Mark 11:22 says: Do not, under any circumstances allow this world, the flesh, the devil or even certain Christians to rob you of your faith in God and His Word in these last, perilous days."
Regardless of circumstances, what God's Word says and whether you believe that Word is all important!
So why do we keep having trouble with the devil? For the same reason the Israelites had problems with him! We believe the enemy when he pulls his tricks on us! We believe the devil's lies, thereby allowing our problems to become giants in our lives. Then we feel the giants are far too big for us to defeat!
But here's the good news: We don't have to defeat our enemies -- Jesus has already done it for us. Now we simply need to believe THAT more than what the giants say! When we begin to doubt God's promises, we fall into fear and become immobilized!
But speaking of giants, here's a giant surprise for you! Did you know that the enemy we are so afraid of (the devil) is actually afraid of us? Read James 4:7 and you'll realize that the devil is terrorized when he sees we aren't tricked by his lies any more! He's a liar and the father of lies according to John 8:44. And you can tell him that to his face, too! We don't have to be afraid of demons and the devil!
Did you ever have the devil tell you that you weren't important to God? That everyone else will receive from God except you? Hey -- it's time you stop listening to the devil and fight back! Quoting the Word of God to Satan is one of the best ways I know of to defeat him!
My advice for today is to stop listening to the devil and what he says. When he attacks you, use the Word of God as Jesus did. Believe God instead of the devil! Faith in God -- not the devil -- is the key to successful warfare!
Where's your faith -- in God or the devil?
Preacher's Kid
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
I'M STILL HERE
Because it's been almost a week since my last blog, I thought I'd give you an update on what's been going on in my life instead of my usual devotional this time!
Two of our boys drove up from Idaho last Monday and got our storage area completely emptied! (We live in a double wide motor home in a motor court but have a separate storage unit for all that "junk" that most people manage to accumulate over the years! Of course we pay extra for that space!) Rex and his first wife moved to this location in 1993, and we even had some boxes stored there that hadn't been opened since! Those of you who knew Alice will remember that she was an artist -- and that meant pictures, frames, paints, easels and what have you! All in addition to the junk!
The boys took three or four loads of junk to the dump -- had their pickup full! Then there were some things the boys wanted to keep so they took another load of "stuff" home with them! (They were here three days.) They also found time to help Rex make some changes to the walls in the laundry room here at the house as well as in the den. We're so glad to get started on the remodeling we've just talked about before!
Then Rex finally got rid of his 1970 van he had been using for work since 1975! What a relief that is! (And after all these years it still runs!)
You'll never believe this, but the guys found two humongous boxes of greeting cards that Alice had saved through the years! I'm talking about thousands of the things! I went through them all hoping to find a stray dollar or two tucked inside of some of them, but no such luck! The only thing of importance I found was three 21-cent stamps that had never been used! Some of the cards were dated, and the oldest one I found was dated 1924! One of the gals at church makes crafts from used greeting cards, so that's where they will go -- when Rex finishes looking through them. He enjoys the memories they evoke! And I must admit it was interesting to see cards and letters that I had written to Rex and Alice years ago, never dreaming I'd be the one to eventually dispose of them! And some of the cards were from former classmates whom I hadn't thought about in years!
In addition to all that, plus extra cooking, I started anodyne treatments -- three times a week a half hour at a time. And it's a 56-mile round trip each time! The treatments are non-invasive infrared light treatments which are used for diabetic neuropathy as well as sprains, bruises, etc. My research shows that the treatments are highly effective. And after only three treatments, I am able to stand for longer periods of time. So I hope that three more weeks will make a bigger difference, yet.
I can add even more to this update! We have three computers: my laptop, my husband's PC and my PC which I use for these blogs. Since my wrist has been giving me conniptions for a couple months, I've been shying away from the computer as it makes my wrist extremely painful. I assumed it was carpal tunnel syndrome, but the doctor doesn't think so. My physical therapist and I are wondering if maybe it's part of the diabetic neuropathy. I have a special "mouse" I use with my laptop, a mouse with a ball on it so I don't have to move the entire mouse. When I use Rex's computer, I have a special wrist support which helps. But on my PC which I use for these blogs, my space is so cramped I haven't found a way to use the extra wrist support. I guess I complained so much that Rex managed to move things around and actually found a way for me to use that wrist support. So maybe now I can put blogs out more than just once a week!
So now you know where I've been and where I am! I'll try to do better with the Devotionals!
