Ephesians 6:1 says, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." The Lord Himself commanded this and He said, "for this is right"! Do we really want to do what is right? Sometimes I wonder. Why is it that it's so much easier to do the wrong thing than to do the right thing? Paul had that very same struggle and he walked with Jesus during His time here on earth. Paul says in Romans 7:14-8:4 " For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God; through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin."
When I read that I am comforted by the thought that a great Christian leader like Paul had the same struggle as I do.
I often wonder about honor. It seems so archaic, as man has developed this callousness that makes him forget all about honor & righteousness. If God is our Father (parent) and we are His children, then should we not obey Him? Is this not right? Obedience brings about great blessing, and disobedience holds us back from receiving all God wants to give us.
My struggle regarding disobedience has always been with gluttony. The bible says in Proverbs 23:19-21 "Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. Don't be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat: for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags. "
The book of Proverbs is so full of wisdom. Why, then, do we want to discount what it says? I thought about that verse a lot these past few days. I know I have been a glutton for so many years, but I learned something this past week that has really changed my way of thinking.
Ever since I got that rash (see previous post) and the Lord led me to cleansing and eating nothing but fruits, vegetables, water & juice, a real change has come about me. The health in Jesus diet I've been following tells me to "eat all the fruits & or vegetables I can eat" at certain meals. I struggled with that in the beginning, because it still felt like a form of gluttony. A glutton is one who "indulges in eating to an extravagant excess." Websters Dictionary says gluttony is "extravagant indulgence of the appetite for food; voracity of appetite." Voracious means to devour. Well I thought about that, because I didn't want to be gluttonous while I was trying to break free from this bondage. It felt like I might just be trading one form of gluttony for another. I ate the fruits & vegetables, and I ate them in abundance, but that just meant I ate a lot more fruits & vegetables than normal. I never felt ravenous, and I never felt like I was over eating. I simply felt like I was eating to fuel my body & I was taking in what my body needed. The truth is, I got full on a lot less fruits, juices & vegetables than I ever got on my usual eating sprees. I started to think a lot about this, and then I heard Michael Card sing a song in which he said, "And we will all eat freely from the tree of life." Something occurred to me when I heard that. God gave us the food in the garden of Eden in order that we might eat of it "freely". We were given permission to eat as much as we wanted, and it wasn't considered gluttony. Notice that in Proverbs 23 it says, "gorge themselves on meat" and it speaks of "drowsiness". It's not a coincidence that after consuming a meatball and spaghetti dinner the first thing we want to do is go lay down! Those foods weigh us down! There are some of us that do not eat to live, but we live to eat & it consumes us. We get tired & run down & are unable to work. Is it any wonder that the scripture says we shall "become poor"? The foods we eat, the wine we drink, all in excess, become addicting to us & we cannot get enough. We become drunkards &/or gluttons, and food becomes our master. The devil is cunning, and he is laughing at us. He loves that we have allowed the very thing that was given to bring us life become the vessel that brings us death. Death, disease, dehabilitation. Food addiction~ gluttony~ brings about death. If we make the choice to "eat freely" what God gave us in the garden (fruits & vegetables) we are, in fact, strengthening our bodies and instead of feeling tired, we feel energized. Foods in their natural state were not addicting because they were not processed, filled with unnatural ingredients and an over abundance of sugars. These processed foods we consume were designed to become addicting . They are missing nutrients we need and are filled with extra sugars and as a result we crave them. Good news for the manufacturers of such products, but bad news for us! In a world of fast paced living & fast food conveniences, man has traded the whole food fuel for the garbage that makes us tired and drains us of what we were designed to be...."Free" . We are free to eat what we want in God's garden.
The thing that amazed me more than anything these past few days is that no matter what, I never once felt like a glutton when I was eating that abundance of food. John 10:10 says, "...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." I believe that is true for the wonderful life giving foods He has given us as well.
Being obedient to the scriptures is so important in our walk with the Lord. God gave them to us to bring us life, and when we obey them we truly do receive so many blessings. When we disobey, we bring consequences that sometimes take years to overcome.
In my obedience to Proverbs 23 this week, I have received the blessing of losing 1 pant size & being able to get myself into a pair of jeans for the first time in almost 9 months. My stomach is flatter & my hips have gone down. Eating the foods from God's garden have given me strength & energy. They have, in effect, given me life just as they were intended to.
If you're struggling with food today, or any other addiction for that matter, look to God's word for a truth you can hold onto and then obey! The blessings associated with obedience are much better to receive than the curses we bring to our own heads through our disobedience.
God bless you as you walk in obedience!
Friday, January 25, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The Light At The End Of The Tunnel
There's a saying, "Hard work pays off". When you see the fruits of your labor, you know that this is true. Sometimes, however, the tunnel is so deep that you don't think you can keep boring through to the other side. When the darkness seems greatest, that's when you must fight the hardest. It's always darkest before the dawn. You must never forget that there IS a light at the end of that tunnel. No matter how deep it goes, it leads to somewhere, and if you give up, you'll never reach the other side and perhaps you will miss the greatest blessing God has ever desired to give you. Psalm 128: 1-2 says, " Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to him. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours."
About 12 years ago I went through one of the darkest periods of my life. My husband of almost 1o years had left me for another woman. It was a complete shock to me, as I didn't even know we were having any problems. He gave me a wonderful surprise party for my 30th birthday and left me 2 months later for a woman he'd been seeing for 9 months. I cannot put into words what that did to me. I was filled with so many emotions, it was hard to get a hold of them. I was thrown into a tunnel that seemed too big for me to get through, and the world around me seemed to be caving in from all sides. I spent a lot of time crying those first few days. I was just so shocked. I knew, however, that this was something the Lord had allowed and I knew He was the only one who could get me through it. He placed within me a determination that gave me strength from deep within. My husband left me to raise 2 daughters, aged 7 & 5 and I knew I could not give up.
The problem I faced was getting through the emotional grief. The devil was speaking many defeating words to me and I knew that the only way to fight through those lies was with the word of God. During that time of my life, I relied on God completely. I adopted Isaiah 54:5 as my mantra. "For your Maker is your husband; the Lord of armies is his name: and the Holy One of Israel is he who takes up your cause; he will be named the God of all the earth." I reminded myself of it often, and even placed a ring on my finger to remind me of our "marriage" and my commitment to Him.
To keep strong, I knew I had to rely completely on Him. I knew I had to trust Him through it all. I knew I had no strength of my own, and that I must stay firmly rooted in His word and communicate daily with Him in prayer. My hope was in Him and I knew that I could not take my eyes off of Him or I would surely fall. I was so afraid of falling and I felt such comfort hiding in the shadow of His wings.
