There is a new book out called "Grow a Pair." Crass, I know. The whole premise of the book is to shake off the victim mentality and grow up. Take responsibility for your actions, your future and your life. Stop whining and start making something happen.
Well, alrighty then! I didn't know it was all so cut and dry. Just suck it up? Gees, why didn't you tell me sooner?
But the truth is it isn't that simple. Making it through life with confidence isn't as easy as saying the words. I am all for not being a victim, don't get me wrong. Playing the role of a victim isn't flattering. It doesn't look good on anyone. It doesn't wear well over the long haul. Yet, in all of our human gumption, we will fail to throw off the clock of victimhood if we are trying to do it on our own.
We have to claim victory. We have to be overcomes and there is only One sure-fire way to do that. There is only One person who can be triumphant in all circumstances.
Romans 8:37 says, "In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."
It doesn't say, "you are more than a conquerer because you decided to stop whining." Or, "you are more than a conqueror because you grew a pair." (pardon my crassness, again). And it doesn't say, "you are more than a conqueror because you are one of the strong people." No, no and no! You aren't truly victorious in this life because of anything you have done. You can't earn your own victory. You can't win your battle on your own. You, without Christ, are not taking home the gold.
But, dear friend, there is hope for you. There is a path to victory. As the new self-help book says, there is a way to take back control of your life, business and sanity. The blueprint isn't found in any psychiatrist or mentors latest best seller. They might have some great tips on how to manage your finances or deal with your child's latest outburst but the best they can provide are mere bandage for a broken leg. They aren't truly fixing anything. They are simply covering it up at best. How long can you limp along on a fractured life? You might have a high pain tolerance - something I don't claim to have. Maybe you can go for a long time and even excel on crutches. But there is no true victory there.
The victory comes through salvation in Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth and the life. The ONLY way. The ONLY truth. The only LIFE. All other avenues to success are fraudulent. They are dead ends and no outlet streets. They don't lead to a triumphant end.
Through faith in Jesus Christ your smallest stumbling blocks and your greatest obstacles are already overcome. They are trampled under the feet of your Conqueror. For us, our life circumstances might look like a challenge but to Him they are the beginning of a great success story. He doesn't see all the possible problems and difficulties that lie in our path. He sees the gold metal at the end of the finish line. He sees the honor and glory that will be to His name when He is proclaimed the winner.
You are not a victim. You are a victor. Not by anything that you have done or any wisdom you have attained. You can claim the victory because Jesus has come to win the gold for you. He laid down his life so that you could have one. He carries your burdens so that he can make them beautiful. He overcomes your difficulties so that He can show His majesty. Through faith in Jesus Christ you have been released from your chains of victimhood and released into the freedom of victory.
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Friday, September 20, 2013
DOMS
Depending on my own stamina...
I am weak...
I am frail...
I fall down and I'm slow to get up....
I'm quick to anger and slow to forgive....
I'm a terrible listener and far too forgetful....
I'm self-centered and self-involved....
I lack humility but have an abundance of pride....
I am a liar and a cheat...
I am a lover of money, a pursuer of all things material....
I am disobedient and rebellious....
I want to quit early and come in late...
I am lustful and envious...
I am easily frustrated....
I curse, steal and deceive...
I am short on love but long on judgement...
But God has broken me.
He has broken my stamina and destroyed my self-reliance. He has taken my self-dependence and stomped on it with His mighty strength. He has revealed my sinful ways. He has shined a light on the darkness of my heart. He has crushed my rebellion and called out my disobedience.
He loves me that much.
His love is so great that He wouldn't let me wander lost. He came and found me. He had to pull me off my path of destruction. But he went out of His way so He could do that just that. He grabbed my arm, captured my soul and showed me the disastrous life I was living. He showed me how a life devoid of Him was no life at all. It was going through the motions, but it wasn't living. It was just making it, not thriving. Without him my life was doomed, with no hope of an eternity in heaven, no future beyond the grave. Without His saving grace I was nothing but a lousy sinner. Period, end of story.
But with Him, my worst became His best. My darkest corners became filled with brightest of light - His light. The ugliest parts of my soul became beautiful. He transformed me. He took me upon His shoulders because I was too weak to carry myself. I could never make myself holy. I couldn't make myself whole. Only through Christ could salvation of my soul be found.
Now I am a new creation. I am restored and rebuilt. I am nothing like the girl I used to be and I'm not yet the woman I am destined to become. But God is doing a continual work in my heart. He is constantly refining me to become more like Him and less like the sinful mess I used to be.
Depending on my Savior I am forgiven...
I am free...
I am filled with His love...
I am living by grace...
I am walking by faith...
I am calling on the Lord for my patience...
I am asking God to teach me forgiveness and mercy...
I am learning to listen...
I am releasing my judgements and frustrations...
I am focusing on Jesus Christ...
I am praying to be filled with the Holy Spirit...
I am choosing obedience...
I am searching God's heart and His wisdom...
I am speaking the words of truth...
I am reading the promises of God...
I am surrounding myself with beauty and light...
Only through Christ. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit. Only by the Almighty Hand of God.
Only by Depending On My Savior.
I am weak...
I am frail...
I fall down and I'm slow to get up....
I'm quick to anger and slow to forgive....
