FIGHT BACK

I can recall at the age of 5  having my first opportunity to put into practice what my mother and my aunts taught me about fighting back. It seems, that I came out of the womb to them teaching me how to fight back.  So I'm a kindergartner  and I found myself in the grips of a  mischievous, and relentless little boy that was determined to lift my skirt, and  look under my dress. (Yes they start  that young!) I have to this day vivid memories of me yelling "stop, quit-it".  I remember going in circles for what felt like forever  trying to get out of the boy's arms, but he would not let me go.  I know my mother was close by, but apparently she wasn't close enough when this broke out. I can recall a fear coming over me. The fear of not knowing what was going to happen if I lost the struggle with this little boy. I also remember that I wasn't fighting back.  Yelling stop, and pulling away was not getting the job done.  I'm sure you've heard of the term "fight or flight" as a natural defense mechanism. Well I was trying to run and couldn't? So I had to fight. I took my free arm and drew it ALL the way back, came around, and smacked this little boy so hard in the face that I surprised myself!!?  It was so loud that it appear to echo,  and I'm not exaggerating. The next thing I know the little boy had loosed his grip, and ran off yelling and crying to his mother! I couldn't it worked?   My mom, being a third party witness has a similar account of this story, and now we both laugh about it.  Needless to say moving forward I learned to use what my momma taught me! Lol. 

As children of God we are sometimes conflicted on how we should fight back effectively.  Although fighting back naturally may make us feel good about standing up for ourselves, it does very little to amend the problem in the spiritual realm.   

Ephesians 6:12 says: "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places(or the heavenly places). 

So, it is no wonder that we are faced with complexed issues that some of the smartest, and most powerful people in our governments can't fix! Mass shootings on innocent people.  Twisted vigilante  justice against innocent  officers.  Trigger happy policemen killing unarmed surrendered citizens.   Prejudice, racism and hate. These are all natural issues that we have no idea how to fight and win  physically.  That is because this is a spiritual fight, and one that only the children of God can suit up for.  

True believers are the light of this world, and we carry the strength of God within us. So we as Christians must be properly prepared.  Yes, we know we are called to love. But unfortunately many believe that love doesn't involve standing up for the standards of God, or fighting back with the Word of God.  Read Ephesians 6:12-18.   There is a list telling us how to defend,  and offend.  

In order to fight back effectively, we must be righteous through Jesus Christ.  

Also, it is the truth of the Word, and our shield of faith, which protects us from false doctrines, and lies that are presented in the form of human reason. 

We must protect our minds, with the truth that our salvation is safe with Christ.  When we have the assurance of who we belong to, and what our Father has already done we can win the battle against Satan.  Then finally, but most importantly we must use the ONLY offensive weapon in our arsenal, the sword of the Spirit.  Meaning you're gonna have to swing! If we don’t know how to "use" the Word of God to fight back it's like having a loaded gun in our hands and refusing to fire at the threat.  The Word of God is how the Children of God fight back spiritually. This is the only way to to fight against the evil forces that use people to commit horrible ungodly acts. It is also how we fight to win the personal battles in our lives.  Read  Luke 4: 1-13 where Jesus used the word of God only, to fight back against the temptation of the devil. But take note, it first says "He was filled with the Spirit". If you are carnal, or someone who likes to play both sides of the fence...Warning, this may not work for you. Take self inventory and make sure you are exercising your spiritual disciplines according to Ephesian chapter 6.   This is why it is extremely important to know the word of God, apply the word of God, and put it on repeat! It is the only way that we will be able to fight back and win.   

  We must be protected and armed with the Word of God.  We have to know  exactly how to use every verse, command,  promise of God, and truth of God to destroy the lies of the enemy, and stop his attacks against God's people.  

God's Strength is our Victory!

Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane

"2 Corinthians 12:9  My Grace is Sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness" this scripture is one that I have mulled over for years trying to understand exactly how knowing this truth is suppose to help me through physical pain. Here, the great Apostle Paul suffered from a thorn in his flesh, a seemingly physical ailment that he wanted God to remove. But he prayed several times, and the ailment remained.  No doubt like many of us Paul was probably frustrated and confused.  Isn't God suppose to answer all of our  prayers? Isn't that what His word says? Well yes. I believe He does answer, but in some cases like this one we don't like the answer that He gives!

