Resist Escape Search Plead Overtake
In this life we are wrestling so much more than we perceive with our eyes. God warns us that we are wrestling against principalities and powers. (Col 2:15) But do not fear, for it is through the cross that Jesus fully disarmed the power of the enemy. (Col 2:8-15)
The enemy no longer has the bullets but likes to brandish his gun in the hopes of bluffing us into accepting a defeat that isn't ours.
When we choose to sin or believe his lie, then you are yielding control and giving him ground. Wait....don't stop reading there. For we have hope! As we repent and believe the truth, he loses that control.
When we bow in prayer and ask God to be Lord over our lives and to occupy the former areas with His Spirit and Word, then we are bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. (2Chron 10:5)
When we renew our hearts with His then we are able to love Him with all our hearts, all our mind, all our soul, and all our strength.
So keep advancing.....Jesus has won the victory all we have to do is choose to stand in it!
Be strong my friends.... though the path may be narrow, it is filled with great peace and joy.
your companion in this walk
Monday, October 31, 2016
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Appeal by Faith
Resist Escape Search Plead
Our fourth journey is plead. Plead (appeal by faith) the blood of Jesus when we go to Him, admit our sin, and ask for His forgiveness.
We are human and sometimes we allow emotion to tell us a lie that just cannot be true no matter how we let it rule our hearts. God is ALWAYS faithful to forgive us when we ask and to wash us clean.
We must learn to rest in that! Forgiven believers who don't believe they are forgiven, will not act like believers. Does that make sense? What I am saying is this.... if we allow our feelings of failure or apology rule our hearts instead of allowing God's forgiveness to come in and cleanse us, then it is oh so easy to say, "well I messed up already anyways" and continue along a path you really don't want to be on.
God has said you are forgiven, so do not all Him a liar in your heart by believing you are not. Just as the Lord instructed Peter, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean" (Acts 10:15).
Yes we fall and we fail.... I, myself, am rather exceptional at it. But in spite of it all, God loves me, sees my repentant heart, and washes me clean. IF I accept that forgiveness, then He can continue to work in me, grow me, and strengthen me to continue on the path that He has chosen for me.
So remember my friends the very old hymn, there is power in the blood, and pick your head up, smile, and rest in the forgiveness that is yours.
love and hugs to you all.....
Our fourth journey is plead. Plead (appeal by faith) the blood of Jesus when we go to Him, admit our sin, and ask for His forgiveness.
We are human and sometimes we allow emotion to tell us a lie that just cannot be true no matter how we let it rule our hearts. God is ALWAYS faithful to forgive us when we ask and to wash us clean.
We must learn to rest in that! Forgiven believers who don't believe they are forgiven, will not act like believers. Does that make sense? What I am saying is this.... if we allow our feelings of failure or apology rule our hearts instead of allowing God's forgiveness to come in and cleanse us, then it is oh so easy to say, "well I messed up already anyways" and continue along a path you really don't want to be on.
God has said you are forgiven, so do not all Him a liar in your heart by believing you are not. Just as the Lord instructed Peter, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean" (Acts 10:15).
Yes we fall and we fail.... I, myself, am rather exceptional at it. But in spite of it all, God loves me, sees my repentant heart, and washes me clean. IF I accept that forgiveness, then He can continue to work in me, grow me, and strengthen me to continue on the path that He has chosen for me.
So remember my friends the very old hymn, there is power in the blood, and pick your head up, smile, and rest in the forgiveness that is yours.
love and hugs to you all.....
Thursday, October 13, 2016
Looking at Self
Here we go with the third part.....
Resist Escape Search
We must always search out unconfessed sin. Yuccckkk.... can't say I even like how that starts out.
Let's be honest. None of us "likes" to admit any wrong on our part. It isn't pleasant, it doesn't feel good, and we just plain ol' don't like to do it.
I stopped to allow God to be brutally honest with me (not high on my list of favorite activities) and I discovered much about myself. I like to think myself better than I am. Well who doesn't? I much prefer to paint a pretty picture of what I want to believe I am like and what I do than to sit with a humble heart and allow God to hold a mirror to show my true heart.
You know the true heart I am talking about. That place in your heart that you guard and protect. That place that no one, not even your closest friend, husband, family knows of. That place that God and God alone see's.