I'm a terrible listener and far too forgetful....
I'm self-centered and self-involved....
I lack humility but have an abundance of pride....
I am a liar and a cheat...
I am a lover of money, a pursuer of all things material....
I am disobedient and rebellious....
I want to quit early and come in late...
I am lustful and envious...
I am easily frustrated....
I curse, steal and deceive...
I am short on love but long on judgement...
But God has broken me.
He has broken my stamina and destroyed my self-reliance. He has taken my self-dependence and stomped on it with His mighty strength. He has revealed my sinful ways. He has shined a light on the darkness of my heart. He has crushed my rebellion and called out my disobedience.
He loves me that much.
His love is so great that He wouldn't let me wander lost. He came and found me. He had to pull me off my path of destruction. But he went out of His way so He could do that just that. He grabbed my arm, captured my soul and showed me the disastrous life I was living. He showed me how a life devoid of Him was no life at all. It was going through the motions, but it wasn't living. It was just making it, not thriving. Without him my life was doomed, with no hope of an eternity in heaven, no future beyond the grave. Without His saving grace I was nothing but a lousy sinner. Period, end of story.
But with Him, my worst became His best. My darkest corners became filled with brightest of light - His light. The ugliest parts of my soul became beautiful. He transformed me. He took me upon His shoulders because I was too weak to carry myself. I could never make myself holy. I couldn't make myself whole. Only through Christ could salvation of my soul be found.
Now I am a new creation. I am restored and rebuilt. I am nothing like the girl I used to be and I'm not yet the woman I am destined to become. But God is doing a continual work in my heart. He is constantly refining me to become more like Him and less like the sinful mess I used to be.
Depending on my Savior I am forgiven...
I am free...
I am filled with His love...
I am living by grace...
I am walking by faith...
I am calling on the Lord for my patience...
I am asking God to teach me forgiveness and mercy...
I am learning to listen...
I am releasing my judgements and frustrations...
I am focusing on Jesus Christ...
I am praying to be filled with the Holy Spirit...
I am choosing obedience...
I am searching God's heart and His wisdom...
I am speaking the words of truth...
I am reading the promises of God...
I am surrounding myself with beauty and light...
Only through Christ. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit. Only by the Almighty Hand of God.
Only by Depending On My Savior.
Use it or lose it
The principle of use it or lose it is well known and universally believed in the fitness world. When you stop physical training, no matter how fit you are, you are going to lose your capacity to perform at the levels you once could. In one study, fit individuals (people who had a steady routine of working out for a year plus) were told to quit their workout program so that their decline in capability could be measured. Within three months they couldn't even perform half of their previous aerobic capacity. What it took a year to build, it took only three months to destroy.
It is undeniable, when you quit challenging your muscles they quit showing up. When you don't use them they will, inevitably, be lost.
I found this out the hard way when my treatments by my chiropractor sidelined me from any physical activity. From dead-lifts to vacuuming, my orders were no physical exercise - except walking. All I was allowed to do was walk to my hearts content. In fact, walking was prescribed and encouraged. It would be good for the flared muscle in my leg, the chiropractor told me. This was a prescription I was happy to fill. I walked to my hearts content and then some. I walked Pippy everyday without fail. My walking muscle was and is in great shape.
Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for my fitness capabilities in any other area. I couldn't lift the smallest of weights in the gym for any more than a few reps. My ability to run was beyond pathetic. Doing squats - even with just my body weight - made me fatigued before I even finished the first set. I had lost all of the muscle I had once worked so hard for. I wasn't able to use it for over a year and in return I lost it.
When I stepped back into a gym, grasping the light five pound weights, the task ahead looked daunting and frankly, embarrassing. My arms and legs looked like sticks. I was starting from scratch. But slowly and surely I was able to build some endurance and strength back into my little body. I had to start small, but by sticking to a routine again I was able to see progress. I simply had to start challenging the muscles.
This morning you may be feeling weak and out of shape - and I don't just mean physically. Spiritually you may be feeling dry. Maybe it has been a while since you've worked anything out with God. Your spiritual muscle may be flabby or nonexistent. Let me give you a word of encouragement: you can get it back in shape.
There is no quick fix to a flabby muscle, be it a bicep, tricep, or hamstring. The same goes for your spiritual muscle. To rebuild, or to start the building process for the very first time, you have to push through the embarrassment of weakness, the difficulty of getting into a routine and the discomfort that comes from challenging yourself in a new way. When you begin the task ahead it will look daunting. But be encouraged, the muscle can and will respond! You just need to keep coming to the table, keep coming to the gym, to stimulate the muscles.
To retrain your spiritual muscle it will take time in God's word - more time than just a Sunday morning or mid-week Bible study. Daily, regular Bible reading is the only way to truly get to know God's word and strengthen your scriptural knowledge muscle. This muscle holds fast to the promises of God, knows the truths and scriptures and is able to combat the attacks of the devil by using the words of God as a weapon. You need this muscle.
Your spiritual muscles need to bathed in prayer. Through prayer you become in tune with the guiding of the Holy Spirit. There is no way to explain what it is like to be filled with God, it goes beyond mere words. It is an indwelling that takes you soaring to new heights and gives you a peace that overcomes all of your circumstances. Prayer is our connection with this power. We are able to come to our Father and lay down our burdens. Through prayer we become filled with more of His love.
