Fight On

He said, "Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don't be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God's. 2 Chronicles 20:15

Listening to the CD from this past Sunday morning's service, the music for the song "Fight On" began to play.  This song begins with the soloist saying, "In this walk we face many battles but they're not yours. They belong to the Lord..."  As I was driving home I begin to think about the senseless battles I have been a part of instead of turning it over to God.  The most recent one dealing with an employer who did everything in her power to keep me down to the point that I had started dreading each morning.  My mood would start to change on Sunday evening about seven o'clock..  I was miserable.  There were many times when I wanted to give up or give her a piece of my mind.  After all, who did she think she was? But something on the inside wouldn't let me give up.  I read my Word. I prayed without ceasing.  I gave it over to God and once again the stick-to-it-tive-ness that comes from having faith in God helped me make it through.  You see, I recognized that I was not in control and  that I needed to step back and let God be God.  He didn't need my help.  I also realized the reward in being faithful.  It was my job to continue being a light shining in the midst of a dark world.  And the very best thing about that, by being obedient to His Word and staying out of God's way, He was able to work out things for me far better than I could have ever imagined. I learned that sometimes I need to just 'Be Still' and see the salvation of the Lord.  Hold my peace and let the Lord fight my battles, VICTORY shall be mine. 

It doesn't matter what you may be up against right now.  Is it your relationship?  Your job?  Just someone who doesn't like you and does everything in his or her power to bring you down, scandalize your name.  Remember that 'your fight is not against flesh and blood'.  Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy.  He wants to keep you distracted. But you must give it to God and let Him handle it. I cannot stress enough how important it is to put on the armor of God.  It is the tool God gave us to be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.   I have also learned that God can see the bigger picture.  He knows just what we can handle and as we continue in obedience, keeping our focus on God (by praying, fasting, reading His Word), He continues to make deposits in us that make us stronger and wiser.  We find ourselves ready to face anything.  Have you ever felt this way?  Maybe right now you are faced with an impossible situation. If so, I dare you to give it God, completely.  Perhaps in the past you have been guilty of giving up too quickly.  Instead of trusting God you tried to work it out on your own.  My encouragement for you is to "Fight on" but not in the traditional sense.  Not with words or with physical actions but use the power of prayer.  Get in the Word.  Praise God and let it be your weapon.  When Satan sees what you are going through and yet, you still have a smile on your face and a praise on your lips, he won't know what to do.  He may try and come at you a little harder but my Word tells me that the devil is already defeated so I am going to treat him that way.  I am not giving him any power.  I'm going to praise God in the valley.  In the midst of grief.  In the midst of what seems like hell on earth sometimes.  Through prayer and praise and the power of God I know that I have the victory and so will you!

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

I praise Your name today.  I worship and adore You just for who You are.  You are Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending.  I know that it is in You that I live and move and have my being.  You are Holy. God you are Faithful.  You are Omnipresent.  You're my Rock.  You're my Deliverer. Most importantly, You are my God and I am going to serve You for the rest of my life.  I give my current situation over to You. I trust that You are going to work it out, not only for my good but, for Your Glory. And in the midst of it all I am going to continue to praise  Your name.  In the Mighty and Most Precious Name of Jesus I pray Amen. 

Know What You Have

Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10, NLT

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere--in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8, NLT

 

One of the greatest weapons you and I possess is to know the things you possess as a Christian.  Every day I am learning that there are just some things that I don't need to be worried or stressed out about. I was just sitting here today thinking about how many times I have wandered around aimlessly, confused, and disoriented, unsure of myself and the direction I was headed when all I needed to do was tap into my source.  All this for nothing when I have the Holy Spirit in me to guide and direct me.   Some rights I have inherited simply because I am a child of God.  The problem that I have had in the past was that I didn't use my God-given power.  I have left my armor in the closet instead of gearing up from head to toe.  Everything from having my feet shod with the Preparation of Peace, my Sword of the Spirit, my Shield of Faith, my Breastplate of Righteousness, and my Helmet of Salvation, were all left in the closet.  And if you are anything like me there are days when you put it on as emergency gear instead of everyday wear.What good do they do me in the closet?

