It is therefore possible to lose spiritual fervour. When that happens, we lose something that would drive us through to victory in challenging times. As recorded during the time of David, the Israelite army cowered in fear before Goliath. They were overwhelmed by the giant’s reputation and his constant intimidation. When they came together to face the enemy their spiritual zeal was gone. Out of this passivity grew a spiritual inferiority that had them defeated before they even started.

Whenever my faith loses its aggressiveness the carnal mind takes over and gains the upper hand. The heart will no longer say, “I can do all things through Christ”, neither will it confess, “greater is he that is within me”. When my heart loses its boldness, I am in great danger!

The cure is going to the Word of God again, giving yourself over to it and resolutely taking your stand. The Word needs to permeate our prayer life and push us beyond mere words till it gets us to agonise in prayer. Our lukewarm prayers are left behind, and we begin to travail in prayer.

David was filled with the zeal of the Lord and was ready to fight the giant, not in his own name, but in the name of the One he loved passionately. David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied”.

The cure is nothing less than Spirit-control which will move us out of being passive, but again believing God for the impossible. We can today face the giants in the name of Jesus, our strong deliverer. Victory comes when we are filled with His Holy Spirit and His boldness in these challenging times.