Possibly the hardest part of training the spirit for me personally is spending quiet time with God. This should be easy, right? Just silence yourself. Rest in the presence of the Lord God. Yet, for me being still can be a challenge. This is a muscle that could use some toning in my own life. God wants to speak to me but when I'm doing all the talking I run the risk of missing what He has to say. I need to quiet my lips and open my ears to truly listen with the belief that God will speak to me.
Whether it is a flabby soul or flabby tummy, there is hope! Your body and spirit have the ability to be toned again. You are not destined to a life of weak muscles. Through a steady routine of training your muscles and challenging them in new ways, you can see progress and growth. The potential is all there, you just need to get started. You have all that is needed to become an amazing picture of transformation. You just pick up your Bible; pick up that set of weights.
It is undeniable, when you quit challenging your muscles they quit showing up. When you don't use them they will, inevitably, be lost.
I found this out the hard way when my treatments by my chiropractor sidelined me from any physical activity. From dead-lifts to vacuuming, my orders were no physical exercise - except walking. All I was allowed to do was walk to my hearts content. In fact, walking was prescribed and encouraged. It would be good for the flared muscle in my leg, the chiropractor told me. This was a prescription I was happy to fill. I walked to my hearts content and then some. I walked Pippy everyday without fail. My walking muscle was and is in great shape.
Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for my fitness capabilities in any other area. I couldn't lift the smallest of weights in the gym for any more than a few reps. My ability to run was beyond pathetic. Doing squats - even with just my body weight - made me fatigued before I even finished the first set. I had lost all of the muscle I had once worked so hard for. I wasn't able to use it for over a year and in return I lost it.
When I stepped back into a gym, grasping the light five pound weights, the task ahead looked daunting and frankly, embarrassing. My arms and legs looked like sticks. I was starting from scratch. But slowly and surely I was able to build some endurance and strength back into my little body. I had to start small, but by sticking to a routine again I was able to see progress. I simply had to start challenging the muscles.
This morning you may be feeling weak and out of shape - and I don't just mean physically. Spiritually you may be feeling dry. Maybe it has been a while since you've worked anything out with God. Your spiritual muscle may be flabby or nonexistent. Let me give you a word of encouragement: you can get it back in shape.
There is no quick fix to a flabby muscle, be it a bicep, tricep, or hamstring. The same goes for your spiritual muscle. To rebuild, or to start the building process for the very first time, you have to push through the embarrassment of weakness, the difficulty of getting into a routine and the discomfort that comes from challenging yourself in a new way. When you begin the task ahead it will look daunting. But be encouraged, the muscle can and will respond! You just need to keep coming to the table, keep coming to the gym, to stimulate the muscles.
To retrain your spiritual muscle it will take time in God's word - more time than just a Sunday morning or mid-week Bible study. Daily, regular Bible reading is the only way to truly get to know God's word and strengthen your scriptural knowledge muscle. This muscle holds fast to the promises of God, knows the truths and scriptures and is able to combat the attacks of the devil by using the words of God as a weapon. You need this muscle.
Your spiritual muscles need to bathed in prayer. Through prayer you become in tune with the guiding of the Holy Spirit. There is no way to explain what it is like to be filled with God, it goes beyond mere words. It is an indwelling that takes you soaring to new heights and gives you a peace that overcomes all of your circumstances. Prayer is our connection with this power. We are able to come to our Father and lay down our burdens. Through prayer we become filled with more of His love.
Possibly the hardest part of training the spirit for me personally is spending quiet time with God. This should be easy, right? Just silence yourself. Rest in the presence of the Lord God. Yet, for me being still can be a challenge. This is a muscle that could use some toning in my own life. God wants to speak to me but when I'm doing all the talking I run the risk of missing what He has to say. I need to quiet my lips and open my ears to truly listen with the belief that God will speak to me.
Whether it is a flabby soul or flabby tummy, there is hope! Your body and spirit have the ability to be toned again. You are not destined to a life of weak muscles. Through a steady routine of training your muscles and challenging them in new ways, you can see progress and growth. The potential is all there, you just need to get started. You have all that is needed to become an amazing picture of transformation. You just pick up your Bible; pick up that set of weights.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Words, slogans and the truth
Words have power.
Just ask a bodybuilder. They love their slogans. "No pain no gain." "Shut up and squat." "You earn your body." "Lightweight baby." "Excuses are for people who don't want it bad enough."
The list could go on and on. But you get the mental picture, right?...the big, muscle bulging lifter in the gym standing over a little scrawny, newbie who is struggling with a barbell. The veteran heavyweight is yelling at the little guy, "Come on, you pansy! You lift like a girl! My Momma lifts more than that!"
Aren't you inspired reading such encouragement and uplifting motivation?
Oh, you're not?
Me neither.
Words have the power to build us up or to tear us down. Words can stunt our growth or send us soaring to new heights. Words can inspire us to take action or shame us into moving forward. They can be small, just a few syllables, but words can have a significant and lasting impact.
I was struck by the power of words this weekend as I engaged in rigorous exercise with my sisters in Christ at the International Christian Wellness Conference. As we jumped around the room for Revelation Wellness and held downward dog for longer than I thought my arms could stand, the words of scripture were poured out through the voices of our instructors and the music they played. Prayers were being prayed, the messages of the Psalms and words of the Gospels were being proclaimed and praises to God were being sung.
