Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)


There is a big difference between faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and faith in faith. Faith in faith will always prove to be faulty when times of trial come. Faith in Jesus as Lord knows that at the center of the Gospel is the truth that every person’s flesh must be destroyed so that the Spirit of Jesus may thrive in the believer’s heart and soul.

Prayer is the weapon that a follower of Jesus clings to long before battles are fought. One great example is Peter. As a younger follower of Jesus he boasted in his faith. When Jesus told the disciples that He must die in Jerusalem Peter took Jesus aside and rebuked Him saying, “this will never happen” (Matthew 16:21-25). Then once Peter’s self-confident faith found him sinking quickly into the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 14:22-23). On another occasion Peter said, “I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!” (Luke 22:33) Just a few hours later Peter had denied Jesus three times.

Satan has a God given ability, power and permission to take down any disciple at any time. That is why Satan prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). The reason God allows this is so followers of Jesus will have no reason to have faith in their flesh. When Jesus took Peter, James and John on the Mount of Olives the night He would be arrested He told them to, “pray so that you won’t fall into temptation” (Luke 22:40). They did not pray; they fell into temptation.

Prayer is the key to walking through temptation and on into obedience. Faltering faith will follow prayerlessness. Daily pray that your walk will not lead you into temptation and ask to be delivered from evil. The result will be the yield of your flesh to the Spirit of Jesus. Faith in your faith will become a past learning experience and faith in Jesus will cause you to stand on the rock of Jesus Christ. When the storms of life come your house will not collapse.