One of the things that I knew about myself is that music had a deep profound affect on me. I knew that music would minister to my spirit, so I sought to get something that would "speak" to me & soothe my inner man. I went off to a Christian bookstore & went to the music section. I didn't have a lot of money, as I was now surviving without the help of my husband, so I went to a clearance bin where all of the cassettes were marked down to $5.00 and under. I didn't know what I was looking for, as I was unfamiliar with most of the artists in that bin, so I grabbed a couple of cassettes based on what the covers said & what the names of the songs were. One of the cassettes I grabbed was by Allison Durham and it was called "Walk into Freedom". It sounded promising, so I put the cassette into my walkman & set out for a walk. I went out very early in the morning when the distractions of life around me were the least. Each day I walked with that cassette and each day it ministered to my spirit in such a deep & vital way. Those songs somehow changed me from within. They spoke such comfort and such truth, and they spoke to the core of my very being. I was being transformed by the renewing of my mind. Music can truly change your life. I listened to that cassette so much, that to this day, almost 13 years later, I still hear the words when I am feeling like I am going to drown. One of my favorite songs from that cassette was "When you walk through the water", it goes like this:
Lord, I want to be led by Your Spirit
Sometimes I feel so afraid
There are times when this river
Seems to flow against me
And it makes it hard to not be swept away
Even when I feel I'm strong
You know I'm weak and frail
Then You gently remind me
That Your faithfulness to me will never fail
You say...
When you walk through the water
I will be with you
And the river will not overflow you
Though you walk through deep water
I will be with you
Through the flame or flood you won't be burned or drowned
I am the God who lifts you up
And I'll never let you down
Oh Lord, You are a shield for me
You're the glory and the lifter of my head
When I'm facing fear or doubt
From within or from without
I'm reminded of the hand by which I am led
You said...
When you walk through the water
I will be with you
And the river will not overflow you
Though you walk through deep water
I will be with you
Through the flame or flood you won't be burned or drowned
I am the God who lifts you up
And I'll never let you down
(Words & music by David Baroni & Allison Durham Spears)
That song helped lead me through the deepest darkest tunnel I'd ever been through. And as I was boring through that tunnel and found myself close to giving up, I would hear that chorus and I would push on.
I came through that season of my life a much stronger person. I learned so much through that struggle, and I grew that much more. I remember how the devil tried to destroy me, and how many times I gave in to the temptations that were presented to me. When my husband left me, a whole different door was opened and I was forced to deal with issues that marriage allowed me to hide from. I remember times that I felt like someone else was pulling my strings, and after giving in to temptations I brought about consequences that were very hard to bear. I was confronted with sins of my past and had to face head on some sins I thought I had put away. Those sins could have destroyed me, as they were sexual sins. God warns us about sins against the body. 1 Corinthians 6:18 says, " Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body." It's hard to believe that I ever got through that season. God brought me through that tunnel, and He freed me from the slavery of sins I was bound to. He made a way of escape when it seemed there was none. He opened the rivers so I could pass through. Surely it did not feel like there would ever be light at the end of that tunnel, yet now I can truly see it, as I walk in that light. It's the same for this struggle with food addiction. The Lord is with me, walking me through it every step of the way & He has assured me that I will walk into freedom.
Today I saw the first signs of light at the end of this tunnel.
When I had my rash breakout (see my last post) I was led to things that would help relieve the rash. One of the things I was led to was cleansing my body from within. Colon cleanse, liver cleanse & kidney cleanse were all things that were presented to me. One of the big things I had to do, in addition to these cleanses, was to consume foods & juices that would help cleanse my body and release the toxins within me. I was willing to do whatever I had to do just to relieve the itch, as it was so difficult to bear.
I started with water & juice cleansing as I took an herbal colon cleanse formula. After about a week of that I began to follow a plan designed by Daniel C. Docto, of Health Ministry in Jesus. In order to adequately cleanse, it's good to bring in as many high fiber fruits, vegetables & juices as possible. I started to follow his food plan, but I found that it was just too much food, and I could not consume it all. I did as much as I could, however, and after only 3 days I am seeing the benefits already! My itch has reduced considerably and today I noticed my stomach has begun to shrink! Today, I saw the light at the end of my tunnel!! The devil tried to use that itch to wear me down & bring about defeat, but God used it as a direct passage toward the light at the end of my tunnel. Usually when things like that hit me I go right to my source of comfort...food! This time, however, I put into practice what the Lord has been showing me (see previous post) and in doing that I achieved a major victory!
Oh dear friend, when you tire or grow weary, don't give up! Galatians 6:9 says, "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary." I am here to tell you that this is so true!
Remember, there IS a light at the end of EVERY tunnel. Some tunnels are longer than others, as sometimes we have further to go on our journey & much more to learn. Rest assured, however, that "When you walk through the water, He will be with you and the river will NOT overflow you. Though you walk through deep water, He will be with you. Through the flame or flood you won't be burned or drowned. He is the God who lifts you up & He'll NEVER let you down!"
May God strengthen you as you get closer to the light!
About 12 years ago I went through one of the darkest periods of my life. My husband of almost 1o years had left me for another woman. It was a complete shock to me, as I didn't even know we were having any problems. He gave me a wonderful surprise party for my 30th birthday and left me 2 months later for a woman he'd been seeing for 9 months. I cannot put into words what that did to me. I was filled with so many emotions, it was hard to get a hold of them. I was thrown into a tunnel that seemed too big for me to get through, and the world around me seemed to be caving in from all sides. I spent a lot of time crying those first few days. I was just so shocked. I knew, however, that this was something the Lord had allowed and I knew He was the only one who could get me through it. He placed within me a determination that gave me strength from deep within. My husband left me to raise 2 daughters, aged 7 & 5 and I knew I could not give up.
The problem I faced was getting through the emotional grief. The devil was speaking many defeating words to me and I knew that the only way to fight through those lies was with the word of God. During that time of my life, I relied on God completely. I adopted Isaiah 54:5 as my mantra. "For your Maker is your husband; the Lord of armies is his name: and the Holy One of Israel is he who takes up your cause; he will be named the God of all the earth." I reminded myself of it often, and even placed a ring on my finger to remind me of our "marriage" and my commitment to Him.
To keep strong, I knew I had to rely completely on Him. I knew I had to trust Him through it all. I knew I had no strength of my own, and that I must stay firmly rooted in His word and communicate daily with Him in prayer. My hope was in Him and I knew that I could not take my eyes off of Him or I would surely fall. I was so afraid of falling and I felt such comfort hiding in the shadow of His wings.
One of the things that I knew about myself is that music had a deep profound affect on me. I knew that music would minister to my spirit, so I sought to get something that would "speak" to me & soothe my inner man. I went off to a Christian bookstore & went to the music section. I didn't have a lot of money, as I was now surviving without the help of my husband, so I went to a clearance bin where all of the cassettes were marked down to $5.00 and under. I didn't know what I was looking for, as I was unfamiliar with most of the artists in that bin, so I grabbed a couple of cassettes based on what the covers said & what the names of the songs were. One of the cassettes I grabbed was by Allison Durham and it was called "Walk into Freedom". It sounded promising, so I put the cassette into my walkman & set out for a walk. I went out very early in the morning when the distractions of life around me were the least. Each day I walked with that cassette and each day it ministered to my spirit in such a deep & vital way. Those songs somehow changed me from within. They spoke such comfort and such truth, and they spoke to the core of my very being. I was being transformed by the renewing of my mind. Music can truly change your life. I listened to that cassette so much, that to this day, almost 13 years later, I still hear the words when I am feeling like I am going to drown. One of my favorite songs from that cassette was "When you walk through the water", it goes like this:
Lord, I want to be led by Your Spirit
Sometimes I feel so afraid
There are times when this river
Seems to flow against me
And it makes it hard to not be swept away
Even when I feel I'm strong
You know I'm weak and frail
Then You gently remind me
That Your faithfulness to me will never fail
You say...
