The battle continues.
The war is raging on.
Invisible struggle,
fight between right and wrong.
We have a Defender,
ever ready to fight;
our Strength in the battle;
He who makes all things right.
To survive the attacks,
we must call on His Name,
trust in His strength alone,
know He's true to His claim.
Pray for His strengthening,
know the truth of His word;
Photo Source: wordinthewilderness.org
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. (1 Peter 5:8, 9 ESV)
Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,
My prayer for you today is to be alert, waking up each day you are given with a mindset that evil is always lurking; always searching for a crack to seep into to mess up your day.
She wakes up as morning light leaks through cracks in the walls of her home. Outside her door, the neighborhood comes alive. She lives in one of the largest slums in Africa.
Her two oldest daughters wake and help her with chores. Her son grabs his water jug and begins his two hour walk for drinking water. Her baby cries.
Here's my version of Philippians 4:6-7:
Stop worrying. Give every single thing you're anxious about and fearful of to God...talk, cry out, whisper, be silent, sing, groan...however you like to do it. Just lay it all out before Him. He hears you and will answer, so go ahead and thank Him in advance. Move forward in faith and thankfulness, praising Him.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (II Timothy 3:16, 17 NKJV)
No other ground I know to stand on that will not sink is Christ. He is the Solid Rock, the Cornerstone, the great Foundation that were are able to affix ourselves to without falling if we so choose. Choosing our own paths may provide a temporary fix but we will ultimately be back at square one. Choosing the wrong foundation will have us stressed out, angry, confused, bitter and perhaps even destructive towards ourselves and others.
There is no peace. No true peace and contentment when we are our own guide, builder and god. We cannot always blame others or Satan for things not working out.
Is it ever taken into account that things may be going wrong for a reason? Maybe God closed a door for your own good or it could even be that its just not the right time.
Questions.
Are we attempting to solve things in our own thinking? Are we speeding up the process because we cannot wait on God and His timing? Do we feel that God has not given us the answer(s) that we want?
Let’s pause and think about that shall we….
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” (Matthew 7:24-27 NKJV)
We should not continue to keep doing things in our own thinking and understanding when we do nothing but fail time and time again in the end. We cannot work in our own strength when we will eventually grow weary in doing so.
The Bible is our manual for life. It should not be pulled out and used like cake for special occasions catering to the quick fix “God I need You real quick, so can I get some help?” type of meal. God isn’t fast food.
Instead, it is our Daily Bread. Jesus is our daily bread. The Word will feed us, nourish us, provide peace, give us joy, hope, comfort, healing, understanding and correction along the way. To have righteous living and to be holy we need to align our ways with His. God is love. He is our eternal Word that sustains us through all circumstances.
Who is your Builder? Self or Christ?
Life will bring ups and downs. We cannot avoid them. What can take place is an unsurpassable peace residing within us that Christ himself provides. We will not become consumed with doubt and fear or filled with anxiety if we are standing on the Solid Foundation that keeps us from falling or sinking.
May we look to God at all times rather than when it accommodates us.
“I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. (Psalms 121:1-3 NKJV)
Our Lord will not fail us. He can not error. His building codes have been tested and founded to be true and stamped with approval.
Who wouldn’t want a lifetime guarantee?
Be encouraged today as the the Master Architect builds your home with loving and supportive care. ❤
Photo Source: Divine Creations Photography
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend[a] it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.[b]
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own,[c]and His own[d] did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:1-13)
Jesus came to this world to save the sick; the lost souls who do not realize that they can come up out of darkness through Him. Salvation is found in The Light. Jesus is The Light. He chose to die for us and our sins so that we could be made blameless before the Father.
Isaiah 53:5
But He was pierced because of our transgressions,
crushed because of our iniquities;
punishment for our peace was on Him,
and we are healed by His wounds.
There is no greater love on this earth. Jesus made a way for you and me. He laid down His life for ours. We can come up out of darkness and into the marvelous light for He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. If you don’t know Him, I ask you to try Him for yourself. I did. I wanted to be set free from darkness. I wanted eyes to see, ears to hear and a life that was pleasing unto Him. The chains of bondage were broken, the veil on my eyes have been removed and my deafened ears can hear the sweet melody of truth that has set me free. Now I can see the light.
You can too.
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. (John 15:13)
It's May Day. The sun rises and spring's arrival brings light. Some of our legs have carried us over some long hard winters.
The ground we've walked has bruised our soles and etched our souls. Like years that callous our feet, these miles have put deep cracks in our hearts. Like cracked pots that leak water, we leak life and grace.