I became overwhelmed with love and mercy. The overpowering of the Holy Spirit came upon me like a hug. When I let my mind focus in on the words that were being proclaimed my body became renewed with God-given endurance. The yoga poses that made my arms shake became an act of surrender and crying out to my God. The interval training of the wellness class became an act of worship. My heart and body was being filled with something heavenly.
There is not a single workout slogan or mantra that could ever give me that kind of strength. Those empty words that shout "Just do it" can't renew my spirit. They leave my soul empty and my body tired. That isn't the kind of workout I'm craving. I want a workout that takes my spirit to new heights and leaves my body feeling reinvigorated and reignited to go forth in service to the Lord. I want to walk away from a workout not feeling beaten down but feeling lifted up.
The words I heard during those workouts did just that. I finished the hour of aerobic activity and muscle conditioning feeling a strength I didn't have when I entered the room. My resources didn't feel depleted. Instead of exerting all the energy I could muster, I was being filled with energy by God's indwelling of the Holy Spirit. He used the scripture to sustain me. Praise came flowing from my lips and worship became the attitude of my heart.
It is astounding the impact that words can have on the way we see the world around us. They shape the way we see everyday circumstances and major life events. We have the free will to turn our ears to the words of God and let our airwaves be filled with truth. A set of circumstances that look like all doom and gloom can be transformed by the power of proclaiming God's promises and the truth found in scripture. A challenging workout can be taken from a test of muscle endurance to a spiritual renewal. What was once difficult becomes enjoyable. What was once negative can become positive.
The words you speak into your life and the words that fill your airwaves will have a profound impact on who you are. The choice is yours. Will you fill yourself with the mantras of this world that tell you to dig deeper within yourself to tough it out? Or will you listen to the word of God that tells you to dig deeper into HIM and let him fill you with the endurance and sustenance to soar on the wings of eagles? The choose is simple - as simple as a syllable or two. Yet, the impact it will have on your life is nothing short of radical.
Just ask a bodybuilder. They love their slogans. "No pain no gain." "Shut up and squat." "You earn your body." "Lightweight baby." "Excuses are for people who don't want it bad enough."
The list could go on and on. But you get the mental picture, right?...the big, muscle bulging lifter in the gym standing over a little scrawny, newbie who is struggling with a barbell. The veteran heavyweight is yelling at the little guy, "Come on, you pansy! You lift like a girl! My Momma lifts more than that!"
Aren't you inspired reading such encouragement and uplifting motivation?
Oh, you're not?
Me neither.
Words have the power to build us up or to tear us down. Words can stunt our growth or send us soaring to new heights. Words can inspire us to take action or shame us into moving forward. They can be small, just a few syllables, but words can have a significant and lasting impact.
I was struck by the power of words this weekend as I engaged in rigorous exercise with my sisters in Christ at the International Christian Wellness Conference. As we jumped around the room for Revelation Wellness and held downward dog for longer than I thought my arms could stand, the words of scripture were poured out through the voices of our instructors and the music they played. Prayers were being prayed, the messages of the Psalms and words of the Gospels were being proclaimed and praises to God were being sung.
I became overwhelmed with love and mercy. The overpowering of the Holy Spirit came upon me like a hug. When I let my mind focus in on the words that were being proclaimed my body became renewed with God-given endurance. The yoga poses that made my arms shake became an act of surrender and crying out to my God. The interval training of the wellness class became an act of worship. My heart and body was being filled with something heavenly.
There is not a single workout slogan or mantra that could ever give me that kind of strength. Those empty words that shout "Just do it" can't renew my spirit. They leave my soul empty and my body tired. That isn't the kind of workout I'm craving. I want a workout that takes my spirit to new heights and leaves my body feeling reinvigorated and reignited to go forth in service to the Lord. I want to walk away from a workout not feeling beaten down but feeling lifted up.
The words I heard during those workouts did just that. I finished the hour of aerobic activity and muscle conditioning feeling a strength I didn't have when I entered the room. My resources didn't feel depleted. Instead of exerting all the energy I could muster, I was being filled with energy by God's indwelling of the Holy Spirit. He used the scripture to sustain me. Praise came flowing from my lips and worship became the attitude of my heart.
It is astounding the impact that words can have on the way we see the world around us. They shape the way we see everyday circumstances and major life events. We have the free will to turn our ears to the words of God and let our airwaves be filled with truth. A set of circumstances that look like all doom and gloom can be transformed by the power of proclaiming God's promises and the truth found in scripture. A challenging workout can be taken from a test of muscle endurance to a spiritual renewal. What was once difficult becomes enjoyable. What was once negative can become positive.
The words you speak into your life and the words that fill your airwaves will have a profound impact on who you are. The choice is yours. Will you fill yourself with the mantras of this world that tell you to dig deeper within yourself to tough it out? Or will you listen to the word of God that tells you to dig deeper into HIM and let him fill you with the endurance and sustenance to soar on the wings of eagles? The choose is simple - as simple as a syllable or two. Yet, the impact it will have on your life is nothing short of radical.
