My thoughts are a bit rambled. But here I go nonetheless. It has been a rough week. The challenges keep coming and I am doing my best to stand on God’s Word. That He will never leave us nor forsake us. When I committed to my writing in January, little did I know what I would have to write about. I knew that I would be writing about God’s Word and how it applies to my life. I knew I would be writing about some of the challenges I face. But I am truly in a hard place. Working three part-time driving jobs here in Vegas and still being virtually homeless is not where I saw I would be. I was hopeful for the hours so I could pay my bills and get caught up. The trickling in keeps me behind and living in a weekly keeps me in a cycle that is just a little bit crazy.
Continue reading Thoughts for Today, Thursday, June 23rd
Tag: enemy
Everyday Inspiration – This Present Darkness & Piercing the Darkness
#everydayinspiration – Books that changed my life
In this journey of faith, there has been much to learn. The first book that changed my life was the Bible. I read The Living Bible from cover to cover around the time my oldest son was five years old. He is now almost 32 years old. This reading seemed to give me a real heart for God. In the reading, learning about the children of Israel and God’s relationship with them as well as theirs with God. There were moments that I could actually place myself in their shoes as well as connect to God in a way that I had not done so before.
However, the significance of the two books in this post is how the perspective of the writer, Frank Peretti, changed my whole thought process about good and evil. His detailed information about the subtlety and strategies of the enemy to lure us away from God is truly awesome to me. There was an understanding about the forces of good and evil that was given to me with such clarity. And, while I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the characters who had the challenges that we face today, the understanding about how difficult it can be to deal with those used by the enemy in our journey was very enlightening. Peretti shed clarity about the children of God, those who chose not to believe, those who were used by the enemy, the enemy and the angels.
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The Flesh, the Enemy or Both
The flesh and the enemy, both are contrary to the peace of God. Over the last twenty-four hours, after I posted “Rest in Him”, it has been a constant vigil to stay in His peace. From conversations ending badly to feeling judged. I have to say that I do recognize this and have refused to allow the enemy to keep me there or hold me there. The constant reminders of God’s promises, His mercy, His grace, His favor are able to minister to my soul. I believe that part of being able to do this rests in accepting where you are, identifying with the emotion or feeling and then moving past it. Begin with reminding yourself of God’s promises and repeating the Word over and over again. Forgive yourself and others for whatever transpired and move to the place of peace again. Know that He has you. When you know that God is leading you, it is necessary to keep that stand. We are empowered through our union with Christ because, according to Ephesians 6:13-18, we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness in high places in the unseen or heavenly realm.
Ephesians 6:10-18
10A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 11Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, agains might powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stope the fiery arrows of the devil 17Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. 18Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
That said, I am standing strong, thanking God and praising Him. As I see it, encouraging others becomes a game changer for the enemy. He does not want to see us doing what we are called to do. Encouraging others, spreading the Word of God, standing on the promises, and having the peace that passes understanding are contrary to his nature. I know that regardless of the arrows, God is for me. As I praise Him today, no matter what I see, I know that He gets the glory. Christ has accomplished all that He needed to and this is where we come in, “to stand.” When we have done all else, we stand. The call to be alert is very important. Sometimes we may be looking at one way and not alert to the side ways the enemy comes our way. Resting in Him gives us the spiritual eyes to see! Praise Him!
God is truly faithful, ya’ll. Yes, I went a little southern, country or whatever you want to call it. The strength and power of the Holy Spirit in me is bigger than any outside force. I encourage you all to stand no matter what it looks like. Are you standing today?
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This “Self” is a Hard Pill to Swallow
Self-reliance is a very hard habit to break. I remember when I took the art and humanities class in college and the historical information was about the evolving self. From the beginning of time, the goal of humanity has been to do without God. In the expression of art and humanities such as psychology, the evolution has been to focus on self (our abilities, our mind, our desires, our flesh). “Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation,. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41, NKJV). Jesus found it necessary to remind His disciples. I speak about the flesh today, the natural man who looks to do things his way no matter what. But I also speak to the spirit man of those who know that we can do nothing (no thing) outside of God. What He allows us to do, even when we don’t consider the consequences, is about Him and not us; about us drawing closer to Him, trusting Him, leaning on Him and glorifying Him, not self. There are several Scriptures that come to mind as I write today.
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