Today I want you think about taking a different approach to how you deal with Satan's tactics.  You do realize that as a child of God, 'This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. You are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world'. (Ephesians 6:12, God's Word Translation)  One of my biggest failures as a Christian has come in not recognizing my true enemy. My life became much better when I realized that my true enemy was Satan and that I could not fight him in my own strength. He wants nothing more than to distract you and to throw you off course.  He wants to get you so bogged down with conflict and confusion that you no longer hear the voice of God or feel the urgings of the Holy Spirit.  A precise reason why you must know what you have.  You have the promises of God and they are all 'Yea and Amen'.  But you would only know that if you spend time in the Word of God.  Be honest with yourself.  How often do you read God's Word throughout the week or  do you only open your Bible on Sunday's?  If so, you are missing out on so much.  How are you expecting to grow if you are not in the Word of God allowing it to perform its designed duty?  There are things God wants to share with you along this journey of trust that you can use in your daily walk.  He does this in part through His Word. I can't tell you how many times I have opened up my Bible and there on the pages was a relevant Word to my current situation. And by the way the Word of God is always relevant, whether for your current situation or something for your future. There are scriptures that let you know that you serve a God Promise, a God of Wisdom, a God of Strength, and a God of Refuge.  He left You His Holy Spirit who is there to guide you and direct you.  The Holy Spirit is there to help you deal with your circumstances but you have to know that He is within You and heed His warnings and direction.  Consult God in everything.

Another tool that is so not used is the power of prayer.  The scripture says that you have not because you ask not.  How can God do anything for you if you don't bother to ask Him?  I don't know about you but many times I walk around trying to do things in my own strength but it never works out.  It isn't until I turn it over to God that things begin to change.  I don't know what is going on in your life right now but I challenge you to tap into your source.  Know what you have!  Tupac sang a song that said "It's just me against the world."  He had it all wrong.  In order to make it in this world it needs to be You and God against the world.  It's the only way you're gonna make it. 

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

Thank You for being a God of promise, reminding me that I don't need to fear.  For You have given me power to tread upon serpents and scorpions and nothing shall by any means hurt me. Forgive me for being so naive and not turning to You for my every need.  Being silly enough to try to do it in my own strength.  Help me to be faithful in reading my Bible and in my prayer life.  Strengthen my commitment.  Help me to prioritize.  I know that I have what seems to be a million things pulling me in so many directions but I know that unless I have plugged in to You I will be no good for any of them.  I want to do better so that I can be of service to You.  In Jesus' Name I pray Amen.

Fight or Flight

Every Christian faces opposition.  It comes in many forms.  We face it in our homes, on our jobs, and even in the church.  It comes from those we know and from those we don't know.  One of the things that I am working on right now is my reaction when faced with opposition.  How do I respond? I must admit that in the past my reaction hasn't been the most positive one.  My usual response has been either "fight or flight".  Either I retreat into myself or I put my boxing gloves on.  Neither response is the best response.  So I decided to see what the Word of God has to say about what to do when faced with opposition. 

First this first, "Don't be surprised".  Remember when God asked Satan where he had come from, and the response was "I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that's going on."  Think about this.  Satan has nothing better to do that to try to defeat you.  To throw you off guard.  To keep you distracted from doing the work of the Lord.  Not only that but if you turn over to I Peter you find a similar message that says, "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour," (v8)  The devil is not playing.  There is a war going on.  So what is opposition?  I liked this definition best that says, 'a person or group of people opposing, criticizing, or protesting something, someone, or another group'.  Sound familiar.  "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places'.  (Ephesian 6:12)  Opposition!  Which brings me to my second point on what to do when faced with opposition.  "Put your armor on".  This must be a daily process.  You must have on the belt of truth. Your feet shod with the preparation of peace. The sword of the spirit.  The shield of faith.  The breastplate of righteousness.  The helmet of salvation.  One thing I have realized it that I can't fight this enemy on my own.  I don't have what it takes in the physical man to combat this enemy.   This is spiritual warfare.  Flight is never the response for a soldier in the army of the Lord.  Why not?  Because we are already victorious.  No need tor retreat.  You can stand firm knowing that you and God are a majority.  And no need for boxing gloves...you can hold your peace and let the Lord fight your battles.  Ask God to give you the words to say when faced with opposition. 

Maybe you say that you have done all these things and you are still having a hard time handling the opposition that you face.  If so, I have one last word of encouragement and that is to "Remember Jesus".  Hebrews 12:3 says, "Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart".  Reflect on this example so that you may be able to bear your trials.  Think about the hardship that He suffered while being beaten, pierced in His side, nails pounded into His hands.  Yet He endured so that you and I might have the right to eternal life.  Understand that there is great danger when we become disheartened and weary by the opposition that we face.  Satan wants to control our minds. That is why we must keep our eyes fixed on Him.  Remember God has a hand in it all.  He keeps His promises. It's okay for your enemy to think that he or she has one because you know your reward is not here on earth.  You have the 'smoking gun'.  "For we know that all things work together for the good of them who love the Lord, tot hem who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

I know You said in Your Word that I will have to endure trials and tribulations.  I can't say that I like them and on most days I don't understand them.  Yet will I trust you Lord.  Let me not grow weary in well doing.  Help me to stand firm when faced with opposition in my life knowing that all things will work out for my good.  In Jesus' Wonderful Name I pray Amen

There's A War Going On

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood.. Ephesians 6:12

I don't know how many times I have been in situations where I am fighting constantly with those around me.  Satan sneaks in and attacks my marriage.  I am going back and forth with my children about behaviour issues.  I am dealing with .  I let things get me all stressed out and worked up.  Worrying myself to death over nothing.  Instead of of realizing that there are things beyond my control.  That although my husband has upset me that ultimately it is Satan who is trying to cause dissension in my marriage.  Simply because marriage was instituted by God, the devil is going to do all He can to attack my marriage.  I wonder what would happen if we looked one another straight in the eye and stood together against the devil.  Instead of arguing we prayed about what was bothering us and agreed to discuss it in a civil matter. 