Not if...but when
Be ready for the attack because the question is not "if" it will come. The question is "when" will it come.
Maybe this sounds a bit extreme to you. An attack? That sounds like war. I thought we were talking about getting fit.
We are.
Fit for the fight.
In this life we are in the middle of a battle each and every day. It is the most intense of fights that is battling for the most sacred of territory: the human soul. Satan badly wants to win. He has an arsenal of tactics he uses to tear us down and gain ground. He uses fear, failure, rejection, guilt, shame, lies, inferiority...the list could go on forever. He takes every negative emotion and revels in it, using it to further his purpose of getting us deeper into darkness.
But God is standing in the light offering us a suit of armor if only we will put it on.
Ephesians 6:10-17 says, "Finally , be strong in The Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
Isn't this encouraging? Yes, the battle is going to come and you are going to be on the front lines. But you are not ill equipped. You have everything you need to not only fight but win! Hallelujah and praise The Lord. He knows the adversary we will come up against. He knew, before he created us, that we would need all of this armor to fight in His army and be victorious through Him. Most importantly, He knew that on our own we would be destined to defeat.
So, in his wisdom and love, He has taken care of us. He has filled our lives with resources that are found only in Him. When we accept His armor we can go confidently into the battle knowing that we aren't fighting on our own, but God is acting in and through us to reign victorious.
When you surrender your life to Christ and receive his gift of salvation you might as well be putting a big "X" on your chest. Better yet, make it a big cross. Because satan will be eyeing you as if you are the target in a game of darts. Your cross is the spot. He loves nothing more than to pull children of God away from their loving Father. He desires to thwart God's good plans for you. Those who have yet to become born again aren't under this same intensity of fire. Satan already has them. But you, dear friend, are on the enemy's radar screen. Are you ready for battle?
You must be fit to go into the fight. You must be aware of the lies the devil will try to feed you. At times they will be convincing. You will begin to doubt your worth and place in God's kingdom. You will question whether or not there is a plan for your future that is prosperous as the Bible promises. Satan loves when he puts doubt and fear into your mind. So be on high alert for these scare tactics. They are some of his favorites.
The list of weapons that satan will employ is limitless and different for every person but the armor of God is always the same: truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, the word of God.
Ephesians 6 goes on in verse 18 to say, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests."
There is nothing more defeating to satan then a forgiven sinner on their knees, crying out to God. Speak to your savior. Speak the words of scripture and truth. Pick up your armor. Go into battle with a clear mind, a firm foundation and a reassurance that the battle is already won because God has gone before you. He has plotted your path and made sure you are equipped to handle the trials you will face. There is never an attack that comes as a surprise to him. He knew it would come and He gave you everything you need to overcome it.
Just like a marathon runner prepares for the big race, prepare for the battle. Every marathon runner prepares for months or years before putting on their special number, setting them apart from all the others competing in the race. They wear through running shoes, spend hours building their muscles in the gym and work to build their endurance. Without the proper preparation the race will certainly get the better of them. Likewise, we cannot go into battle without getting to know our armor. We must get into scripture and learn the promises of God. We cannot wait for the battle to come. We must prepare in advance.
Today as you prepare for the duties and responsibilities that lie ahead don't forget to put on your most precious of apparel. Put on your armor. Satan is on the prowl and he would love nothing more than to steal your joy and shake your peace. Don't give him the satisfaction. Go into battle clothed with the armor of God. Face today, and each day, with the protection of your almighty God who reigns victorious over the fiercest of enemies. Through Him, and Him alone, the war has been waged and the enemy has been defeated.
Maybe this sounds a bit extreme to you. An attack? That sounds like war. I thought we were talking about getting fit.
We are.
Fit for the fight.
In this life we are in the middle of a battle each and every day. It is the most intense of fights that is battling for the most sacred of territory: the human soul. Satan badly wants to win. He has an arsenal of tactics he uses to tear us down and gain ground. He uses fear, failure, rejection, guilt, shame, lies, inferiority...the list could go on forever. He takes every negative emotion and revels in it, using it to further his purpose of getting us deeper into darkness.
But God is standing in the light offering us a suit of armor if only we will put it on.
Ephesians 6:10-17 says, "Finally , be strong in The Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
Isn't this encouraging? Yes, the battle is going to come and you are going to be on the front lines. But you are not ill equipped. You have everything you need to not only fight but win! Hallelujah and praise The Lord. He knows the adversary we will come up against. He knew, before he created us, that we would need all of this armor to fight in His army and be victorious through Him. Most importantly, He knew that on our own we would be destined to defeat.
So, in his wisdom and love, He has taken care of us. He has filled our lives with resources that are found only in Him. When we accept His armor we can go confidently into the battle knowing that we aren't fighting on our own, but God is acting in and through us to reign victorious.
When you surrender your life to Christ and receive his gift of salvation you might as well be putting a big "X" on your chest. Better yet, make it a big cross. Because satan will be eyeing you as if you are the target in a game of darts. Your cross is the spot. He loves nothing more than to pull children of God away from their loving Father. He desires to thwart God's good plans for you. Those who have yet to become born again aren't under this same intensity of fire. Satan already has them. But you, dear friend, are on the enemy's radar screen. Are you ready for battle?
