Let me be candid for a moment and just say.... This trip is growing and teaching me in ways i would have never expected, and would not have traded for anything!
I'm learning a lot about spiritual warfare... No, I'm not reading a book about it, or listening to a sermon series... like learning a language, sometimes the best way to learn is in the trenches.
I am completely convinced that this trip has been ordained by God for a very specific purpose in my life, and in the lives of those around me. That said, we have an enemy, the accuser of the brethren, the snake of Eden who would love nothing more than to see God's plans falter.... stupid little satan... he hasn't learned yet that our God is BIGGER and UNTHWARTABLE!!!!!! (yes, i do believe i just made up that word... but i have a degree in English, so i think i'm allowed to make up words)
What I'm learning:
the attacks of the enemy are often special ops, that unless the Christian is on the alert as we are commanded to be in 1 Peter 5:8, we may not even be aware we are under attack...
The enemy uses bad dreams, lack of sleep, emotions, personality differences, personal preferences,illness, and pride to distract us from our call, divide us from our brothers and sisters, and destroy our freedom in Christ.
Praise God we who are redeemed have authority over the enemy! Im studying Ephesians during this trip, and it is rich in insight and wisdom... (we just started chapter 2 today, I know the book is going to continue to get better and richer!) The last part of chapter one sheds some light on the authority we have in Christ...
(18) "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, (19) and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might (20) which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, (21) far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. (22)And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, (23) which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all."
I am so thankful that my eyes have been illuminated to the schemes of the enemy... when i am grumpy, or irritable because i didn't sleep well.... or whatever the circumstance may be, i have no excuse to let the enemy use those circumstances to ruin my day and cause be to be so self-centered i miss what God is trying to show me. If i don't chose to submit my day, my heart, my emotions, and my thoughts, and sometimes even my facial expressions to Christ and make them obedient to the will of God, i'm setting myself up for a pretty miserable, and ineffective day.
Later in chapter 6 it states, "12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness...
I love the part that says "... and having done everything to stand firm. STAND FIRM..." we don't have the luxury of whining and saying "but i already prayed about X and X is still going on.... we pray again... and we pray with authority beleiving that as heirs with Christ, we have been given authority over the devil. Satan knows we have Christ's authority over him... but he still launches attacks against the Body of Christ because sadly, we DON'T know that we have that authority.... and if we do know, we don't USE IT!
In 2 Timothy 1:7 we are told, "For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline..." we have power in Christ, and some versions translate "discipline" as "a sound mind," or "self-control".... all of those are neat and reassuring... we serve such an awesome, loving, and FAITHFUL God! Something really cool in the Spanish language is how that word, "discipline" in the above verse is translated... it's the word "dominio propio" which literally translated means "your own dominion".... we have been given dominion over ourselves... (self-control). We may or may not be able to control circumstances.... but we CAN control our responses to them... we CAN choose which emotions we will allow to take root in us... we are not helpless...
so how are things here? great! and rough.... but still, i would not trade this for anything! The enemy can throw whatever he's got, and fail because he does not have the victory! CHRIST DOES!
"Be sober of spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will HIMSELF perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To HIM be dominion for ever and ever. Amen!" ~ 1 Peter 5:8-11
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Yes and amen; truth is liberating, when we apply it as balm and yield to His healing work in us and through us! There is a fun song in Spanish, too, about the devil being under our feet...! Hang in there, and enjoy growing where you've been planted! Love you!
ReplyDelete