Charles Stanley's Handbook for Christian Living: Biblical Answers to Life's Tough Questions

by Charles F. Stanley

The local body of believers assemble for worship, edification, evangelization, and participation in the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Each morning I say something like this: Good morning, Lord. Thank You for assuring me of victory today. By faith I choose to follow Your battle plan and to prepare myself according to Your instructions. To prepare myself for the battle ahead, by faith I put on the belt of truth. Renew my mind to what is true. Fill me with truth. Expose in my heart the lies that I am tempted to believe. The truth is that You are a sovereign God who loves me and cares for me. The truth about me is that I am Your child—bought and paid for. Nothing can separate me from Your love. By faith I put on the breastplate of righteousness. Today I am committed to doing what is right. I pray that I would be known as one who does what is right regardless of what it costs me. Allow the righteousness of Christ to shine through me today. By faith I put on the sandals of the gospel. I am available to You. Use me in the lives of others. I pray that in my conduct and speech I would accurately represent You. Make me a calming presence everywhere I go. I now take up the shield of faith. My faith is in You and You alone. Apart from You I can do nothing. In You, I can do all things. Everything that comes against me must come

through You for I am in You. As You walked without sin on this earth, live without sin through me today. By faith I claim victory over __________. (Then I list some of the temptations I know I will face that day.) When I face these temptations, remind me that the victory has already been won. By faith I put on the helmet of salvation. Thank You for saving me. Thank You for forgiving me. Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to live inside me. Holy Spirit, I surrender my will to You today. I surrender my thoughts to You. I choose to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. And last, I take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. (Then I claim several specific promises from Scripture.) So, Lord, I go now rejoicing that You have chosen me to represent You to this lost world. May others see Jesus in me. May Satan and his hosts shudder as Your power is manifest through me. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. The devil does not sleep, nor is the flesh yet dead; therefore you must never cease your preparation for battle, because on the right and on the left are enemies who never rest. —THOMAS à KEMPIS The more public thy place, Christian, and the more eminent thy service for God, the more thou must look that the devil [will have] some more dangerous design or other against thee; and therefore if every private soldier needs armour against Satan’s bullets of temptation, then the commanders and officers, who stand in the front of the battle, much more. —WILLIAM ...

The only way we can successfully struggle through these times is to focus on the Author of truth and not on our circumstances. While He may allow us to be severely tested, God has faithfully promised never to leave or forsake us.

The dark moments of our life will last only so long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose in us.

God’s cure for evil thinking is to fill our minds with that which is good. —GEORGE SWEETING