When you walk through the water
I will be with you
And the river will not overflow you
Though you walk through deep water
I will be with you
Through the flame or flood you won't be burned or drowned
I am the God who lifts you up
And I'll never let you down
Oh Lord, You are a shield for me
You're the glory and the lifter of my head
When I'm facing fear or doubt
From within or from without
I'm reminded of the hand by which I am led
You said...
When you walk through the water
I will be with you
And the river will not overflow you
Though you walk through deep water
I will be with you
Through the flame or flood you won't be burned or drowned
I am the God who lifts you up
And I'll never let you down
(Words & music by David Baroni & Allison Durham Spears)
That song helped lead me through the deepest darkest tunnel I'd ever been through. And as I was boring through that tunnel and found myself close to giving up, I would hear that chorus and I would push on.
I came through that season of my life a much stronger person. I learned so much through that struggle, and I grew that much more. I remember how the devil tried to destroy me, and how many times I gave in to the temptations that were presented to me. When my husband left me, a whole different door was opened and I was forced to deal with issues that marriage allowed me to hide from. I remember times that I felt like someone else was pulling my strings, and after giving in to temptations I brought about consequences that were very hard to bear. I was confronted with sins of my past and had to face head on some sins I thought I had put away. Those sins could have destroyed me, as they were sexual sins. God warns us about sins against the body. 1 Corinthians 6:18 says, " Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body." It's hard to believe that I ever got through that season. God brought me through that tunnel, and He freed me from the slavery of sins I was bound to. He made a way of escape when it seemed there was none. He opened the rivers so I could pass through. Surely it did not feel like there would ever be light at the end of that tunnel, yet now I can truly see it, as I walk in that light. It's the same for this struggle with food addiction. The Lord is with me, walking me through it every step of the way & He has assured me that I will walk into freedom.
Today I saw the first signs of light at the end of this tunnel.
When I had my rash breakout (see my last post) I was led to things that would help relieve the rash. One of the things I was led to was cleansing my body from within. Colon cleanse, liver cleanse & kidney cleanse were all things that were presented to me. One of the big things I had to do, in addition to these cleanses, was to consume foods & juices that would help cleanse my body and release the toxins within me. I was willing to do whatever I had to do just to relieve the itch, as it was so difficult to bear.
I started with water & juice cleansing as I took an herbal colon cleanse formula. After about a week of that I began to follow a plan designed by Daniel C. Docto, of Health Ministry in Jesus. In order to adequately cleanse, it's good to bring in as many high fiber fruits, vegetables & juices as possible. I started to follow his food plan, but I found that it was just too much food, and I could not consume it all. I did as much as I could, however, and after only 3 days I am seeing the benefits already! My itch has reduced considerably and today I noticed my stomach has begun to shrink! Today, I saw the light at the end of my tunnel!! The devil tried to use that itch to wear me down & bring about defeat, but God used it as a direct passage toward the light at the end of my tunnel. Usually when things like that hit me I go right to my source of comfort...food! This time, however, I put into practice what the Lord has been showing me (see previous post) and in doing that I achieved a major victory!
Oh dear friend, when you tire or grow weary, don't give up! Galatians 6:9 says, "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary." I am here to tell you that this is so true!
Remember, there IS a light at the end of EVERY tunnel. Some tunnels are longer than others, as sometimes we have further to go on our journey & much more to learn. Rest assured, however, that "When you walk through the water, He will be with you and the river will NOT overflow you. Though you walk through deep water, He will be with you. Through the flame or flood you won't be burned or drowned. He is the God who lifts you up & He'll NEVER let you down!"
May God strengthen you as you get closer to the light!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
A New Day Has Dawned--Don't Look Back!!
Last week, right after my last post, I was attacked with an unexplainable rash. The itch was unmerciful, and it wiped me out. I was so uncomfortable and miserable and could not function properly. I spent a week feeling awful, avoiding certain activities and generally feeling low as can be. Wearing clothes made the itch worse, so I'd get dressed when I HAD to go out, then I'd go back home & put my pajamas back on. The looseness of the pajamas made me feel more comfortable physically, but it wreaked havoc on me mentally. I started to feel lazy, and had symptoms of depression. Each day was a struggle just to function. Since then, I've needed to lean on the Holy Spirit to direct & correct my thoughts.
Yesterday I felt brand new. Still suffering with my itch I had decided to just accept it and do whatever I was led to do to help it, but not to let it affect me in such a way that it would consume me. It is definitely an affliction, and if I allowed it to, it could drag me down to another place.
But God knows what He's doing, and He is there through this whole thing. My affliction has caused me to seek Him more continually, and rely on Him completely. If I don't, I will fall tremendously. I believe that complete reliance on Christ is the exact reason we are so afflicted. A test of our faith & a reminder of our continued dependence on Him. Have you ever felt strong, yet helpless at the same time? It's possible to feel that way, I assure you, as that is exactly how I felt when I got up today. I felt so strong of mind, but as my body failed me I began to feel so helpless. I had a headache and I was so very very tired. All I wanted to do was sleep, but yet, I just couldn't. I had way too many things I was responsible for today. I turned to something that has been giving me strength these past days...music.
It has been said that music calms the savage beast. It has most surely proved true for me this past week of suffering. Worship & meditative music has kept me in line this week as the devil has sought to use this affliction to paralyze me spiritually. Today, when I was feeling completely worn out and I had to force myself to leave the house & pick my daughter & my nephew up from school, I turned on my music to seek comfort. The Lord gave me 2 songs in a row on the drive to pick my daughter up, and the words spoke to my Spirit something the Lord is showing me through this whole journey.
The first song was "His Strength is Perfect" by Stephen Curtis Chapman. Read these words:
I can do all things
Through Christ who gives me strength,
But sometimes I wonder what He can do through me;
No great success to show, No glory on my own,
Yet in my weakness He is there to let me know . . .
His strength is perfect when our strength is gone;
He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on.
Raised in His power, the weak become strong;
His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect.
We can only know
The power that He holds
When we truly see how deep our weakness goes;
His strength in us begins
Where ours comes to an end.
He hears our humble cry and proves again . . .
His strength is perfect when our strength is gone;
He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on.
Raised in His power, the weak become strong;
His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect.
As I was listening to those words, my Spirit was testifying that this is what God wants me to know. I was especially affected by the part that says,
"We can only know
The power that He holds
When we truly see how deep our weakness goes;
His strength in us begins
Where ours comes to an end."
Yes, through this affliction I realize that He has been my strength through this time of suffering & struggle. We really DO get to know the power that He holds when we see how very deep our weakness goes. I was pushed to a point where I felt so very weak & I had no choice BUT to rely on His strength. Would I have done that honestly, relied on Him so much, if I was not so weakened? Most of us don't. When we feel strong, we revert to doing things in our own strength and then we forget God. And so often, when we are suffering, we think God has removed Himself from us. What a lie from the enemy...a tactic of his that he uses to draw us away from God. I know this is a lie because He has not left me, nor forsaken me, just as His Word promised. I feel physically weak, but I feel spiritually strong! THAT is God!
