“Faith is an invisible and invincible magnet, and attracts to itself whatever it fervently desires and calmly and persistently expects.” 

Ralph Waldo Trine

Faith is a choice.  A choice that is not made blindly, or emotionally, but a choice that is made after one examines the Truth, and considers it commitment; its cost, and its conflict. Today we will continue to reflect on the words of Jesus in Luke 14, as we consider faith’s conflict.

³¹ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? ³² Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.

Luke 14:31-32

To grow great faith, one will have to face and overcome the conflicts that will arise.

Webster’s defines conflict as: 1: fight, battle,war; 2: mental struggle resulting from incompatibles or opposing needs, drives, wishes, or external or internal demands; 3: the opposition of persons or forces that gives rise to the dramatic action that desires to antagonize or compete with ones ideas or interests or decisions.

Conflicts will arise from many areas; some are internal, while others are external. The Apostle Paul addresses these conflicts in his writings.

The conflicts of our soul; (our mind, will and emotions):

but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.

Romans 7:23

The conflicts that arise with others:

¹²Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

2 Timothy 3:12 (KJV)

Conflicts that arise in realm of the spirit:

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ephesians 6:12

As you “Forge Ahead In Trustful Hope,” you will face conflicts because of your decision to follow Jesus.   These conflicts are the cross we bear to as we put to death the old man within us and choose to walk and live boldly in the light of truth, in world around us. Do not allow these conflicts to cause you to be fearful or back off from your faith, but follow the advice of the Apostle Paul:

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

1 Timothy 6:12

Because:

 …despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

Romans 8:37