Preacher's Kid
Two of our boys drove up from Idaho last Monday and got our storage area completely emptied! (We live in a double wide motor home in a motor court but have a separate storage unit for all that "junk" that most people manage to accumulate over the years! Of course we pay extra for that space!) Rex and his first wife moved to this location in 1993, and we even had some boxes stored there that hadn't been opened since! Those of you who knew Alice will remember that she was an artist -- and that meant pictures, frames, paints, easels and what have you! All in addition to the junk!
The boys took three or four loads of junk to the dump -- had their pickup full! Then there were some things the boys wanted to keep so they took another load of "stuff" home with them! (They were here three days.) They also found time to help Rex make some changes to the walls in the laundry room here at the house as well as in the den. We're so glad to get started on the remodeling we've just talked about before!
Then Rex finally got rid of his 1970 van he had been using for work since 1975! What a relief that is! (And after all these years it still runs!)
You'll never believe this, but the guys found two humongous boxes of greeting cards that Alice had saved through the years! I'm talking about thousands of the things! I went through them all hoping to find a stray dollar or two tucked inside of some of them, but no such luck! The only thing of importance I found was three 21-cent stamps that had never been used! Some of the cards were dated, and the oldest one I found was dated 1924! One of the gals at church makes crafts from used greeting cards, so that's where they will go -- when Rex finishes looking through them. He enjoys the memories they evoke! And I must admit it was interesting to see cards and letters that I had written to Rex and Alice years ago, never dreaming I'd be the one to eventually dispose of them! And some of the cards were from former classmates whom I hadn't thought about in years!
In addition to all that, plus extra cooking, I started anodyne treatments -- three times a week a half hour at a time. And it's a 56-mile round trip each time! The treatments are non-invasive infrared light treatments which are used for diabetic neuropathy as well as sprains, bruises, etc. My research shows that the treatments are highly effective. And after only three treatments, I am able to stand for longer periods of time. So I hope that three more weeks will make a bigger difference, yet.
I can add even more to this update! We have three computers: my laptop, my husband's PC and my PC which I use for these blogs. Since my wrist has been giving me conniptions for a couple months, I've been shying away from the computer as it makes my wrist extremely painful. I assumed it was carpal tunnel syndrome, but the doctor doesn't think so. My physical therapist and I are wondering if maybe it's part of the diabetic neuropathy. I have a special "mouse" I use with my laptop, a mouse with a ball on it so I don't have to move the entire mouse. When I use Rex's computer, I have a special wrist support which helps. But on my PC which I use for these blogs, my space is so cramped I haven't found a way to use the extra wrist support. I guess I complained so much that Rex managed to move things around and actually found a way for me to use that wrist support. So maybe now I can put blogs out more than just once a week!
So now you know where I've been and where I am! I'll try to do better with the Devotionals!
Preacher's Kid
Monday, June 22, 2009
INTROSPECTION
Those of you who know me are aware of my health problems which include diabetes, osteoporosis and lumbar stenosis (pinched nerve) plus minor ailments which make it difficult for me to get up and down, walk, or stand very long! And I'm writing these blogs on Spiritual Warfare not only to be a blessing to anyone who reads them but also to strengthen my own faith -- for I believe in Divine healing with all my heart! Not because of any church or denominational teaching, but because of what I read in the Word of God. In fact, as far as teaching goes, I was taught that Divine healing for all disappeared with the Apostles. But I would challenge anybody to show me where the Bible teaches that! Let me give you just a FEW reasons I feel so strongly about Divine healing being for all.
First of all I was surprised to learn that the two words in Isaiah 53:4 -- "griefs" and "sorrows" should have been translated "diseases" and "pain". Bible scholars and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance confirm this. Matthew 8:17, in quoting this passage, also applies it to physical disease. "That it might be fulfilled WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY ISAIAH, THE PROPHET, SAYING, He himself took our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses."
Don't get me wrong. Christ died for our sins, not our sicknesses. When on earth, He took away men's sicknesses by healing them! I Peter 2:24 points out this distinction: "Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree" and "by whose stripes ye were healed."
Sickness is simply one of the results of sin, a part of the curse that came on the earth when Adam committed high treason. And Galatians 3:13 states very plainly that "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree." In other words, I'm redeemed from the curse of sickness.
We read over and over in the New Testament that during His earthly walk, Christ healed "ALL" who came to Him. And Hebrews 13:8 says, "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Is He, or is He not the same? Can we believe the Word of God?