Isaiah 41:10 says; "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
Deuteronomy 31:6 says ; "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."
The river will flow
Through all of the times of your life
The river will flow
And the river is love
The river is peace
And the river will flow through the hearts
of those who believe
We must remember that He is there for us to cry out to, to lean on, to carry our pain & our hurts & to hold us tightly through it all. How often we forget that HE is the river of life. John 7:37- 39 says; " On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus was standing in the temple courtyard. He said loudly, "Whoever is thirsty must come to me to drink. As Scripture says, 'Streams of living water will flow from deep within the person who believes in me.'" Jesus said this about the Spirit, whom his believers would receive." Well we who are believers HAVE received the Holy Spirit & He testifies within us all of the truths found in Gods word. If we make God's Word a part of our daily life, if we read it & meditate on it just as the scripture commands, then the Holy Spirit can call it up to the surface of our minds & allow it to work the power it holds. When I heard the words to that song, I was reminded that I was safe in the hands of my Savior. The words, "I have a mighty thirst, but I feel so tired and weak" really spoke to me and when I heard the 'answer' in that same song, "I am the river full of power and truth you've been looking outside yourself when it's there inside of you" I was jolted into a reality. How often do we seek our answers in other books and self help measures and how often do we search for what we THINK we need when everything we need is right there within us. We possess the Holy Spirit, the greatest power available, and we willfully CHOOSE not to use it! How frustrating that must be for our Lord as He watches us struggle. We are fighting a powerful foe, that is true, but we have THE power on our side and He has already defeated the enemy! Consider the story in Mark 1:23-27. Jesus was teaching in the synagogue and those there were "astonished at his doctrine". Why were they astonished? Because "He taught them as one who had authority". Apparently they never heard someone teach with such authority, as that was not the way the scribes taught. Well He gave us that same authority, as He told us in Luke 10:19; "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the powers of the enemy: nothing will harm you"
There is a great lesson in Mark 1:23-27. Hear the scripture; "Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are -- the Holy One of God!" But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He [Jesus] commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him."
As we have already established, Jesus was teaching in the synagogue. I heard a bible lesson this morning that said, "When the gospel is being preached, the power of God is on hand to take the devil out." It pointed out that the devil spoke to Jesus and asked, "are you here to destroy us?" The devil instantly recognized Jesus...He KNEW He was the holy one of God! What was Jesus doing? He was preaching the word! When the word is preached, the devil is exposed. He is fearful of God's word because he knows that when it is spoken that is how we get the victory against him. The power is in God's Word. As soon as we speak the Word, we show the same authority that Jesus did. We have authority only because Jesus gave it to us, and when we speak the Word, we exercise that authority. The devil had possessed that man with more than one spirit, evidenced in the words "let US alone." We can be attacked by many different demonic spirits and that's important to recognize. The devil can tell you things, and you can choose to listen, not acknowledging that it is he who is speaking these lies to you. Maybe you don't even recognize that it's him that is telling you these lies, but ANYTHING that sets itself up against the truth of God's Word is a lie from the enemy and that's why we have to test the spirits.
If the devil doesn't know who you are in Christ, then he will continue to hang around with you and attach himself to anything he can just to get to you. He can succeed in getting you as long as you are weak and if you are not drawing your strength from Christ and His Word, then you will fall as easy prey. You are, at that point, like a weak or wounded gazelle. You no longer possess the cunning to escape your enemy, and because of that, you have fallen prey. The devil, like a "roaring lion" has been prowling around. He's been waiting to pounce. He has been seeking someone to devour, and you just gave him exactly what he was waiting for. I think it's interesting to note that in 1 Peter 5:8, the devil is described as a roaring lion. Did you know that a male lion's roar can be heard up to 5 miles away? If the prey heard the lion roaring, do you think he would make himself available to be caught? Yet isn't that exactly what we do when we get the warnings that the enemy is near, yet we choose to give in to the lies that cause our defeat? We see that something is from the enemy, yet we give in to it, and we do not use our greatest defense, God's Word, against it. When the devil cried out, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are -- the Holy One of God!" note what Jesus did. He rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" Jesus stopped the devil IMMEDIATELY! He didn't argue with him, and he did not let the devil get a foothold. Ephesians 4:27 warns us, "do not give the devil an opportunity" We do that FAR to often, and because of it we succumb to the trap & are snared. Each day, God gives us a new opportunity to exercise our faith & the power He has given us. When the attacks weaken us, He is our strength. He has given us all we need to win. We must not dwell on our failures, but on our victories. Each failure is an opportunity to learn. In this affliction, I have learned to embrace He who is my strength. I cling tight, for I know that if I let go, I will truly fall. We never look back, we only look forward, and when we feel like giving in or giving up, we remember that we have the authority that was given to us in Christ. There is no retreat, no surrender! We must be in it for the long haul and claim the victory that is ALREADY ours! If you are struggling with something today, if you are afflicted, cling to Christ and lean on Him for your strength. Then embrace your affliction for it is what has drawn you to Him, and it is what will keep you relying on Him. James 4:8 says; "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you". He will use your afflictions to develop great things in you and you will be used by Him to fulfill His great purposes.
Remember, a new day has dawned! Don't look back!!!
God bless!
Yesterday I felt brand new. Still suffering with my itch I had decided to just accept it and do whatever I was led to do to help it, but not to let it affect me in such a way that it would consume me. It is definitely an affliction, and if I allowed it to, it could drag me down to another place.
But God knows what He's doing, and He is there through this whole thing. My affliction has caused me to seek Him more continually, and rely on Him completely. If I don't, I will fall tremendously. I believe that complete reliance on Christ is the exact reason we are so afflicted. A test of our faith & a reminder of our continued dependence on Him. Have you ever felt strong, yet helpless at the same time? It's possible to feel that way, I assure you, as that is exactly how I felt when I got up today. I felt so strong of mind, but as my body failed me I began to feel so helpless. I had a headache and I was so very very tired. All I wanted to do was sleep, but yet, I just couldn't. I had way too many things I was responsible for today. I turned to something that has been giving me strength these past days...music.
It has been said that music calms the savage beast. It has most surely proved true for me this past week of suffering. Worship & meditative music has kept me in line this week as the devil has sought to use this affliction to paralyze me spiritually. Today, when I was feeling completely worn out and I had to force myself to leave the house & pick my daughter & my nephew up from school, I turned on my music to seek comfort. The Lord gave me 2 songs in a row on the drive to pick my daughter up, and the words spoke to my Spirit something the Lord is showing me through this whole journey.
The first song was "His Strength is Perfect" by Stephen Curtis Chapman. Read these words:
I can do all things
Through Christ who gives me strength,
But sometimes I wonder what He can do through me;
No great success to show, No glory on my own,
Yet in my weakness He is there to let me know . . .
His strength is perfect when our strength is gone;
He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on.
Raised in His power, the weak become strong;
His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect.
We can only know
The power that He holds
When we truly see how deep our weakness goes;
His strength in us begins
Where ours comes to an end.
He hears our humble cry and proves again . . .
His strength is perfect when our strength is gone;
He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on.
Raised in His power, the weak become strong;
His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect.
As I was listening to those words, my Spirit was testifying that this is what God wants me to know. I was especially affected by the part that says,
"We can only know
The power that He holds
When we truly see how deep our weakness goes;
His strength in us begins
Where ours comes to an end."