How many times have you woke up in the morning in a great mood.  You've done your devotional and spent time with the Lord.  You have prayed and given Him control of your day and here comes Satan.  Now unless you have put on the whole armor of God, you are defenseless against these attacks.  Go ahead and try to fight them with your own strength.  You'll get knocked down every time.  I'm not telling you what I heard but what I know.  Need an example?  There you are walking around your house smiling and singing.  You get in your car and someone cuts you off.  Your attitude does a complete shift. You are no longer smiling and then everyone else is on the receiving end of your bad attitude. And what about in the church? Believe it or not, the devil can attack you sitting right there in the choir stand using whatever distraction he can. He may use the person sitting right next to you. You know that person that is grumbling about everything that is being said all service long.  Right when the preacher says something you need to hear, you don't even here it.  And on top of that what about the times you have let the devil use you.  You see, spiritual warfare is not always  about what  happens to you. When we get up in the morning and we don't put on the whole armor of God we are ill-equipped to fight against the attacks of Satan. It takes a second for him to creep into your mind. Putting on the armor of God is having your feet shod with the preparation of peace.  This means that every place you go instead of stirring up trouble you are helping to bring about unity.  It means you're ready for battle.  You have read and studied the Word.  You have hid it in your heart.  You have the sword of the Spirit, once again tying back into the Word of God.  Next comes the shield of faith.  You have the courage to stand in the face of fear.  When everyone around you is doing wrong...  Those times when you are considered the outsider for going against the grain... You have your breastplate of righteousness and your helmet of salvation. With your breastplate on, your heart is protected and you realize also that you can do what is right.   God's commandments are righteousness. In contrast, lawlessness is sin, and sin is the opposite of righteousness. So to be righteous is to obey God's laws of love. Your helmet guards your mind.  Stop putting all that garbage in your mind. Remember you  have been 'called out' Without the helmet of salvation, we will be unprotected from the "cares of this world" that bombard our thoughts and feelings. Imagine not knowing what the future ultimately holds. The worries and problems produced by living in this world would overwhelm us!

If you notice all of these parts are critical. Not a day goes by that your armor is not necessary.  Satan has come to steal, kill and destroy.  He is after you.  Anything that He can do to keep you from representing God, he is going to try.  You must stay prayed up and in the Word as you are on the battlefield.  God has already won the war when He took the keys of death, hell and the grave after being crucified on that old, rugged cross.  We simply must walk in victory and realize that we have help to succeed.  The first step in being victorious is to recognize your enemy.  Although it may appear that your enemy looks just like you, Satan is working behind the scenes.  Fight him with spiritual weapons and you will win every time!

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

I'm so guilty of spinning my wheels and fighting this spiritual battle with my own human strength.  Today I am putting on my armor from my helmet of salvation to my feet being ready to spread peace.  Help me not to get so wrapped up in what my enemy looks like and be more focused on this spiritual battle that I face everyday.  I realize that you already have the victory over Satan and I am going to start to walk in victory.  In Jesus' Wonderful Name I pray Amen. 

Our Father

'The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he understands how weak we are; he knows we are only dust'.  Psalm 103:13-14

I sat for a while today and thought about where my life would be if I had given up on myself. There have been days and nights that were simply unbearable. Plans that I had made were crushed. Certain dreams that I had never happened. Days when I just did not want to get out of the bed. Sound familiar to anyone? While I know each person has his or her own story, I believe everyone has thought about giving up.


If you have or have had those thoughts, I have a question for you. Have you every stopped to think what your life would be like if God gave up on you? Life sometimes can deal us a horrible hand. We make plans and those plans never happen. We love and we get our heart broken. We raise our children and they disappoint us. We get laid off. We get sick. We watch loved ones die. Many days we feel all alone. There are also days when we are striving to do our best to live right and still we fall short and disobey God. Yet and still He keeps right on keeping his promises. He keeps right on making a way for us. Not because of who we are but because of who He is. And today that's the best news in the world.

