Weapons of War

Fear and Discouragement: Courtesy Google Images

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

~ Ephesians 6:12 ESV ~

As children of God, I believe we know in the depths of our souls that our security is found in Him. But as we continue to navigate life as finite beings, I think we forget (I know I do) that the struggles we face, the tragedies we endure, or the setbacks we fight to overcome are part of a much larger-scale battle, unseen to our human eyes, but real nonetheless.

This battle isn't to be taken lightly, but also not something to be afraid of.

You see, since before the beginning of time, a war has been ongoing. Only one side will come out victorious. We get to choose which side we want to align ourselves with.

I will say, the winning side is God. Creator of the Universe. The One who breathed life into our very being. There's no doubt in my mind.

So why, if God is so mighty, does this battle go on so long? Why doesn't He just end it right now? (Maybe I am the only one who's wondered?)

After reading through Job, I have come to realize it doesn't matter why God allows anything to happen. I may never know the answers, but I can trust that His ways are more effective than I could ever attempt to imagine. And He invites us to participate in His plan, follow His lead, and trust. 

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You,

because he trusts in You.

~ Isaiah 26:3 NKJV ~

The problem with trust, however, is that we have to take our hands off the thing that we want His intervention in. If we truly want Him to move in that area, we have to let Him do so in His time, His way.

This is hard.

This past week, I was reminded of a Scripture spoken over me when I was 18-years old, graduating high school:

But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.

~ Isaiah 40:31 NKJV ~

It's in the waiting that our trust is tested, isn't it? Especially when we don't know the outcome. Maybe it'll be all that we'd hoped or imagined it would be. Maybe it'll look nothing like we'd imagined.

It'll be better.

I have a friend who was a pastor. He spent his years giving to anyone who had need. His wife once told me how they'd spent months saving for a new sofa, and just when they were almost able to walk into a store and pick their sofa, the couple sensed the Lord ask them to give that money to someone else who needed it. In obedience, they gave it. And a sofa better than the one they were looking at was given to them.

This same pastor drove cars that he could pay cash for. He couldn't justify purchasing something new when he could drive a perfectly dependable "beater". Then one day, he was encouraged to see what leasing a vehicle for his wife would cost. In the process, he was given a deal that put him into a pickup truck he never imagined or hoped for. It was everything he'd wished for ... and more.

He'd learned contentment through the waiting.

It would be a disservice if we weren't warned of the trenches in warfare we will walk through while we wait.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

~ Proverbs 13:12 NKJV ~

It's important to understand that the devil, our enemy, is seeking to steal, kill, and destroy us (John 10:10). He is smart enough to know that attacking us in our areas of strength will reap no reward for him.

He is also in the waiting. Watching. Taking notes. And he can see the areas that are weakening due to either fatigue or doubt. These spots are like holes in our fence where he can gain access and do with us as he did with Eve in the garden. He plays mind games, questioning God's faithfulness in such a way, with enough truth-mixed-with-lies that we don't immediately recognize the deception or that we're being injected with a deadly virus.

I have found seven weapons Satan likes to use against us:

1. Deception: The Art of Twisting the Truth
2. Temptation: Luring into Sin
3. Accusation: The Voice of Shame and Condemnation
4. Division: Sowing Discord and Disunity
5. Fear and Discouragement: Paralyzing the Heart
6. Pride: The Subtle Trap of Self-Exaltation
7. Distraction: Pulling Hearts Away from God

(retrieved from Bible Analysis)

We also have a prescription for protection against these fiery darts:

1. Belt of Truth
2. Breastplate of Righteousness
3. Shoes for feet: the readiness given by the gospel of peace
4. Shield of Faith
5. Helmet of Salvation
6. Sword of the Spirit
7. Prayer

(Ephesians 6:10-19)

Over the next few weeks, I will break each one down and discuss them, as well as the truth we need to break off the chains that would weigh us down.