I think I am finally accepting in the way of truth, that every victory or answered prayer is not manifested in a physical deliverance from a situation. (Pardon me as I let out a huge sigh  and a  Lord help me?!)  Just as Paul cried out for deliverance, and Jesus, the Son of God cried out in the Garden of Gethsemane we also cry out for the "removal" of pain and suffering. But as we know in these two examples the suffering remained. If God loves us so much why would He let us suffer so much regardless of how hard we pray to escape it?  I believe He is trying to get us to fully rely on Him and not ourselves. 

Faith in God is not solely believing that He will be there to deliver us out of something. It is not saying a few coined phrases and  tossing our spiritually around to get what we want and when "WE" want it. I've been saved long enough to know, it doesn't always work that way.    

 But it is trusting that even in pain and suffering His will is being done. In our weakness God is made strong. It is the Victory that God is looking for. A victory where He alone is glorified.  Only through the strength of God can a man do what Paul did in his ministry continuously knowing that all of His wants were not met. Paul suffered greatly, and without the Grace and strength of God he would have given up. Just like many of us.  

Only the strength of God can give a man enough resolve to decide, "Not my will, but thy will be done", when He was asked to die for people who didn't love or accept Him! Wow, now what was I complaining about again? Lord I thank you for Victory in your Strength. 

    

Stay Planted

Psalms 1:3

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

There is something about this scripture that makes me want to stand still!  Sometimes I can get so caught up in trying to make something happen, or desiring to make something happen!   Have you ever been there? It can be quite frustrating, especially when those around you seem to be running here there and everywhere and getting exactly what “they” want.   To be planted means to be unmovable in the truths of God, this is God’s word.   Now, there is a catch to being planted.  If you backup and read the verse right before this one, verse 2 says: “But, they delight in the law of the Lord meditating on it day and night.”   

God’s words are living water and anything that is being watered will grow. The more we read and hear the word of God it solidifies the ways and promises of God in our heart. Meditating on the word of God helps us to understand God’s plan for our life. Meditating gives us understanding and clear direction.  Meditating on the word of God can also bring peace.  When every man seems to be going in his own way we can be confident the path we are on is the will of God, even when it doesn't seem to be going favorably and it won’t always be favorable!    

When I read this scripture I am full of hope and expectation.  I know that if I stay planted close to God, who IS the Rivers of Water, that I have no choice but to grow, bear fruit, and prosper!  Isn’t this all any of us want?   I know that we can sometimes get tired and run down, but this scriptures says that our leaves are not suppose to wither, meaning  we should always have a look of  vibrancy  and  Joy!  Do you ever get tired? Do you struggle sometimes to live joyously?   I will answer for myself…Yes and Yes!     If you can relate then I guess we only have one problem, our feet!  Look down, where are you planted?  Where are you spending most of your time?   God doesn’t move away from us, His word is always the same.  So when you are starting to feel a little ruffled and out of sorts, get back into position; meditate on God’s word, and prosper!      

Chandra H.

Overcome your crazy world

St John 16:33   "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Have you been watching the news lately? It is utterly depressing. It seems that every station seeks out the most horrific, frightening, and saddest stories to report on, and not just once but REPEATEDLY, the same stories every hour.  It's quite disturbing actually and I think I am about to minimize how often I watch the local news because it does little to keep my mind on the good things of God as He commanded us to do! (Phil 4:8)  If we didn't know any better based on what is being fed to us you would believe that nothing good is going on in the world.  And I for one know that is not true, but do you  sometimes  find it challenging not to think about the horrible things that happen? I think because it's pushed in our faces daily. The world is so horrible I think wow any day now Jesus is sure to come back, people have gone beyond mad, but year after year the world is still hanging on, and so we have to hang on!      

I was meditating on this scripture today, and I often  wonder how in the world are we suppose to be cheerful when we are assured that there's going to be tribulation in our lives?  We have to remember that  Satan wants to keep us fearful, but God is saying despite what you see or experience you can ALWAYS have peace if you seek it through Me.  I thank God that my real life is hid in Him as the scriptures says, I can be cheerful in that God has given me His indwelling spirit to draw from whenever I feel lonely or overwhelmed.     Sometimes when we are going through tough times we want to run everywhere, and to everyone, all while avoiding the only person you can help us, Jesus Christ. 

 Jesus has already overcome the world, with the sacrifice of His life for our sins. He rose from the dead, overcoming eternal death for us!  And if we accept Him, run to Him, and dwell in Him, we become overcomers every single day because we don't buy into the lie that our life is as bad as Satan wants us to believe that it is. No matter what we experience we as Saints of God, have the eternal assurance that we are overcomers in this world, because our Father has already made the way for us.