Yes, there are times when God must discipline us. Some behaviors we continue to display must be broken. But don't you realize that, even more so than a disciplinarian, he wants to comfort us. He knows how weak we are, even on our best day. Mistakes are going to happen but don't let that discourage you. There are times when I'm rolling along so well. Everything seems to be moving along on all cylinders. I've just had great quiet time or my own little praise and worship session and then I step out of my bubble and life happens. My reactions aren't always the best. When I'm hurt I put up a wall and can be downright mean to the person on the other side of that wall. It's my defense mechanism. When I really want something, even though God has told me that it's not for me right now, I still go after it, bumping my head time and time again. But none of that matters. He continues to love me. He holds his arms out and says, "Come my child and rest on my shoulders. I still love you. You will make it. I'm right here by your side. I never left." And those words to me, at just that right moment, are worth more than all the gold in the world. Simply because the One who is in control of everything is still on the throne and he hasn't given up on me.

My brother and my sister, as a child of the most high, it gets discouraging to know that we continue to let God down. We don't do the best with the talents he gave us. We are going to fall sometimes but we don't have to stay down. The scripture says, "Two are better than one because if one falls the other is there to pick him up." Now don't get me wrong I am thankful for the people who have helped me to get up again. However, let's look at this verse from a different perspective. I concur that two are better than one, especially when the 2nd person is God himself. He has all the power to help us get back up again. And He will continue to be there for us because He will never give up on His children. Thank you Lord!


Most Gracious Heavenly Father,


I praise you today. I thank you for loving me. I thank you even more today because you have never given up on me. I've let you down and I am so sorry. Yet even with all my faults you continue to make a way for me. There are so many things that I don't do as I should. So many things I know I need to do better and with your help I know that I can and will do better. I just can't thank you enough Lord for your forgiveness, your compassion. I love you so very much Lord. In Jesus' Wonderful Name Amen.

Know Your Enemy

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10

The devil is  real and he is after your soul.  It never fails after a personal victory in the Lord here comes Satan all ready for His next attack.  I wonder if I will ever get to the point that I am ready for his attacks.  I know that being ready means that I have to be prayed up with my mind always stayed on Jesus.  What's funny about these attacks is the shape they take on each time.  My latest attack was in the form of someone who looked like me and carried the label 'friend'.  See what I mean....no pointed ears, tail or pitchfork instead designer jeans, Coach bag and a hug for a greeting. I won't go into details about what happened but I will say that everyone is not always happy to see you being blessed especially when they are unhappy. But you must learn to consider the source.  There are just some  people in the world who love to cause trouble, stir up problems and basically give you a bad time.  Sad part about it is that they don't recognize that Satan is using them. Satan wants nothing more than to steal your joy. He wants to invade your mind with clutter.  He wants to kill your happiness and hope in Christ Jesus.  He wants to destroy your peace of mnd.

One of the best lessons I learned was that my 'fight is not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places'. (Ephesians 6:12)  The last thing the devil wants to see is you spending time in God's Word.  He doesn't want you to have a regular prayer life. He doesn't want to see you praising God in the midst of your storm. He would rather see you in mindless arguments, engaged in gossip, consumed with worry and stress.  Anything to keep your focus off God.  Ever notice how you can wake up thanking God for another day, you read your devotional, pray and then get in your car to some of the worse traffic ever, making you late and putting you in a bad mood.  Or maybe you get to work and your supervisor seems to be on something extra.  You had made up your mind to start going to Bible Study and now you have to work late. You plan an innocent night out with your girlfriends, instead of y'all having a good time catching up and enjoying time away from the husband and the kids they want to spend all their time in simple-minded gossip.  What about when what happened at work carries on into your home and then arguments take place because you didn't take a moment to pray in your car on the way home so that you wouldn't bring negativity into your home.  And don't think I have forgotten about Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome or Miss Sexy Eyes and Long Legs.  They always seem to show up when you have made a personal commitment to get yourself together or when your husband or wife is tripping. All these things may seem like nothing but they are.  These are all distractions, tricks of the devil. 

This is why you must know your enemy.  It is not your husband, your wife, your sister, your brother, your boss, your neighbor, or the stranger on the highway.  It is the devil!  Each and every morning you rise, never forget to put on your armor.  The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.  The shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  Praying at all times int he Spirit, staying alert with all perseverance and praying for others.  (taken from Ephesians 6:14-18)  We can't afford to let our guard down.  I don't know about you but I don't want to spend any extra time fighting an enemy that has already been defeated.  I would much rather utilize the tools God has given me to keep him just where he belongs, under my feet. 

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your grace and your mercy and for your forgiveness.  Hear my prayer, O Lord.  Incline your ear to me.  Open my eyes so that I may see as you see.  Help me to be more aware of Satan's attacks instead of being swept into his wicked schemes.  Help me to respond in love and kindness instead of anger.  Let the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart always be acceptable in thy sight, O God, for you are my strength and my redeemer.  In Jesus' Wonderful Name I pray Amen.