Yes, through this affliction I realize that He has been my strength through this time of suffering & struggle. We really DO get to know the power that He holds when we see how very deep our weakness goes. I was pushed to a point where I felt so very weak & I had no choice BUT to rely on His strength. Would I have done that honestly, relied on Him so much, if I was not so weakened? Most of us don't. When we feel strong, we revert to doing things in our own strength and then we forget God. And so often, when we are suffering, we think God has removed Himself from us. What a lie from the enemy...a tactic of his that he uses to draw us away from God. I know this is a lie because He has not left me, nor forsaken me, just as His Word promised. I feel physically weak, but I feel spiritually strong! THAT is God!
Isaiah 41:10 says; "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
Deuteronomy 31:6 says ; "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."
Deuteronomy 31:8 says ; "And the LORD, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed."
Joshua 1:9 says; "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
God also gave me another song. It's called, "The River Will Flow" by Whiteheart. Here are the words:
There inside my dream
I heard the river roar
I stumbled through the darkened mist
But I couldn't find the shore
Then a voice within the mist said,
"Tell me what do you seek?"
I said, "I have a mighty thirst,
but I feel so tired and weak"
He said, "I am the river
full of power and truth
you've been looking outside yourself
when it's there inside of you"
And the river will flow
The river will flow
Through all of the times of your life
The river will flow
And the river is love
The river is peace
And the river will flow through the hearts
of those who believe
So put your hands in mine
Oh, put your hands in mine
And let us all go down
And kneel by the river's side
we'll cry our tears of joy
Cry our tears of pain
We'll let them fall down from our eyes
to be washed in the sacred stream
Even the secret tears
buried in our memories
Let them all be swept away
to the depths of the endless sea
The river will flow
Through all of the times of your life
The river will flow
And the river is love
The river is peace
And the river will flow through the hearts
of those who believe
We must remember that He is there for us to cry out to, to lean on, to carry our pain & our hurts & to hold us tightly through it all. How often we forget that HE is the river of life. John 7:37- 39 says; " On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus was standing in the temple courtyard. He said loudly, "Whoever is thirsty must come to me to drink. As Scripture says, 'Streams of living water will flow from deep within the person who believes in me.'" Jesus said this about the Spirit, whom his believers would receive." Well we who are believers HAVE received the Holy Spirit & He testifies within us all of the truths found in Gods word. If we make God's Word a part of our daily life, if we read it & meditate on it just as the scripture commands, then the Holy Spirit can call it up to the surface of our minds & allow it to work the power it holds. When I heard the words to that song, I was reminded that I was safe in the hands of my Savior. The words, "I have a mighty thirst, but I feel so tired and weak" really spoke to me and when I heard the 'answer' in that same song, "I am the river full of power and truth you've been looking outside yourself when it's there inside of you" I was jolted into a reality. How often do we seek our answers in other books and self help measures and how often do we search for what we THINK we need when everything we need is right there within us. We possess the Holy Spirit, the greatest power available, and we willfully CHOOSE not to use it! How frustrating that must be for our Lord as He watches us struggle. We are fighting a powerful foe, that is true, but we have THE power on our side and He has already defeated the enemy! Consider the story in Mark 1:23-27. Jesus was teaching in the synagogue and those there were "astonished at his doctrine". Why were they astonished? Because "He taught them as one who had authority". Apparently they never heard someone teach with such authority, as that was not the way the scribes taught. Well He gave us that same authority, as He told us in Luke 10:19; "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the powers of the enemy: nothing will harm you"
There is a great lesson in Mark 1:23-27. Hear the scripture; "Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are -- the Holy One of God!" But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He [Jesus] commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him."
As we have already established, Jesus was teaching in the synagogue. I heard a bible lesson this morning that said, "When the gospel is being preached, the power of God is on hand to take the devil out." It pointed out that the devil spoke to Jesus and asked, "are you here to destroy us?" The devil instantly recognized Jesus...He KNEW He was the holy one of God! What was Jesus doing? He was preaching the word! When the word is preached, the devil is exposed. He is fearful of God's word because he knows that when it is spoken that is how we get the victory against him. The power is in God's Word. As soon as we speak the Word, we show the same authority that Jesus did. We have authority only because Jesus gave it to us, and when we speak the Word, we exercise that authority. The devil had possessed that man with more than one spirit, evidenced in the words "let US alone." We can be attacked by many different demonic spirits and that's important to recognize. The devil can tell you things, and you can choose to listen, not acknowledging that it is he who is speaking these lies to you. Maybe you don't even recognize that it's him that is telling you these lies, but ANYTHING that sets itself up against the truth of God's Word is a lie from the enemy and that's why we have to test the spirits.
If the devil doesn't know who you are in Christ, then he will continue to hang around with you and attach himself to anything he can just to get to you. He can succeed in getting you as long as you are weak and if you are not drawing your strength from Christ and His Word, then you will fall as easy prey. You are, at that point, like a weak or wounded gazelle. You no longer possess the cunning to escape your enemy, and because of that, you have fallen prey. The devil, like a "roaring lion" has been prowling around. He's been waiting to pounce. He has been seeking someone to devour, and you just gave him exactly what he was waiting for. I think it's interesting to note that in 1 Peter 5:8, the devil is described as a roaring lion. Did you know that a male lion's roar can be heard up to 5 miles away? If the prey heard the lion roaring, do you think he would make himself available to be caught? Yet isn't that exactly what we do when we get the warnings that the enemy is near, yet we choose to give in to the lies that cause our defeat? We see that something is from the enemy, yet we give in to it, and we do not use our greatest defense, God's Word, against it. When the devil cried out, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are -- the Holy One of God!" note what Jesus did. He rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" Jesus stopped the devil IMMEDIATELY! He didn't argue with him, and he did not let the devil get a foothold. Ephesians 4:27 warns us, "do not give the devil an opportunity" We do that FAR to often, and because of it we succumb to the trap & are snared. Each day, God gives us a new opportunity to exercise our faith & the power He has given us. When the attacks weaken us, He is our strength. He has given us all we need to win. We must not dwell on our failures, but on our victories. Each failure is an opportunity to learn. In this affliction, I have learned to embrace He who is my strength. I cling tight, for I know that if I let go, I will truly fall. We never look back, we only look forward, and when we feel like giving in or giving up, we remember that we have the authority that was given to us in Christ. There is no retreat, no surrender! We must be in it for the long haul and claim the victory that is ALREADY ours! If you are struggling with something today, if you are afflicted, cling to Christ and lean on Him for your strength. Then embrace your affliction for it is what has drawn you to Him, and it is what will keep you relying on Him. James 4:8 says; "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you". He will use your afflictions to develop great things in you and you will be used by Him to fulfill His great purposes.
Remember, a new day has dawned! Don't look back!!!
God bless!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Onward Christian Soldiers!
Last night, while studying God's Word, I was led to verses regarding sin, and it's dominion over us. It's so easy to give in to sin, as we are a sinful people.