You know what He is revealing to me? This True Heart is the very seat of my relationship with Him, the core of my faith, the truest measure of my obedience to Him, and the clearest reflection of who I believe I am in Christ.
THIS IS A SCARY PLACE! Not a fearful place but intimidating to allow falsehoods to fall from your eyes, peer deep into your heart through the eyes of One who see's it all and loves you completely not in spite of but rather because of what He alone sees.
Did you see how my mind and nature took me immediately to all the wrong that He would find there? But God see's ALL of me.... ALL of you..... ALL of each of us. The ONLY thing that can separate us is those sins that we allow to go free and not repent of.
So here I sit, taking them out, one by one, ashamed to my core but finding the richest mercy and grace that words cannot explain. As much as my heart longs to share this utter peace, mercy that courses through, I just can't. It can only be experienced. It can only come when we allow ourselves to admit the wrong, turn from it, and give it all to God.
So don't be like me and shrink from God's searching but rather invite Him to come in and search your heart today. Don't waste a minute! Run to Him, and there find healing and rest for your weary heart.
Much love my friends.... so much love for each of you....
Resist Escape Search
We must always search out unconfessed sin. Yuccckkk.... can't say I even like how that starts out.
Let's be honest. None of us "likes" to admit any wrong on our part. It isn't pleasant, it doesn't feel good, and we just plain ol' don't like to do it.
I stopped to allow God to be brutally honest with me (not high on my list of favorite activities) and I discovered much about myself. I like to think myself better than I am. Well who doesn't? I much prefer to paint a pretty picture of what I want to believe I am like and what I do than to sit with a humble heart and allow God to hold a mirror to show my true heart.
You know the true heart I am talking about. That place in your heart that you guard and protect. That place that no one, not even your closest friend, husband, family knows of. That place that God and God alone see's.
You know what He is revealing to me? This True Heart is the very seat of my relationship with Him, the core of my faith, the truest measure of my obedience to Him, and the clearest reflection of who I believe I am in Christ.
THIS IS A SCARY PLACE! Not a fearful place but intimidating to allow falsehoods to fall from your eyes, peer deep into your heart through the eyes of One who see's it all and loves you completely not in spite of but rather because of what He alone sees.
Did you see how my mind and nature took me immediately to all the wrong that He would find there? But God see's ALL of me.... ALL of you..... ALL of each of us. The ONLY thing that can separate us is those sins that we allow to go free and not repent of.
So here I sit, taking them out, one by one, ashamed to my core but finding the richest mercy and grace that words cannot explain. As much as my heart longs to share this utter peace, mercy that courses through, I just can't. It can only be experienced. It can only come when we allow ourselves to admit the wrong, turn from it, and give it all to God.
So don't be like me and shrink from God's searching but rather invite Him to come in and search your heart today. Don't waste a minute! Run to Him, and there find healing and rest for your weary heart.
Much love my friends.... so much love for each of you....
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Punch in the Face
Let's continue our defense by proceeding on to the next step.....
Resist Escape
Today we learn about escape. This is a bit of a new one to me. You see, in my mind, escape means that the responsibility for the temptation / trial has been taken off of me. Hmmmmm.... not quite the case. In thinking back, that was kind of silly of me....
We escape by means of God's Word. Scripture. 1 Corinthians 10:13 shows God's promise to provide a way of escape. And He did!
Just look at the life of Christ. Every time He was tempted, He would raise his shield of faith and cut down Satan with the sword of the Spirit by quoting the word of God. Ephesians 6:17
Wow...not sure why I keep forgetting that I have fully loaded, never ending magazine (the Bible) with which to shoot the enemy down.
What if the thoughts that are being brought to you are telling you that you are unloved? You will fail? We simply pick up the gun, aim, point, and fire!
"God proved His love for me when Christ died for me" Romans 5:8
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13
There we have it... block, counter, kick, and a PUNCH TO THE FACE! So take that!!
If you would like a list of Spiritual Ammo..... just give me a shout and I would be happy to share that with each of you....
Now go out there, resist/escape, and live a life filled with the peace of God!!
Bye for now my friends......
