While the tendency is to look at things outside of ourselves in this spiritual war, we certainly do not want to forget that sometimes we are our own worst enemy. All sin springs from our own minds.

Temptations will come to us almost entirely through our minds – although some external influences can be very strong. Getting victory demands that we watch our selves first and how we “watch” for the devices of the enemy.

One important way to get victory is to start the day right. Doing so does not wait until you have had a cup of coffee or read your Bible. It starts before that. Most likely, your thoughts are already on what you intend to do through the day before you get out of bed.

This focus on your duties of the day can provide a sufficient distraction to get your mind off of God and His will for you. Instead of this habit, talk to God in your first waking moments – before your feet touch the floor – and give the day to Him and make yourself available to do His bidding. He may have you witness to someone at work or someone who crosses your path throughout the day.

Instead of giving God part of a day – after you made your own plans – why not serve Him the whole day? It will require getting in your Bible at the start of the day and getting in some prayer, too.

Are you ready for a better victory in your “good warfare”?

David knew very well what lay within his heart. The inclinations he faced – as well as every other human – was not good and always tend to lead away from God when followed.

Because he knew that it was possible that those inclinations and temptations would lead away from God, he asked God to help him get victory over “any iniquity.” He did not want any sin to dwell in his heart.

Beyond seeking to get victory over sin, David desired to live the way God wanted. This is much more than merely keeping commandments and not doing certain things.

It would involve fellowship with God. Religion is not enough, not only will it not save the soul, but it also cannot enable one to please God.

God wants personal fellowship with you. This was God’s purpose in creating man in the first place. Unfortunately, so many professing Christians are satisfied with mere duty and gaining Bible knowledge than fellowship, All are important.

Close fellowship with our Lord also provides both the desire to serve God and the power to do so. Time spent in the Bible, along with prayer and praise are not an option for strong believers.

Can you with David pray the prayer in the text verse: “Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.“

During this time of year, many churches will have meetings that are often labeled “revivals.” Although the word “revival” is not used in the Bible, the word “revive” is, and it means to be restored to health or life, be quickened, to restore to life, to grow, and to sustain life.

The very word suggests that there has been a drifting away from those things that make Christians spiritually healthy. The meetings are intended to apply means whereby those attending can be strengthened and brought back to strong spiritual health.

Because the world has a strong pull on believers that can cause them to lose their “first love” for Christ, special meetings are employed to help restore them to a right relationship with God. The desired result is to weaken the world’s grip on believers and bring them back to a close walk with God and a refilling of the Holy Spirit.

As is illustrated in Acts 4, the filling of the Spirit is to glorify God and empower witnesses for the spread of the Gospel. While some like to think the filling of the Spirit is for speaking in tongues, there is no mention of this in Acts 4. They asked for the Spirit’s fullness for boldness to speak and not be ashamed.

Although revival meetings should help believers to be what God wants them to be, they often fall short. Rarely do these meetings actually see a God-given revival. Each believer must seek to draw nigh to God, which requires personal confession of sins, time spent in prayer, surrender to the will of God, and action to start doing His will faithfully.

True revival is something that only God can do, which is why the text verse asks: “Wilt thou not revive us again?” While God must do it, believers are responsible to prepare their hearts so God can revive them. Do you need to start seeking personal revival?

Paul often prayed that the people he wrote to in his letters would grow spiritually. The need for spiritual growth is needed just as much today.

Sadly, many believers stay spiritual babies most of their lives. Part of the reason is that they do not get into an atmosphere where growth is possible. They do not read their Bible or go to church very often. Or, if they do go, the messages and lessons are not applied. Growing spiritually requires much more than gaining mere head knowledge about the Bible.

Paul hit the nail on the head when he said that spiritual growth requires being able to discern between the things that are excellent – those that God approves of – and those that He disapproves of. Once those things are understood – do them with His help.

These things can be found in the Bible and by listening to the Holy Spirit. The key to hearing Him lies in spending time with Him reading and studying the Bible, praying, and obeying what you know. When sins are committed, confess them quickly, thank Him for it, and move on.