Skip to main content

going into battle [+] Wednesday E-Devotion

This past weekend I shared a message with The Community about mistakes.  I have made some in my 37 years of living.  Yet I have found that we serve an awesome and forgiving God.  Can you high five me on that one?  God is good.
 
One of the things that we don't do very well, as Christians, is realize that much of our daily battle is spiritual.  It is true.  Satan wants to distract us, and he does a darn good job at it.  He wants to either make sure we never get saved, or if we are saved, he wants our attention off of God.  Have you experienced that?  I have.
 
Let's set some thoughts on this subject:
 
Ephesians 6:12 (nlt) --- For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
 
Ephesians 6:13 (nlt) --- Therefore, 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.
 
1 John 2:16 (nlt) --- For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
 
Not every battle is a spiritual one, but every battle has a spiritual side and spiritual consequences.  Yet I believe we would be surprised at the number of battles and things we deal with that are spiritual in nature.  Again, Satan is seeking our attention.  He wants our minds and living taken off of God.  Look at those verses again.  What can we do?
 
The first step, confess there is something going on... I have a problem ...I am going through a spiritual battle, and the people and problems aren't my problem.
 
The second step, take the stuff that God has given you and put it on... I need God ..Bible verses, spiritual truth and experience, prayer and God given strength.
 
The third step, trust God no matter what... You are my God ..let His peace stand above everything else.
 
John 14:27 (nlt) --- Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
 
By the way, those three steps are the end all of end alls of spiritual battle.  They are just three things that God has reminded me about this week.  Friends, we need God.  Plain and simple.  We are lost with Him.  Going into battle without God is stupid.
 
Yep, I used the "s" word.  Stupid is as stupid does, Forrest Gump would say.  Trying to live on your own and do battle by yourself is stupid and wrong.  God has given us what we need to thrive and succeed.
 
God is working it all out.  Do we trust Him?  Are we going into battle with Him?  By ourselves, we loose.  With Him, we win.
 
Romans 8:37 (nlt) --- But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns.  One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns.  When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her.  Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns.  Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved.  Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?"  Beverly said, "Why yes I do."  Edith said, "Well, what do you

why is it Good Friday?

  Holy Week is the time we focus on God and His gift of salvation.  We come to Friday.  The day we remember the cross, Jesus’ death and all God has done for you and me   Why do they call this day “Good Friday” because it doesn’t seems good?   Jesus was treated as a criminal.  He was beaten so much that He could not recognize Him.  His pain would have been too much for you or me to endure.  That is especially from Scripture I’ve read or as in the movie the  Passion of the Christ .   Yet it is a good day.  It is Good Friday because God had our good in His heart.  What Jesus did that day changed our forever direction. Here are some thoughts that come to me:   He is Redemption and Redeemer   He too our Pain and Punishment   He is our Righteousness and Reality   He is the Savior and Life   All of those happened from the cross.  It was meant for the worst lawbreakers.  It was not meant for a Savior who never broke a law.  It was lifted high so that onlookers could see the price Jesus.   Look

Day 8 in Cuba

We have just come off and incredible weekend, and it is day 8 of the mission trip in Cuba.  Thank you to all who have been praying for this trip, the mission team and the impact it will have on those we serve.   Please don’t stop praying. Last week Alex and I served with a mission team in the mountains of southern Cuba.  There were several challenges, but God gave us safety, provision and opportunity to serve some of the sweetest people I have ever met.  No running water… sporadic electricity generated by a small, logo dammed up river, no transportation other than animals, limited food sources and more.  These people love the Lord and sharing their faith with others. Over the weekend we made our way back to Havana.  On Friday our vehicle broke down leaving us on the side of the road for several hours.  We then boarded a bus and rode 14 hours.  We arrived safely and even got some rest. Sunday was so, so good.  We visited two partner churches.  In the morning we were with one church that