Genesis 4:7b had a profound effect on me, and I could not let go of it. It seeped right into my core almost instantly after I read it. It says, "But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." (Emphasis mine) Right after reading that, I read of Cain killing his brother Abel. Even after being warned, Cain did not heed the warning. Sin mastered him, and he did not fight it. Oh sadly we do that far too often. I am ashamed to admit how many times I've fallen.
I couldn't let go of that verse, and then this morning, while doing my devotions, I received this:
Luke 22:31-32
"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."
Can I tell you that I broke down in tears? It was as if Jesus was speaking directly to me, and as I read it I heard, "Michelle, Michelle, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail;and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." I saw Jesus as I read those words, and He looked sad. I saw Satan, standing before God, demanding permission to sift me, just as He stood before God & asked to do the same thing to Job. And I saw the faith & confidence of Christ, as I realized that he knew I would turn back. I knew for sure that I would come through this sifting and that Jesus wanted me to encourage & strengthen you, my brothers & sisters. I felt so many things, all at one time, but the thing I felt most was that my purpose was clear. I was made for this. Just as God knew that Cain would kill Abel and Jesus knew that Peter would deny Him, He also knew that I would give in to my sin of gluttony, and that I would fall many times. He also knew, however, that I would get up again, because Jesus Himself was praying for me. Jesus Himself stood at the right hand of God in proxy for ME! A lowly sinner! Oh how undeserving I am! Yet Jesus had faith in ME! He knew I would turn back from my sin! There was a confidence in His words that I never received before. Jesus had asked ME to strengthen my brothers! Suddenly, this trial was no longer a defeat to me. Suddenly, this bondage I have been in became a blessing. Suddenly I felt my chains fall off & I was free! Satan had a hold on me for so long, I never received the freedom that is in Christ. I was reminded of what Joseph said in Genesis 50:20, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." It became clearer than ever to me, something my Spirit has been testifying to me for so long, yet I, like Cain, would just not hear it. Satan asked to sift me as wheat, and God did allow it. God's desire was to prove to Satan that through it all I would remain faithful. Satan sought to destroy me, but Jesus Himself stood before the Father & presented me as blameless, because I was covered by His blood. The picture is just so clear for me now. It's amazing how 1 verse of scripture can come so alive for you and suddenly change the way you see things. I've read that verse many times before, yet it never hit me as hard as it did this day. The confidence of Christ in me, well...it just makes things different. I cannot let Him down. I don't want to be like Cain, who did not heed the warning regarding the enemy. I want to be like Peter, who once was in denial, but then after he learned the truth devoted His life to strengthening God's people. Even though He denied Christ, Jesus said to Peter in Matthew 16:18-19, " And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Jesus gave Peter power! And it was Peter to whom He entrusted His church! Peter! The one who denied Him!
Oh my brothers & sisters, this is great news! What a great revelation to us! Why would Satan waste his time sifting us if we were not worth sifting? Why would he try to take us away from Christ if we were not going to do mighty things in His name? We need no glory of our own, we are but sinful people, but through us, we can bring glory to God!
Take up your swords, a new day has dawned! Keep your eyes on Christ, and don't take them off of Him, for He will lead us into victory! In the words of Arthur Sullivan,
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!
Genesis 4:7b had a profound effect on me, and I could not let go of it. It seeped right into my core almost instantly after I read it. It says, "But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." (Emphasis mine) Right after reading that, I read of Cain killing his brother Abel. Even after being warned, Cain did not heed the warning. Sin mastered him, and he did not fight it. Oh sadly we do that far too often. I am ashamed to admit how many times I've fallen.
I couldn't let go of that verse, and then this morning, while doing my devotions, I received this:
Luke 22:31-32
"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."
Can I tell you that I broke down in tears? It was as if Jesus was speaking directly to me, and as I read it I heard, "Michelle, Michelle, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail;and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." I saw Jesus as I read those words, and He looked sad. I saw Satan, standing before God, demanding permission to sift me, just as He stood before God & asked to do the same thing to Job. And I saw the faith & confidence of Christ, as I realized that he knew I would turn back. I knew for sure that I would come through this sifting and that Jesus wanted me to encourage & strengthen you, my brothers & sisters. I felt so many things, all at one time, but the thing I felt most was that my purpose was clear. I was made for this. Just as God knew that Cain would kill Abel and Jesus knew that Peter would deny Him, He also knew that I would give in to my sin of gluttony, and that I would fall many times. He also knew, however, that I would get up again, because Jesus Himself was praying for me. Jesus Himself stood at the right hand of God in proxy for ME! A lowly sinner! Oh how undeserving I am! Yet Jesus had faith in ME! He knew I would turn back from my sin! There was a confidence in His words that I never received before. Jesus had asked ME to strengthen my brothers! Suddenly, this trial was no longer a defeat to me. Suddenly, this bondage I have been in became a blessing. Suddenly I felt my chains fall off & I was free! Satan had a hold on me for so long, I never received the freedom that is in Christ. I was reminded of what Joseph said in Genesis 50:20, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." It became clearer than ever to me, something my Spirit has been testifying to me for so long, yet I, like Cain, would just not hear it. Satan asked to sift me as wheat, and God did allow it. God's desire was to prove to Satan that through it all I would remain faithful. Satan sought to destroy me, but Jesus Himself stood before the Father & presented me as blameless, because I was covered by His blood. The picture is just so clear for me now. It's amazing how 1 verse of scripture can come so alive for you and suddenly change the way you see things. I've read that verse many times before, yet it never hit me as hard as it did this day. The confidence of Christ in me, well...it just makes things different. I cannot let Him down. I don't want to be like Cain, who did not heed the warning regarding the enemy. I want to be like Peter, who once was in denial, but then after he learned the truth devoted His life to strengthening God's people. Even though He denied Christ, Jesus said to Peter in Matthew 16:18-19, " And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Jesus gave Peter power! And it was Peter to whom He entrusted His church! Peter! The one who denied Him!
Oh my brothers & sisters, this is great news! What a great revelation to us! Why would Satan waste his time sifting us if we were not worth sifting? Why would he try to take us away from Christ if we were not going to do mighty things in His name? We need no glory of our own, we are but sinful people, but through us, we can bring glory to God!
Take up your swords, a new day has dawned! Keep your eyes on Christ, and don't take them off of Him, for He will lead us into victory! In the words of Arthur Sullivan,
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!
At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.
Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.
What the saints established that I hold for true.
What the saints believèd, that I believe too.
Long as earth endureth, men the faith will hold,
Kingdoms, nations, empires, in destruction rolled.
Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.
Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages men and angels sing.
God Bless you as you fight the good fight!!!
Monday, January 7, 2008
The Offensive Weapons
I woke up today feeling stronger than I have in a very long time. I woke up several times last night, but every single time I woke up, I laid back down & began to meditate on the Lord. I would close my eyes and as thoughts would enter, I would push them out & bring to the forefront images and thoughts of Christ. I want my focus to be on Him, and meditating on His Word, and envisioning Him helps retrain the mind. I want my thoughts to be filled with Him. I want my attitude to be like His. Philippians 2:5 tells us "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." How is that to happen if we do not meditate on His Word or retrain our minds to focus on Him?