I could quote numerous Scriptures about healing, but the one that really opened my eyes to this marvelous provision for our healing is Psalm 103 which starts out by saying, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name." The second verse cautions us not to forget "ALL" his benefits then starts listing some of those benefits in verse 3: "Who forgiveth ALL thine iniquities, who healeth ALL thy diseases."
I wrestled with that Scripture for months. We know that Christ forgives ALL our sins -- not some of them, not most of them, not even 99% of them, but ALL of them. So why do we claim that part of the Scripture but sweep the last part of it under the rug? Pretend it's not there? Pretend it doesn't exist? Pretend it must mean something else? For me the issue became whether or not I believed ALL the Word of God. What right did I have to pick and choose which parts of the Bible I was going to believe? Which parts I was going to lay aside as not being true? It was all or nothing. And if I didn't believe God healed ALL diseases, how could I believe He forgave ALL my sins?
I hope this blog isn't too lengthy. But at least you know where I'm coming from and can understand better why I'm so "hep" on Spiritual Warfare; for I'm convinced it's only through Spiritual Warfare we can gain victory over sickness and disease. And that's my goal!
One other thing. Maybe you're wondering how one can die without being sick. Psalm 103:29b explains something the majority of people overlook: "thou taketh away their breath, they die, and return to their dust." We don't have to be sick in order to die!
I trust this blog has given you something to think about and will help you see that healing is for you, and for me. I've made my case in favor of Divine healing the best I could in the short space alotted.
Preacher's Kid
First of all I was surprised to learn that the two words in Isaiah 53:4 -- "griefs" and "sorrows" should have been translated "diseases" and "pain". Bible scholars and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance confirm this. Matthew 8:17, in quoting this passage, also applies it to physical disease. "That it might be fulfilled WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY ISAIAH, THE PROPHET, SAYING, He himself took our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses."
Don't get me wrong. Christ died for our sins, not our sicknesses. When on earth, He took away men's sicknesses by healing them! I Peter 2:24 points out this distinction: "Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree" and "by whose stripes ye were healed."
Sickness is simply one of the results of sin, a part of the curse that came on the earth when Adam committed high treason. And Galatians 3:13 states very plainly that "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree." In other words, I'm redeemed from the curse of sickness.
We read over and over in the New Testament that during His earthly walk, Christ healed "ALL" who came to Him. And Hebrews 13:8 says, "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Is He, or is He not the same? Can we believe the Word of God?
I could quote numerous Scriptures about healing, but the one that really opened my eyes to this marvelous provision for our healing is Psalm 103 which starts out by saying, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name." The second verse cautions us not to forget "ALL" his benefits then starts listing some of those benefits in verse 3: "Who forgiveth ALL thine iniquities, who healeth ALL thy diseases."
I wrestled with that Scripture for months. We know that Christ forgives ALL our sins -- not some of them, not most of them, not even 99% of them, but ALL of them. So why do we claim that part of the Scripture but sweep the last part of it under the rug? Pretend it's not there? Pretend it doesn't exist? Pretend it must mean something else? For me the issue became whether or not I believed ALL the Word of God. What right did I have to pick and choose which parts of the Bible I was going to believe? Which parts I was going to lay aside as not being true? It was all or nothing. And if I didn't believe God healed ALL diseases, how could I believe He forgave ALL my sins?
I hope this blog isn't too lengthy. But at least you know where I'm coming from and can understand better why I'm so "hep" on Spiritual Warfare; for I'm convinced it's only through Spiritual Warfare we can gain victory over sickness and disease. And that's my goal!
One other thing. Maybe you're wondering how one can die without being sick. Psalm 103:29b explains something the majority of people overlook: "thou taketh away their breath, they die, and return to their dust." We don't have to be sick in order to die!
I trust this blog has given you something to think about and will help you see that healing is for you, and for me. I've made my case in favor of Divine healing the best I could in the short space alotted.
Preacher's Kid
Saturday, June 20, 2009
STAND!!!
Ephesians has a lot to say about Spiritual Warfare. For example, Ephesians 6:13 says: " . . . having done all, to stand." In other words, don't give up. Don't quit. Keep on keeping on, or keep on believing!
That's where faith comes in. Look up the word "faith" in any concordance and see the multitude of Scriptures about "walking by faith", "established in the faith", "being not weak in faith", "live by faith", "the shield of faith", "the steadfastness of your faith", "fight the good fight of faith", "through faith inherit the promises", "full assurance of faith", "the testing of your faith", "overcometh the world, even our faith", and "earnestly contend for the faith".