You must be fit to go into the fight. You must be aware of the lies the devil will try to feed you. At times they will be convincing. You will begin to doubt your worth and place in God's kingdom. You will question whether or not there is a plan for your future that is prosperous as the Bible promises. Satan loves when he puts doubt and fear into your mind. So be on high alert for these scare tactics. They are some of his favorites.
The list of weapons that satan will employ is limitless and different for every person but the armor of God is always the same: truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, the word of God.
Ephesians 6 goes on in verse 18 to say, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests."
There is nothing more defeating to satan then a forgiven sinner on their knees, crying out to God. Speak to your savior. Speak the words of scripture and truth. Pick up your armor. Go into battle with a clear mind, a firm foundation and a reassurance that the battle is already won because God has gone before you. He has plotted your path and made sure you are equipped to handle the trials you will face. There is never an attack that comes as a surprise to him. He knew it would come and He gave you everything you need to overcome it.
Just like a marathon runner prepares for the big race, prepare for the battle. Every marathon runner prepares for months or years before putting on their special number, setting them apart from all the others competing in the race. They wear through running shoes, spend hours building their muscles in the gym and work to build their endurance. Without the proper preparation the race will certainly get the better of them. Likewise, we cannot go into battle without getting to know our armor. We must get into scripture and learn the promises of God. We cannot wait for the battle to come. We must prepare in advance.
Today as you prepare for the duties and responsibilities that lie ahead don't forget to put on your most precious of apparel. Put on your armor. Satan is on the prowl and he would love nothing more than to steal your joy and shake your peace. Don't give him the satisfaction. Go into battle clothed with the armor of God. Face today, and each day, with the protection of your almighty God who reigns victorious over the fiercest of enemies. Through Him, and Him alone, the war has been waged and the enemy has been defeated.
A girl without a plan
Have you ever known someone who always seemed to know, without a shadow of a doubt, what they would do in life, what their "plan" was and how they would accomplish it? In high school they were the graduates who were headed off to the college they had talked about since freshman year with a declared major that they would never end up changing in their four years of education. These people seem to have it all figured out. They plot out a future. They execute their plan.
I am not said person.
I am the girl with no plan. I am the college student with a rotation of majors. I am the high-schooler with no dream college. I am the part-time worker with no distinct career path. I don't have a five year plan. I don't even have a one year plan. Heck, I don't even have a one day plan!
And yet, here I am, living a life better than anything I could have ever imagined. It wasn't a plan that got me here - not my plan at least. It was HIS plan.
I have always been a dreamer. Not necessarily a logical planner. I love to come up with fanciful schemes. I am a great one for dreaming up another trip or another business idea. But very few of these "plans" ever come to fruition. Not many even make it past the stage of a mental image.
And yet, God has given birth to dreams that I couldn't even imagine ever coming true. He has given life to dreams that were deep in the recesses of my mind, bringing them into vivid color and making them part of a plan I couldn't have come up with much less executed.
Isn't He beautiful? Aren't His ways extraordinary? You can be a dreamer, lousy at planning logically for a realistic future that is deemed smart and sensible by the world's standards and still have a beautiful journey through life! You don't need a five year plan. You just need God.
As I sit in an airplane bound for Charlotte and then onto Pittsburgh, I am in awe of the road my life has taken. Each turn has felt like a new surprise being revealed. In my mind's eye I never saw all of the events in my life taking shape this way. But God, in all of his limitless knowledge, has had my story plotted out for all of time, before I was ever born or a twinkle in my mother's eye. He knew that I would be on this plane. He knew that I would go through a valley period of isolation and struggle for years as a young adult. He knew all of the details that have been such a shock to me.
The places he has taken me have been nothing short of miraculous. This past weekend was no exception. I ended up at the International Christian Wellness Conference by His grace. I didn't know what to expect when I registered to attend. I didn't know a single soul that would be in attendance. I didn't know how many people would be there, how old, what their backgrounds would be like or what I would learn. I could have never foreseen the amazing weekend that unfolded.
God blessed me from the moment I stepped on the first plane bound for my adventure. He put people in my path that showed me repeated God winks. I had encounters that couldn't be described in any way other than God's divine intervention.
At the conference He gave me the privilege of sharing my story. Even greater, He gave me the opportunity to hear the testimonies of other women. They were an inspiration and encouragement on my journey. I was given the chance to speak to women of faith with years in God's mission field and the fitness field. They showed me love from the very start. I immediately knew I was sharing the weekend with true believers in not just fitness but a deep faith that overwhelms their lives and influences every aspect of their being.
I didn't plan to end up there. God did.
God has plotted out my future for me and is taking me to amazing places. He knows I am not a planner, and thankfully that is A-O-K with Him. He doesn't need my plans. In fact, He laughs at my plans.
He wants my heart. He wants me to be sold out for Him, living in childlike obedience. He wants me to delight in Him so that he can give me the true desires, the dreams, of my heart. He doesn't just want to fulfill a five year plan that I sketched out on notebook paper. He wants to shock and awe! He is in the business of blowing our measly little plans out of the window!
I never thought I'd say that I'm thankful for being a girl without a plan. But instead of trying to hide it, I want to shout it from the rooftop. I don't have a path that I have thought out. I don't have a target date for reaching point A, B or C. I don't have a goal for my income. I don't have a projected career path. I don't have a certain number of kids I want or a certain place that I'm dead set on living. I'm a girl with no plan!
