Recognizing the Battle

The times we live in are turbulent. No one would disagree. They are tough and for many they are overwhelming on many levels. The Christian has been given an arsenal to use in times like these. We have the Scripture, the Words of Jesus, and the Bible's many promises, ....all given to help succor the inner hope and peace that we need to face life each new day. It is this inner place of the soul that we need to feed with the living presence of God. This is the place we can run to when trials of any sort cross our path.

The Scripture reveals that many times Jesus went off by Himself away from the crowds. Although we are not told, on many of those occasions why, we can surmise it was to commune with the Father. When He was facing the biggest trial of his human life, the crucifixion, He gathered His disciples and He simply said to them, "Sit here while I go and pray over there." Matthew 26:36 (NKJV) Even as the Son of God, He knew there were times when He needed to seek the face of the Father.

Having left us that example, and many others, who are we to say we can face the days trials and the onslaught of principalities and powers without quietly seeking the face of the Father? As a Christian, the weapons of are warfare are many (Eph. 6), but of what good use are they if we are not cognizant of the battle? Think about that for a moment. The only ones who do not prepare for battle are the ones who live as though there is no battle. Yet the Bible is clear that we have an enemy and his desire is to destroy the lives of God's people. Yet many Christians just live by chance each day, and when trial strikes they wonder why God has forsaken them. God never forsakes us, yet we more often than not, do forsake Him. Since trials perfect the believer, in that they temper us to draw more strength from Christ, why not look at them through a different lens. God may simply be trying to get our attention.

The Christian needs strength each day to face the days of bitterness. Recognizing the battle, and pursuing quiet solace with the Lord, are the things that show unto the Lord our dependence upon Him for all things bright and beautiful. The world offers tainted wares that only grow old and less desirous but the mercies of the Lord are new everyday.

Take time today, this week, to meet alone with the Lord. Open your Bible, read, and pray. Let Him take your heart, your life, your family, and all that you have into His care-taking. You will never be sorry you did!

Lord today, I give my family into your arms, and I place every breath they breath at Your feet for safe-keeping. I cannot be around all the time to protect them from danger. But You can. Please accept my honesty and my dependency upon you for this day and for the many to come. Prompt me when I need to be alone with You. Speak to me when I need direction and open my heart to hear your plans and may I be wise enough to say yes, regardless of the world around me. Your love is amazing, and in You alone will I hope.

Through Christ and in Him I pray, Amen.

God Bless you all this blessed day in May!

Bro. Mike

Comments

25 Reasons to Believe - In Jesus FREE EBOOK

FREE EBOOK click to download - When book comes up click down arrow on Upper Right to save a copy . A while back the Barna Group released a report titled, "Six Reasons Young Christians Leave Church." 1 Under reason two, " Teens’ and twenty-somethings’ experience of Christianity is shallow" they write: "A second reason that young people depart church as young adults is that something is lacking in their experience of church. One-third said “church is boring” (31%). One-quarter of these young adults said that “faith is not relevant to my career or interests” (24%) or that “the Bible is not taught clearly or often enough” (23%). Sadly, one-fifth of these young adults who attended a church as a teenager said that “God seems missing from my experience of church” (20%)." If one takes a look at the modern church-scape I can see why. The gap between those pastors and teachers that are fired up about Jesus and those that do not preach all of th

Fornication - The Acceptable Sin?

In the Bible there are several sexual sins that are categorized under the term,"Sexual Immorality." Not the least of these is, "Fornication." However fornication has become an outdated, and in many places, the acceptable sin in the late twentieth and twenty-first centuries. As a matter of fact, many do not even know what the term "fornication" means. Since the advent of the modern Bible translation, many have never heard of it. This article focuses on what the Scripture says about this out-of-control acceptable sin. Fornication is mentioned thirty-six times in the Bible (MT), thirty-two times in the New Testament. In almost all modern translations the word has been substituted with, "sexual immorality" and has come to mean any number of sexual sins. However, sin (missing the mark) is still sin and sin still separates a person from God. So why has this sin become so acceptable even in modern churches???? UPDATE : Here is a testimony of life

The Bride of Christ Has Made Herself Ready!!

The Bible teaches of an upcoming Wedding Day that the Church should be on cloud nine over!! Rev. 19:7-9 states: Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come , and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God." The passage above speaks of two distinct events, the Marriage of the Lamb and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Both of these events are reminiscent of the ancient Jewish wedding ceremony where the Bride would become betrothed to her Groom and he would go away to build her a home. In the meantime she would wait anxiously for his return with shouts from his wedding party of "The Bridegroom Comes!" When the shouts were he

Understanding Grace…without it no one can be saved!

Years ago as a pastor, I faced an issue concerning the topic of “Grace.” I had noticed some congregants who were taking Grace to the extreme and beginning to teach that since our sins were bought and paid for at the cross—all of them, past, present, and future—there was no need to strive against sin. Thanks to our Lord, this was noticed and the He quickly allowed it to be curbed. This heresy occasionally rears its head in Christian circles and indeed must be stopped before it becomes out-of-control. The good thing is that a proper understanding of Grace can arrest the heresy in its steps. Because this false perception thrives in loose living, many well-meaning Christians go completely to the opposite extreme and throw the Biblical teaching of “Grace” out altogether. That too is heresy. How should we approach it? Grace, as a doctrine, should always be presented in its entirety. By that I mean, a starting definition, followed by why it is important, and concluding with keeping it scri

Cardboard Signs and Saying Yes to God

Perhaps you have seen the story of "Daniel's Gloves". It has been floating around the internet since 2001 according to snopes.com. They also tell us the original author is Richard Ryan the assistant Pastor of a Church in Indiana. I refer to this story—which you will find posted below mine—because of the effect that helping one in need can actually have on a believer’s life. One of the things I have done in the past is monitor just how many people there are who simply pass on by those who are holding a sign stating “Will work for food” or “Need Help for me and my children.” If you ask the hurting they will tell you there are literally hundreds and hundreds who just will not help. Truly it is a sad testimony that “one or a few bad apple(s) can spoil a whole bushel.” It is definitely something I also have observed. For some reason we either fear them, fear confrontation or fear being deceived. Whatever the reason, I often wonder how God feels about it. Just a fe

Truth Inspires

Search This Blog