the victories. Ask the Lord to renew the determination of the people of the United States to follow Him.

Today’s Verse: 1 Timothy 6:12

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: Philippians 3:12-21

¹²Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ¹³Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. ¹⁶Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

¹⁷Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. ¹⁸For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. ²⁰But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.