We have a very important weapon in this battle against the enemy. It is a sword. Not the traditional metal sword that you see used in battle scenes depicting war, but a sword that is much sharper. The bible says In Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." WOW! If it helps to give you a visual, imagine a sword actually forming when you speak God's word. As soon as the Word is spoken, God's power is accessible. Isaiah 55:11 says, "So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." There is power in God's word. It is a power like no other. You want to be powerful? You are mighty THROUGH God. He has given us authority. Luke 10:19 (one of my absolute favorite verses, by the way) reminds us, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the powers of the enemy. Nothing will harm you." We can have confidence that if God's Word says it, we can trust it. We need to use His word when we are in the throes of temptation, or if we are angry or afraid. We have to hold fast to it because it is the greatest offensive weapon we have.
It has been said that it takes 21 days to develop a habit. Once a habit is ingrained, it becomes automatic. To develop a habit, you must perform the activity consistently for the 21 days and your brain will automatically convert. Repetition is the key. There is nothing you have learned, whether good or bad, without having repeated it several times first. If you have not ever meditated on God's Word, or you do not read it regularly, it cannot take root. We need to read God's Word over & over again until it is burned into our minds. Once we do that, it will influence our first response to a situation. With God's Word as our sword, we can be victors. We must NEVER let our guard down. We must remain alert. 1 Corinthians 16:13 says, "Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong." 1 Peter 5:8 says, "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." Colossians 4:2 says, "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; " Proverbs 24:5 says, "A wise man is strong, And a man of knowledge increases power." We MUST remain alert. We MUST. What good soldier would let his guard down? As soon as your guard is down the enemy can & WILL pounce. He sits there just waiting for the perfect opportunity. He sets up the circumstances for you to fall & he is pleased when it happens. Without God's Word as your sword, you are sure to fail. Satan's desire is to prove to God that we will stray, that we will fall. Satan has to ask God for permission to tempt & to attack us. God gives Satan this permission because He wants to prove that we will not stray & that we will stand firm. Without God's Word as our sword, it is almost impossible to stand firm. Joshua 1:8 says, ""This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success."
There is another weapon we can use in our fight against the enemy, and that is the weapon of praise. Psalm 150:6 says, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord." Singing songs of praise, especially in times of trial, breaks down walls that the devil sets up and sends him fleeing.
David says, in Psalm 138:1, "I will give You thanks with all my heart; I will sing praises to You before the gods." Psalm 57:7 says, "My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!" There are so many scriptures that speak of praising God. The Psalms are filled with songs of praise, and since we were created for praise, we should acquaint ourselves with it! Isaiah 43:21 says, "This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise." God has commanded us to praise Him, but at the same time, He ALONE is worthy of all praise! Hebrews 13:15 says, "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name." There are times when we are under severe attack & the last thing we want to do is praise God in the midst of it. But see, that is exactly the time when we MUST praise God! He is Sovereign, and He knows exactly what He is doing. He knows what that trial will produce in us, and He knows that through the trial we will gain perseverance. We praise Him not just for what He has done, is doing & will do, but for who He is! He is worthy of our praise! Psalm 34:1 says, "I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips." When we make praising God a habit, just like meditating on His Word, it will become second nature for us to praise Him in all things. We will find ourselves doing it everywhere, all throughout the day, in all circumstances. There are so many things to praise God for and if we focus on those things, taking the focus off of ourselves and our circumstances, our minds will be transformed & our attitudes will change from complaining to thanksgiving!
We can look at God rather than our circumstances by praising Him for His grace, His mercy, His goodness, His salvation, His sovereignty and His forgiveness. Once you begin to praise Him, you will see that there are endless things to praise Him for. I'm not just talking about things to thank Him for, I'm referring to things He deserves praise for. Praise Him for Who He is! He is worthy of all Glory & Honor & Praise! The Bible teaches us that man is not the only thing that praises God. Psalm 148 encompasses everything that gives the Lord praises, and it is absolutely eye opening & wonderful to see everything that praises the Lord! It is a praise to the Lord from all creation.
Psalm 148: says,
Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
Praise Him in the heights!
Praise Him, all His angels;
Praise Him, all His hosts!
Praise Him, sun and moon;
Praise Him, all you stars of light!
Praise Him, you heavens of heavens,
And you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
For He commanded and they were created.
He also established them forever and ever;
He made a decree which shall not pass away.
Praise the LORD from the earth,
You great sea creatures and all the depths;
Fire and hail, snow and clouds;
Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;
Mountains and all hills;
Fruitful trees and all cedars;
Beasts and all cattle;
Creeping things and flying fowl;
Kings of the earth and all peoples;
Princes and all judges of the earth;
Both young men and maidens;
Old men and children.
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
For His name alone is exalted;
His glory is above the earth and heaven.
And He has exalted the horn of His people,
The praise of all His saints—
Of the children of Israel,
A people near to Him.
Praise the LORD!
Matthew 21:16 tells us that even INFANTS praise Him! "From the lips of children and infants, I have ordained praise!"
Amen!!! Today, when you put on your battle gear, be sure to grab your sword & practice the great art of praise! Do this every day for the next 21 days & it will become a habit that will be worth keeping!!
God bless!
We have a very important weapon in this battle against the enemy. It is a sword. Not the traditional metal sword that you see used in battle scenes depicting war, but a sword that is much sharper. The bible says In Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." WOW! If it helps to give you a visual, imagine a sword actually forming when you speak God's word. As soon as the Word is spoken, God's power is accessible. Isaiah 55:11 says, "So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." There is power in God's word. It is a power like no other. You want to be powerful? You are mighty THROUGH God. He has given us authority. Luke 10:19 (one of my absolute favorite verses, by the way) reminds us, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the powers of the enemy. Nothing will harm you." We can have confidence that if God's Word says it, we can trust it. We need to use His word when we are in the throes of temptation, or if we are angry or afraid. We have to hold fast to it because it is the greatest offensive weapon we have.
It has been said that it takes 21 days to develop a habit. Once a habit is ingrained, it becomes automatic. To develop a habit, you must perform the activity consistently for the 21 days and your brain will automatically convert. Repetition is the key. There is nothing you have learned, whether good or bad, without having repeated it several times first. If you have not ever meditated on God's Word, or you do not read it regularly, it cannot take root. We need to read God's Word over & over again until it is burned into our minds. Once we do that, it will influence our first response to a situation. With God's Word as our sword, we can be victors. We must NEVER let our guard down. We must remain alert. 1 Corinthians 16:13 says, "Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong." 1 Peter 5:8 says, "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." Colossians 4:2 says, "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; " Proverbs 24:5 says, "A wise man is strong, And a man of knowledge increases power." We MUST remain alert. We MUST. What good soldier would let his guard down? As soon as your guard is down the enemy can & WILL pounce. He sits there just waiting for the perfect opportunity. He sets up the circumstances for you to fall & he is pleased when it happens. Without God's Word as your sword, you are sure to fail. Satan's desire is to prove to God that we will stray, that we will fall. Satan has to ask God for permission to tempt & to attack us. God gives Satan this permission because He wants to prove that we will not stray & that we will stand firm. Without God's Word as our sword, it is almost impossible to stand firm. Joshua 1:8 says, ""This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success."
There is another weapon we can use in our fight against the enemy, and that is the weapon of praise. Psalm 150:6 says, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord." Singing songs of praise, especially in times of trial, breaks down walls that the devil sets up and sends him fleeing.