What I am is a girl sold out to God's will for my life. I am convinced that the plan he has is so much better than any I could come up with. And the fun part is that his plan is a surprise. It is like a perpetual Christmas morning. Each day I get to wake up knowing that my duty is to The Lord. If I live in obedience to Him, continually choosing the path that will further his kingdom, then I don't need to worry about the logistics. God already has them under HIS control.
I am not said person.
I am the girl with no plan. I am the college student with a rotation of majors. I am the high-schooler with no dream college. I am the part-time worker with no distinct career path. I don't have a five year plan. I don't even have a one year plan. Heck, I don't even have a one day plan!
And yet, here I am, living a life better than anything I could have ever imagined. It wasn't a plan that got me here - not my plan at least. It was HIS plan.
I have always been a dreamer. Not necessarily a logical planner. I love to come up with fanciful schemes. I am a great one for dreaming up another trip or another business idea. But very few of these "plans" ever come to fruition. Not many even make it past the stage of a mental image.
And yet, God has given birth to dreams that I couldn't even imagine ever coming true. He has given life to dreams that were deep in the recesses of my mind, bringing them into vivid color and making them part of a plan I couldn't have come up with much less executed.
Isn't He beautiful? Aren't His ways extraordinary? You can be a dreamer, lousy at planning logically for a realistic future that is deemed smart and sensible by the world's standards and still have a beautiful journey through life! You don't need a five year plan. You just need God.
As I sit in an airplane bound for Charlotte and then onto Pittsburgh, I am in awe of the road my life has taken. Each turn has felt like a new surprise being revealed. In my mind's eye I never saw all of the events in my life taking shape this way. But God, in all of his limitless knowledge, has had my story plotted out for all of time, before I was ever born or a twinkle in my mother's eye. He knew that I would be on this plane. He knew that I would go through a valley period of isolation and struggle for years as a young adult. He knew all of the details that have been such a shock to me.
The places he has taken me have been nothing short of miraculous. This past weekend was no exception. I ended up at the International Christian Wellness Conference by His grace. I didn't know what to expect when I registered to attend. I didn't know a single soul that would be in attendance. I didn't know how many people would be there, how old, what their backgrounds would be like or what I would learn. I could have never foreseen the amazing weekend that unfolded.
God blessed me from the moment I stepped on the first plane bound for my adventure. He put people in my path that showed me repeated God winks. I had encounters that couldn't be described in any way other than God's divine intervention.
At the conference He gave me the privilege of sharing my story. Even greater, He gave me the opportunity to hear the testimonies of other women. They were an inspiration and encouragement on my journey. I was given the chance to speak to women of faith with years in God's mission field and the fitness field. They showed me love from the very start. I immediately knew I was sharing the weekend with true believers in not just fitness but a deep faith that overwhelms their lives and influences every aspect of their being.
I didn't plan to end up there. God did.
God has plotted out my future for me and is taking me to amazing places. He knows I am not a planner, and thankfully that is A-O-K with Him. He doesn't need my plans. In fact, He laughs at my plans.
He wants my heart. He wants me to be sold out for Him, living in childlike obedience. He wants me to delight in Him so that he can give me the true desires, the dreams, of my heart. He doesn't just want to fulfill a five year plan that I sketched out on notebook paper. He wants to shock and awe! He is in the business of blowing our measly little plans out of the window!
I never thought I'd say that I'm thankful for being a girl without a plan. But instead of trying to hide it, I want to shout it from the rooftop. I don't have a path that I have thought out. I don't have a target date for reaching point A, B or C. I don't have a goal for my income. I don't have a projected career path. I don't have a certain number of kids I want or a certain place that I'm dead set on living. I'm a girl with no plan!
What I am is a girl sold out to God's will for my life. I am convinced that the plan he has is so much better than any I could come up with. And the fun part is that his plan is a surprise. It is like a perpetual Christmas morning. Each day I get to wake up knowing that my duty is to The Lord. If I live in obedience to Him, continually choosing the path that will further his kingdom, then I don't need to worry about the logistics. God already has them under HIS control.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Your mountain
Dear Reader,
I don't know who out there will come across this post. I know that the eyes that read these words are few and far between. Most people will never hear what I have to share on this simple little blogspot. But, for those who happen upon its message, my prayer is that it is an encouragement to your weary soul. Because aren't we all weary sometimes? Don't we all come to a place in life where the future looks daunting and the motivation to continue on is scarce? My prayer is that you will find strength and hope for your journey through the words God pours out through my hands. I don't have any credentials or letters by my name to recommend me. But I have a story and I have a life and body that is proof of the power of God.
This morning your journey may be feeling like a climb straight up the side of a mountain. The path is treacherous. Your foot struggles to find a stable place to land. You are practically brought to your knees when you stumble. How much longer? Is a paved path up ahead? Is the top of the mountain within sight yet?
On this side of your mountain you see nothing but obstacles. Forget the view. You don't see anything but the ground beneath your feet, the jagged rocks that threaten to send you tumbling down and the steep drop off that sends a shiver up your spine at the thought of what happens if you lose your balance. You are worn out and tired. Your stamina is waning. Your legs want a rest. Your body wants a shower.