We are always under attack from the enemy. We will always be targeted by the enemy for as long as there is breath in our lungs. We need to understand that we are not powerless.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

~ II Corinthians 10:3-6 NKJV ~

If your wait-time has been long, and you feel weary, please allow me to tell you this: it's normal as a human. As children of God, we have this hope, that Jesus cares for us and wants us to allow Him to carry our burdens.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

~ Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV ~

Until next time--and beyond--find rest for your soul in Christ Jesus.

💜 Karlene J 💜

Immanuel

Courtesy Google Images

Remember the song, Santa Claus is Coming to Town?

I can still remember lying in bed, listening intently for the sound of sleigh bells on Christmas Eve. Santa's arrival meant I had made the nice list. Proof I'd been a good girl. And if I didn't find my gift under the tree (and it happened), I'd hear the words, "Well, remember the time ...?"

Courtesy Google Images

And I knew, because of the TV shows, that Santa had a magic crystal snowglobe that showed him how I'd behaved all year. 😇

Thankfully, I never sank so far into the naughty list that I found coal in my stocking. 

I still love this show. But as I have grown, I've taken the nuances of this story and grin. This is the basis of a works mindset in every human heart. Paul and James mention it often in Scripture. Santa's gifts are for the well-behaved, those who are good enough.

But we know from Paul's words in Romans 3:10 

As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one."

Oddly, this brings me hope. We're all in the same predicament. Not one of us is better than another. There's only One who is perfect, and through Him we are able to clothe ourselves in righteousness. 

Courtesy Google Images

What a gift!

His name is Jesus. Or as the angel told Mary and Joseph: Immanuel, meaning God with us.

Greater than Santa Claus. The One who measures the universe with the span of His hand (Isaiah 40:12).

Please allow me to back up.

When in college, I was required to take a class on world religions. I was interested to learn that in some religions, belief in God is limited to the idea that he is afar off, watching from a distance, and uninvolved in our lives. "The big guy in the sky" kind of thinking. This left us to ourselves, I felt, with no true moral compass or structure. The thought of an uninvolved God felt empty and lonely, leaving me with nothing to guide me. Maybe I misunderstood it, but knowing and believing in a very personal and involved God has given me a perspective that leads me to hope that there is someone orchestrating and holding my life together (Psalm 139).

As we turn our hearts and minds to observe the celebration of our Lord's entry onto this earth, I can't help but think about the gift we have been given. So many don't realize--yet.

Lately, my heart has been tugged in the direction of recognizing God's presence in every aspect of life. As Christians, we know this to be true, but sadly, I think it's easy to fall into a pattern of living our lives until something hard happens and the question arises, "Where are You?" 

Jesus tells us, "and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20b). So to ask where He is seems to indicate our nearsighted vision, or human forgetfulness that God is always good on His promises. He meant it when He said, "And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed" (Deuteronomy 31:8).

He is, has always been, and always will be with us.

Courtesy Google Images

One of my favorite verses of Scripture, lately, is Malachi 3:16-18:

Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name. "They shall be Mine," says the LORD of hosts, "On the day that I make them My jewels, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him." Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.

Did you see that? The Lord listens to our conversations. Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20). 

He sees our heartaches, "The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit" (Psalms 34:18). He also catches our tears as the Psalmist said, "You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?" (Psalm 56:8).

But He is not only there when we are downtrodden, Zephaniah 3:17 tells us, "The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

💝 Yes, my dear friend, He sees you. 💝

He's near to the brokenhearted, and He celebrates with you also. There is nothing that has caught Him by surprise. He will never leave you (or me). He will always redeem and restore us in ways we didn't dream possible. 

Trust Him. 

His ways are so different from ours (Isaiah 55:8). We may never understand this side of eternity (Proverbs 3:5-6). But we can lean on His goodness, knowing He may not feel safe and secure at times, but He will never allow us to be harmed (Jeremiah 29:11).

Merry Christmas, with love 💜💜💜

Until next time, 💜 Karlene J 💜