David says, in Psalm 138:1, "I will give You thanks with all my heart; I will sing praises to You before the gods." Psalm 57:7 says, "My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!" There are so many scriptures that speak of praising God. The Psalms are filled with songs of praise, and since we were created for praise, we should acquaint ourselves with it! Isaiah 43:21 says, "This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise." God has commanded us to praise Him, but at the same time, He ALONE is worthy of all praise! Hebrews 13:15 says, "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name." There are times when we are under severe attack & the last thing we want to do is praise God in the midst of it. But see, that is exactly the time when we MUST praise God! He is Sovereign, and He knows exactly what He is doing. He knows what that trial will produce in us, and He knows that through the trial we will gain perseverance. We praise Him not just for what He has done, is doing & will do, but for who He is! He is worthy of our praise! Psalm 34:1 says, "I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips." When we make praising God a habit, just like meditating on His Word, it will become second nature for us to praise Him in all things. We will find ourselves doing it everywhere, all throughout the day, in all circumstances. There are so many things to praise God for and if we focus on those things, taking the focus off of ourselves and our circumstances, our minds will be transformed & our attitudes will change from complaining to thanksgiving!
We can look at God rather than our circumstances by praising Him for His grace, His mercy, His goodness, His salvation, His sovereignty and His forgiveness. Once you begin to praise Him, you will see that there are endless things to praise Him for. I'm not just talking about things to thank Him for, I'm referring to things He deserves praise for. Praise Him for Who He is! He is worthy of all Glory & Honor & Praise! The Bible teaches us that man is not the only thing that praises God. Psalm 148 encompasses everything that gives the Lord praises, and it is absolutely eye opening & wonderful to see everything that praises the Lord! It is a praise to the Lord from all creation.
Psalm 148: says,
Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
Praise Him in the heights!
Praise Him, all His angels;
Praise Him, all His hosts!
Praise Him, sun and moon;
Praise Him, all you stars of light!
Praise Him, you heavens of heavens,
And you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
For He commanded and they were created.
He also established them forever and ever;
He made a decree which shall not pass away.
Praise the LORD from the earth,
You great sea creatures and all the depths;
Fire and hail, snow and clouds;
Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;
Mountains and all hills;
Fruitful trees and all cedars;
Beasts and all cattle;
Creeping things and flying fowl;
Kings of the earth and all peoples;
Princes and all judges of the earth;
Both young men and maidens;
Old men and children.
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
For His name alone is exalted;
His glory is above the earth and heaven.
And He has exalted the horn of His people,
The praise of all His saints—
Of the children of Israel,
A people near to Him.
Praise the LORD!
Matthew 21:16 tells us that even INFANTS praise Him! "From the lips of children and infants, I have ordained praise!"
Amen!!! Today, when you put on your battle gear, be sure to grab your sword & practice the great art of praise! Do this every day for the next 21 days & it will become a habit that will be worth keeping!!
God bless!
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
New Year...New Start
Every year people all over make New Years Resolutions that they vow to keep. They get all excited and are fully motivated to start fresh & make this the year they finally follow through. Unfortunately, 9 times out of 10 those well intended resolutions are short lived and the end result is feelings of defeat & despair. I think the most important change we can make is the change in our minds. Once you find your center, that place of peace, everything else will fall into place. Once we have our thoughts in line with the scriptures, we can rest assured that there is nothing that can overtake us.
I was so tested over this holiday, and the thing I realized more than anything, is that the thing that changed most is my attitude. I no longer feel like food controls my every thought. I feel more like I can accept my choices, and accept the consequences, and stop beating myself up over my mistakes and just be grateful that I can learn from them.
I was so tested over this holiday, and the thing I realized more than anything, is that the thing that changed most is my attitude. I no longer feel like food controls my every thought. I feel more like I can accept my choices, and accept the consequences, and stop beating myself up over my mistakes and just be grateful that I can learn from them.
After the many tests I sustained over this holiday, there is something that has changed for me for the very first time. I no loner feel defeated by my love for food. I understand that it really is ok for me to love food. And I understand that there are choices that are much better for me, that bring me life and energy, and that I like the way I feel when I eat them. I also understand that there will be times that I will choose something that is not as good for me, and those choices will make me feel more sluggish. It is up to me to make the choice on any given day to feel the way I want to and to accept the consequences of those choices. The most important thing is for me to realize that these choices do not make me a loser or a winner, they are just choices, plain & simple. They have no power to destroy me unless I give them that power. Even Paul says "All things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive." (1 Corinthians 10:23) In 1 Corinthians 6:12, he says the same thing, only he adds something really key to it. "Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything." The key is not to let anything master you, and in the past, I have allowed my desire for food to master me. Over this holiday, the truth of Romans 12:2 really sunk deep into my spirit, and I think that is where the seed of change was planted. It says: "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
I feel like my mind has been renewed and I no longer let every mistake I make allow me to feel like a loser or allow me to feel weak and that is a freedom I've never experienced before, until now. It's really amazing!
This is just the beginning for me, that I know. Since I started this quest, I have seen many things change in me, and nothing has been greater than this, my change in attitude. It's amazing the power that your attitude has over you. I desire my mind to be renewed in much deeper ways, more than I ever have before. I know & understand everything I need & all that I need to do. I've known that for such a very long time, long before I even started this quest for freedom. Most of us do know what we're doing wrong, and at the same time we know what to do to fix it. The problem is, as sinners we enjoy our sin far too much and we do not discipline ourselves to bring our minds into submission, or as Paul says: "beat my body to make it my slave" (1 Corinthians 9:27)
Once again I'm reminded of the power of the fast. The discipline it produces is just wonderful. I know of no better way to get in line than to fast, even if it's not food but whatever it is that draws you away from Christ. For some of you that will be television, or the radio, or the computer or games. There are so many things that we make "gods" and all of them are designed by the enemy to take our focus away from Christ. That is, however, his ultimate goal.
I pray each of you reading this now will allow God's word to transform your mind, and perhaps join me on whatever kind of fast you feel the Lord is leading you to. Remember, where two or three are gathered in His Name, there He is is the midst of us!
God Bless!
This is just the beginning for me, that I know. Since I started this quest, I have seen many things change in me, and nothing has been greater than this, my change in attitude. It's amazing the power that your attitude has over you. I desire my mind to be renewed in much deeper ways, more than I ever have before. I know & understand everything I need & all that I need to do. I've known that for such a very long time, long before I even started this quest for freedom. Most of us do know what we're doing wrong, and at the same time we know what to do to fix it. The problem is, as sinners we enjoy our sin far too much and we do not discipline ourselves to bring our minds into submission, or as Paul says: "beat my body to make it my slave" (1 Corinthians 9:27)
Once again I'm reminded of the power of the fast. The discipline it produces is just wonderful. I know of no better way to get in line than to fast, even if it's not food but whatever it is that draws you away from Christ. For some of you that will be television, or the radio, or the computer or games. There are so many things that we make "gods" and all of them are designed by the enemy to take our focus away from Christ. That is, however, his ultimate goal.
I pray each of you reading this now will allow God's word to transform your mind, and perhaps join me on whatever kind of fast you feel the Lord is leading you to. Remember, where two or three are gathered in His Name, there He is is the midst of us!
God Bless!
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