Maybe you could just turn back? Head back down to the base of the mountain where the ground was level and you felt safe. But the mountain keeps calling you forward: "Just a little while longer"...."Just wait till you see the view from the top"...."Come further"....
But how? How will you keep moving along when you feel too weak, too small, too vulnerable to finish the climb?
Turn to your constant Help, your Sustainer, your Living Water, your Portion. When you are weak, He is strong. When you can't take another step, He will lend you a hand and a word of encouragement. When you stumble, He will reach out and catch you. When your breathing becomes labored, He will restore it with His mighty breath.
If you think you can't make it up this mountain, you're right. You can't. But He can. It is too big for you to tackle on your own. You might make it pretty far all by yourself but you will be worn out, aching and sore. Your climb will be a constant struggle.
Don't try to tackle it on your own. Let God guide and carry you. Cry out to Him in your pain and allow Him to heal you. Cry out to Him when you are too tired to go on and let Him infuse you with renewed endurance.
I don't know what your mountain looks like today. Maybe it is emotional. It might be spiritual. Or maybe it is a physical mountain peak. Whatever your mountain, God can overcome it. He is bigger then the highest peak. The elevations that sound too daunting to us are a stroll around the park to Him. Don't try to be your own cheerleader. Don't try to climb your mountain by yourself. Call on God and He will go with you.
As you struggle up your mountain I know it will feel never ending and tiring. Even with God, there will be moments of weakness where your human desire for resolution, a peak, will surface and cause you to grow impatient of the climb. Keep hold of God's promise that He has great things in store for you. Just get to the top, the view will be worth every ounce of sweat and every difficult step you had to take.
In the midst of your journey you will be too distracted to appreciate the beauty that surrounds you. At the top the landscape will finally come into full view. The beauty of creation and the marvelous work of God's hand will become evident. Without the climb you won't get the extraordinary view. You must scale the most difficult walls and steepest mountains too see the greatest of glories.
So, dear reader, keep climbing. I don't know what your view will look like in the end. All I can promise you is that it will be abundantly worth it!
Your Friend,
Stephanie
I don't know who out there will come across this post. I know that the eyes that read these words are few and far between. Most people will never hear what I have to share on this simple little blogspot. But, for those who happen upon its message, my prayer is that it is an encouragement to your weary soul. Because aren't we all weary sometimes? Don't we all come to a place in life where the future looks daunting and the motivation to continue on is scarce? My prayer is that you will find strength and hope for your journey through the words God pours out through my hands. I don't have any credentials or letters by my name to recommend me. But I have a story and I have a life and body that is proof of the power of God.
This morning your journey may be feeling like a climb straight up the side of a mountain. The path is treacherous. Your foot struggles to find a stable place to land. You are practically brought to your knees when you stumble. How much longer? Is a paved path up ahead? Is the top of the mountain within sight yet?
On this side of your mountain you see nothing but obstacles. Forget the view. You don't see anything but the ground beneath your feet, the jagged rocks that threaten to send you tumbling down and the steep drop off that sends a shiver up your spine at the thought of what happens if you lose your balance. You are worn out and tired. Your stamina is waning. Your legs want a rest. Your body wants a shower.
Maybe you could just turn back? Head back down to the base of the mountain where the ground was level and you felt safe. But the mountain keeps calling you forward: "Just a little while longer"...."Just wait till you see the view from the top"...."Come further"....
But how? How will you keep moving along when you feel too weak, too small, too vulnerable to finish the climb?
Turn to your constant Help, your Sustainer, your Living Water, your Portion. When you are weak, He is strong. When you can't take another step, He will lend you a hand and a word of encouragement. When you stumble, He will reach out and catch you. When your breathing becomes labored, He will restore it with His mighty breath.
If you think you can't make it up this mountain, you're right. You can't. But He can. It is too big for you to tackle on your own. You might make it pretty far all by yourself but you will be worn out, aching and sore. Your climb will be a constant struggle.
Don't try to tackle it on your own. Let God guide and carry you. Cry out to Him in your pain and allow Him to heal you. Cry out to Him when you are too tired to go on and let Him infuse you with renewed endurance.
I don't know what your mountain looks like today. Maybe it is emotional. It might be spiritual. Or maybe it is a physical mountain peak. Whatever your mountain, God can overcome it. He is bigger then the highest peak. The elevations that sound too daunting to us are a stroll around the park to Him. Don't try to be your own cheerleader. Don't try to climb your mountain by yourself. Call on God and He will go with you.
As you struggle up your mountain I know it will feel never ending and tiring. Even with God, there will be moments of weakness where your human desire for resolution, a peak, will surface and cause you to grow impatient of the climb. Keep hold of God's promise that He has great things in store for you. Just get to the top, the view will be worth every ounce of sweat and every difficult step you had to take.
In the midst of your journey you will be too distracted to appreciate the beauty that surrounds you. At the top the landscape will finally come into full view. The beauty of creation and the marvelous work of God's hand will become evident. Without the climb you won't get the extraordinary view. You must scale the most difficult walls and steepest mountains too see the greatest of glories.
So, dear reader, keep climbing. I don't know what your view will look like in the end. All I can promise you is that it will be abundantly worth it!
Your Friend,
Stephanie
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