Resist Escape
Today we learn about escape. This is a bit of a new one to me. You see, in my mind, escape means that the responsibility for the temptation / trial has been taken off of me. Hmmmmm.... not quite the case. In thinking back, that was kind of silly of me....
We escape by means of God's Word. Scripture. 1 Corinthians 10:13 shows God's promise to provide a way of escape. And He did!
Just look at the life of Christ. Every time He was tempted, He would raise his shield of faith and cut down Satan with the sword of the Spirit by quoting the word of God. Ephesians 6:17
Wow...not sure why I keep forgetting that I have fully loaded, never ending magazine (the Bible) with which to shoot the enemy down.
What if the thoughts that are being brought to you are telling you that you are unloved? You will fail? We simply pick up the gun, aim, point, and fire!
"God proved His love for me when Christ died for me" Romans 5:8
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13
There we have it... block, counter, kick, and a PUNCH TO THE FACE! So take that!!
If you would like a list of Spiritual Ammo..... just give me a shout and I would be happy to share that with each of you....
Now go out there, resist/escape, and live a life filled with the peace of God!!
Bye for now my friends......
Monday, October 3, 2016
Not going to take it
Let's begin our biblically based battle plan to help us strategically respond to a personal attack of the enemy.....
R - Resist
James 4:7 Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
This is one of the best strategies to use any time you are tempted to fear, live in condemnation, discouragement, even when lies are trying to take your heart captive.
Sometimes we just have to remember that we do not have to sit back and take the darts that are being thrown at us! Those taunts, barbs, mind games....we do not have to accept them into our minds and hearts.
Jesus didn't accept the taunts.... He pushed back and so can we! In Matthew 4:10 He told him to go away and in Mark 8:33 He told him to get behind him. When we are faced with temptations we can do the same thing by standing in the authority of Christ's name.
The name of Jesus is above every name. Let's not forget that it is His name that is holy and saves us. God's identity, character and reputation stand behind Jesus' name. So when we are confronted it is as simple as saying "go away Satan in Jesus' name," or "Father, in Jesus' name, I ask you to rebuke Satan."
Remember, this is the name of authority and Satan must bow to it and flee!!
So when you are tempted and pushed today, do a little pushing back! We aren't to stand there and take it!!!
R - Resist
James 4:7 Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
This is one of the best strategies to use any time you are tempted to fear, live in condemnation, discouragement, even when lies are trying to take your heart captive.
Sometimes we just have to remember that we do not have to sit back and take the darts that are being thrown at us! Those taunts, barbs, mind games....we do not have to accept them into our minds and hearts.
Jesus didn't accept the taunts.... He pushed back and so can we! In Matthew 4:10 He told him to go away and in Mark 8:33 He told him to get behind him. When we are faced with temptations we can do the same thing by standing in the authority of Christ's name.
The name of Jesus is above every name. Let's not forget that it is His name that is holy and saves us. God's identity, character and reputation stand behind Jesus' name. So when we are confronted it is as simple as saying "go away Satan in Jesus' name," or "Father, in Jesus' name, I ask you to rebuke Satan."
Remember, this is the name of authority and Satan must bow to it and flee!!
So when you are tempted and pushed today, do a little pushing back! We aren't to stand there and take it!!!
Saturday, October 1, 2016
Praying Defensively - RESPOND
Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11
We, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, are equipped with everything needed for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3) but many of us are not ready when the enemy attacks.
Why is that? Way too many times we live defeated in one or more areas of our lives.
We have been given all we need to come against the enemy and be victorious! Do not be fooled into thinking your battle is always with a person or an entity.
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
We, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, are equipped with everything needed for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3) but many of us are not ready when the enemy attacks.
Why is that? Way too many times we live defeated in one or more areas of our lives.
We have been given all we need to come against the enemy and be victorious! Do not be fooled into thinking your battle is always with a person or an entity.
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Knowing that spiritual warfare is taking place all around us daily, we must "take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit" Ephesians 6:16-18
So let's take a stroll and see how we can bring this about in our lives by using a simple acronym; RESPOND.
Resist Escape Search Plead Overtake Name Delight.....
The next few days we will travel the road of developing a battle plan for prayer based upon biblically sound truths so that we can strategically respond to a personal attack of the enemy.
Until tomorrow friends......
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