You need to have faith in your rifle (the Word of God) and its Manufacturer (God Himself). Don't let yourself be moved by physical circumstances, but by the Word and the Word only, no matter how long you may need to "stand" and call "those things which are not, as though they were"! (Romans 4:17b.)
If your faith is weak, follow the admonition of Romans 10:17. "So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." Get God's Word planted in your heart so firmly that you can OVERRIDE all the things your mind and flesh tell you that are contrary to the Word. Know that WHATEVER GOD SAYS ABOUT YOUR SITUATION IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE no matter how out-of-control it may appear in the physical, natural realm. (Romans 4:17b again!) Nothing can defeat you if you really and truly put God first in your life.
Whether you are in the midst of an earthquake, a forest fire, a financial disaster, a medical crisis, a divorce or some other disaster, FIRST ESTABLISH WHAT GOD'S WORD SAYS ABOUT THE SITUATION, then make THAT your point of reference as to what you really believe and how you will act from then on. (Romans 4:17b again!!)
Luke 18:8 warns us that one of the signs of end times is a lack of faith even among Christians. Don't allow yourself to fall into that classification.
Are you going to believe your circumstances and the tricks and lies of the devil (remember, he's a liar and the father of lies according to John 8:44), or are you going to believe the Word of God? "The just shall live by faith." Galatians 3:11.
Remember -- STAND! STAND! STAND! And KEEP ON STANDING!
Preacher's Kid
To be continued.
That's where faith comes in. Look up the word "faith" in any concordance and see the multitude of Scriptures about "walking by faith", "established in the faith", "being not weak in faith", "live by faith", "the shield of faith", "the steadfastness of your faith", "fight the good fight of faith", "through faith inherit the promises", "full assurance of faith", "the testing of your faith", "overcometh the world, even our faith", and "earnestly contend for the faith".
You need to have faith in your rifle (the Word of God) and its Manufacturer (God Himself). Don't let yourself be moved by physical circumstances, but by the Word and the Word only, no matter how long you may need to "stand" and call "those things which are not, as though they were"! (Romans 4:17b.)
If your faith is weak, follow the admonition of Romans 10:17. "So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." Get God's Word planted in your heart so firmly that you can OVERRIDE all the things your mind and flesh tell you that are contrary to the Word. Know that WHATEVER GOD SAYS ABOUT YOUR SITUATION IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE no matter how out-of-control it may appear in the physical, natural realm. (Romans 4:17b again!) Nothing can defeat you if you really and truly put God first in your life.
Whether you are in the midst of an earthquake, a forest fire, a financial disaster, a medical crisis, a divorce or some other disaster, FIRST ESTABLISH WHAT GOD'S WORD SAYS ABOUT THE SITUATION, then make THAT your point of reference as to what you really believe and how you will act from then on. (Romans 4:17b again!!)
Luke 18:8 warns us that one of the signs of end times is a lack of faith even among Christians. Don't allow yourself to fall into that classification.
Are you going to believe your circumstances and the tricks and lies of the devil (remember, he's a liar and the father of lies according to John 8:44), or are you going to believe the Word of God? "The just shall live by faith." Galatians 3:11.
Remember -- STAND! STAND! STAND! And KEEP ON STANDING!
Preacher's Kid
To be continued.
Friday, June 19, 2009
SPIRITUAL -VS- PHYSICAL WARFARE
Yesterday we looked at the similarities between spiritual and physical warfare. However, there is ONE IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE between the two! In physical warfare we see the results of active warfare instantly. In Spiritual Warfare, though, it generally takes time before we see results with our natural eyes. And that's where many people get discouraged and give up the battle.
Most of us have a lifetime of faulty habit patterns that often that disagree with God's pattern. When that happens, guess who's going to have to change! It sure isn't God. So that means it's you and me who have to make some changes in our lives -- and change is never easy! That also takes time! When we find ourselves in that situation, we need the help of the Holy Spirit daily to apply God's Word (our weapon) CONSISTENTLY to whatever the problem may be.
In physical wafare, when you shoot a rifle, you see the results immediately. But not so in Spiritual Warfare! In Spiritual Warfare we must depend entirely upon what the Manufacturer's Handbook (the Bible) says will happen when we shoot our spiritual weapon. That's what we call Faith!
A good example is James 4:7. "Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Since you can't physically see the devil fleeing, you have to believe with complete faith and confidence that when you resist the enemy in the spiritual realm, that is EXACTLY what he does!
You may not FEEL as though he is fleeing, the problem may still exist (and even be worse), but this is where we must BELIEVE GOD'S WORD MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE! This is where Romans 4:17b comes into the picture: "calleth those things which are not, as though they were." (Read the entire story of Abraham's faith as given in Romans 4:13-21.)
Note that the Scripture in James 4:7 doesn't say you have to FEEL good, better, or different to prove that your rifle worked and that the devil is running away from you. No. The only requirement it demands is that you "submit yourselves, therefore, to God." You MUST meet that condition before you can expect the devil to flee.
Take inventory of your life. Is it free from sin? Is Jesus Lord of your life? Are you under the control of the Holy Spirit? Are you living according to God's will? Are you praying? Reading the Word of God?
If you are submitted to God, if your heart doesn't condemn you, you can have total confidence that your rifle hit the target where you aimed it and that the devil is fleeing from you. I John 3:21, 22 says, "Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight."
Satan will come to you with all kinds of suggestions to make you doubt God's Word. But this is the time to doubt your doubts and believe the Word of God.
More tomorrow!
Preacher's Kid
Most of us have a lifetime of faulty habit patterns that often that disagree with God's pattern. When that happens, guess who's going to have to change! It sure isn't God. So that means it's you and me who have to make some changes in our lives -- and change is never easy! That also takes time! When we find ourselves in that situation, we need the help of the Holy Spirit daily to apply God's Word (our weapon) CONSISTENTLY to whatever the problem may be.
In physical wafare, when you shoot a rifle, you see the results immediately. But not so in Spiritual Warfare! In Spiritual Warfare we must depend entirely upon what the Manufacturer's Handbook (the Bible) says will happen when we shoot our spiritual weapon. That's what we call Faith!
A good example is James 4:7. "Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Since you can't physically see the devil fleeing, you have to believe with complete faith and confidence that when you resist the enemy in the spiritual realm, that is EXACTLY what he does!
You may not FEEL as though he is fleeing, the problem may still exist (and even be worse), but this is where we must BELIEVE GOD'S WORD MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE! This is where Romans 4:17b comes into the picture: "calleth those things which are not, as though they were." (Read the entire story of Abraham's faith as given in Romans 4:13-21.)
Note that the Scripture in James 4:7 doesn't say you have to FEEL good, better, or different to prove that your rifle worked and that the devil is running away from you. No. The only requirement it demands is that you "submit yourselves, therefore, to God." You MUST meet that condition before you can expect the devil to flee.
Take inventory of your life. Is it free from sin? Is Jesus Lord of your life? Are you under the control of the Holy Spirit? Are you living according to God's will? Are you praying? Reading the Word of God?
If you are submitted to God, if your heart doesn't condemn you, you can have total confidence that your rifle hit the target where you aimed it and that the devil is fleeing from you. I John 3:21, 22 says, "Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight."
Satan will come to you with all kinds of suggestions to make you doubt God's Word. But this is the time to doubt your doubts and believe the Word of God.
More tomorrow!
Preacher's Kid
Thursday, June 18, 2009
SPIRITUAL & PHYSICAL WARFARE
The Church, as a whole, has gotten away from Spiritual Warfare, has forgotten what it is, and has forgotten the importance of using it. The very phrase, "Spiritual Warfare" has almost disappeared from ecclesiastical language.
But Ephesians 6:12 has not disappeared from the Word of God. "For we wrestle 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."
What is Spiritual Warfare? Simply defined, it is warfare conducted in the spiritual realm just as physical warfare is warfare conducted in the physical or natural realm. And the two kinds of warfare have much in common.
"Flesh and blood," as mentioned in the foregoing Scripture refer to physical warfare. "Principalities, powers", etc. refer to Spiritual Warfare. (I'm capitalizing "Spiritual Warfare" as that is what I want to blog about a few times.)
In natural warfare, a soldier's rifle is the most important part of his equipment. His very life depends upon it. It is his protection; it helps him drive back the enemy. He must have absolute confidence in his rifle. He must know how to use it, how to care for it. He must be thoroughly familiar with the manufacturer's handbook for instruction.
Can you see the striking similarity to Spiritual Warfare? The Christian's "rifle" in Spiritual Warfare is his faith in God's Word, the Bible, which is "the sword of the Spirit", as Ephesians 6:17 points out. "And take the . . . sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." To be successful in Spiritual Warfare, one must have absolute, unshakable, unwavering faith in God's Word, and be thoroughly familiar with the Manufacturer's Handbook [the Bible] for instruction.
God has provided for our every need, BUT IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY to meet the conditions necessary for the proper use of our weapon! So the bottom line for Christians is to understand that they MUST BELIEVE GOD'S WORD MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE if they want to wage successful Spiritual Warfare.
Satan is running rampant in a last desperate attempt to deceive even God's children. We must stop playing games and get serious about Spiritual Warfare.
May these few thoughts be enough to get you thinking about the seriousness of Spiritual Warfare.
More on this subject in blogs to come.
Preacher's Kid
But Ephesians 6:12 has not disappeared from the Word of God. "For we wrestle 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."
What is Spiritual Warfare? Simply defined, it is warfare conducted in the spiritual realm just as physical warfare is warfare conducted in the physical or natural realm. And the two kinds of warfare have much in common.
"Flesh and blood," as mentioned in the foregoing Scripture refer to physical warfare. "Principalities, powers", etc. refer to Spiritual Warfare. (I'm capitalizing "Spiritual Warfare" as that is what I want to blog about a few times.)
In natural warfare, a soldier's rifle is the most important part of his equipment. His very life depends upon it. It is his protection; it helps him drive back the enemy. He must have absolute confidence in his rifle. He must know how to use it, how to care for it. He must be thoroughly familiar with the manufacturer's handbook for instruction.
Can you see the striking similarity to Spiritual Warfare? The Christian's "rifle" in Spiritual Warfare is his faith in God's Word, the Bible, which is "the sword of the Spirit", as Ephesians 6:17 points out. "And take the . . . sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." To be successful in Spiritual Warfare, one must have absolute, unshakable, unwavering faith in God's Word, and be thoroughly familiar with the Manufacturer's Handbook [the Bible] for instruction.
God has provided for our every need, BUT IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY to meet the conditions necessary for the proper use of our weapon! So the bottom line for Christians is to understand that they MUST BELIEVE GOD'S WORD MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE if they want to wage successful Spiritual Warfare.
Satan is running rampant in a last desperate attempt to deceive even God's children. We must stop playing games and get serious about Spiritual Warfare.
May these few thoughts be enough to get you thinking about the seriousness of Spiritual Warfare.
More on this subject in blogs to come.
Preacher's Kid
Monday, June 8, 2009
FEAR NOT
I read somewhere (a long time ago) that the phrase "Fear Not" appears in Scripture 365 times -- once for each day of the year. I have never tried to count them to see if that is true or not, but I do know I sure could have used a daily dose of Fear Nots lately.
Starting with Easter Sunday through the end of May, I found myself in the emergency room at the hospital three times. 911 transported me twice and my husband got me there the last time. First it was high blood pressure, then dehydration and an infection. Add to that vertigo, loss of appetite, shakiness and extremes of hot and cold. (To say nothing about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome which makes it extremely difficult to use the computer -- even with a special "mouse".) The doctors kept telling me my blood work was normal, the lab tests were normal, and the Xrays were clear.
In the meantime my imagination ran wild, and that's where I needed some of those daily Fear Nots. I hung on to Isaiah 41:13 which I quoted from The Message right after Mother's Day and also Isaiah 41:10 -- "Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee; yea,I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."
Those two promises saw me through. And today, June 8, finds me OK and sitting in our motor home in Idaho in one of our son's back yard. You see, his oldest daughter just graduated from high school and we drove down for the occasion.
I'm still curious, though, about those Fear Nots. Do you suppose there really are 365 of them? Let me know, if you figure it out!
Preacher's Kid
Starting with Easter Sunday through the end of May, I found myself in the emergency room at the hospital three times. 911 transported me twice and my husband got me there the last time. First it was high blood pressure, then dehydration and an infection. Add to that vertigo, loss of appetite, shakiness and extremes of hot and cold. (To say nothing about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome which makes it extremely difficult to use the computer -- even with a special "mouse".) The doctors kept telling me my blood work was normal, the lab tests were normal, and the Xrays were clear.
In the meantime my imagination ran wild, and that's where I needed some of those daily Fear Nots. I hung on to Isaiah 41:13 which I quoted from The Message right after Mother's Day and also Isaiah 41:10 -- "Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee; yea,I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."
Those two promises saw me through. And today, June 8, finds me OK and sitting in our motor home in Idaho in one of our son's back yard. You see, his oldest daughter just graduated from high school and we drove down for the occasion.
I'm still curious, though, about those Fear Nots. Do you suppose there really are 365 of them? Let me know, if you figure it out!
Preacher's Kid
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