The Battle

"From the Word: 1 Chron 5:20, 22 the people are said to have cried out to God in battle. God hears their prayer because they trusted in him. Then it says that many men fell because the war was God's. At the point of our trust God hear's our prayer and takes on the battle."

I hope you had a wonderful Easter weekend. I know our celebrations of the resurrection were well attended and left a lasting impact on our church and on our lives personally. What a time we had! 

It was sad to come home after such joy and celebration to news that Christians were being targeted by a suicide bomber in Pakistan. Our hearts were grieved and we mourned and prayed for our brothers and sisters who were suffering on the other side of the world. We continue to pray that in the wake of such tragedy that the hope and healing power of the gospel shines in these dark times. 

This morning my wife and I were talking and she said she woke up with the song we sang at the beginning of our church service in her heart with the people of Pakistan on her mind. She commented that if it were us we would happy because we would get to be with the Lord. It's true. You will find the martyrs in Revelation asking the Lord how long and He comforts them. This is good news. With terrorist activity on the rise we need some good news. 

If we look at loss and pain we will get depressed and end up questioning God in the wrong way. God is open to questions but not to unbelief. We can ask why with a heart that believes God is good. We can ask God what He is doing without doubting His motive. 

If you are going through a personal battle, physical, spiritual, emotional, financial or whatever else, cry out to God. Give God your questions but also your faith and trust. He will meet you there. God knows our limits and the battles we face. He also is ready and willing to fight for us. When you trust Him and bring Him into your battle you can rest and know that you will come out victorious. 

I would encourage you to go back and read 1 Chronicles 5:20-22 and also study the battles of the Bible. What did the people who trust God do? What were their prayers like? How did they act in faith? What did they speak about with God and other people? As you see these things incorporate them into your life and your battle plan. 

Be encouraged that God loves you. He will fight for you! When God gets involved the battle is already won. 

What battles are you facing? What scriptures help to overcome in these battles? 

Day 316 - Where Battles Are Won

"I am worse off for not having prayed. My heart, mind and attitude are in line with the things of God when I pray. That is where the battle is won and the power is at."

The simplest things in life are often the most overlooked. The answers we seek are staring us in the face. Why? Maybe it is the need we feel to complicate things. It could be that if something is easy we think it isn't real. But the real simple answer to winning the battles of life is prayer. 

For all intents and purposes prayer should be easy. Prayer is simply communicating with God. Have a talk with God and He will take care of you.

 Too simple? You're right, we should make it hard or add some formulas. Maybe if we enforce long hours of prayer we will earn what we are asking for. 

The only problem with this all is that Jesus simplified prayer. He made it easy to understand too by relating it to a child who asks their parent for food. If we give our kids what they ask for when they are hungry, and we are sinful by nature, then how much more will God take care of us when we ask Him to? His nature is good and perfect! He wouldn't ever give us something evil because He can't. It would go against His nature to do so. God is good. Only good. 

So when you pray and pour out your heart to God know that He is listening. When you share your pain and your troubles He is there comforting. When you don't know what to do and you have no direction He is guiding. When you feel defeated and weak He is fighting for you and making you strong. When you are lacking and needy He is providing. 

The battles are all won in prayer. Don't try to complicate it. Talk to God about your life, all of it. Listen for His voice and follow Him. Too simple? No way. It is just How God wanted it to be so that we could do it and He would get all the glory for it. 

What stops you from praying? Have you seen God answer simple prayers? 

Day 242 - Everyday Choices

"Everyone has choices and issues they deal with though and none are exempt for any reason. We all have to fight the good fight and put the flesh under."

There are people who think that because I am a pastor that I don't deal with any issues. Like my father in law taught our church we as pastors are anointed to preach and teach the Word of God, but, we are no more anointed that anyone else to live the Word of God. We have to hear it, believe it and apply it just like everyone else. 

I often am shocked, even though I should know better, when I see people who have everything going for them and they are still struggling with issues that they should know better. But the truth is that we all stumble in many things like the book of James tells us. We all need to follow diligently the Word of God. 

As long as we are living in the flesh we will be fighting with it. The flesh wars against the Spirit. That is where we choose to walk in the Spirit and put the flesh under God's control. Once we make the choice the battle ensues. Thoughts and feelings will come, the devil will attack. If we stay the coarse and follow the Word then we will come out victorious. How could we not when God is on our side? 

How do you deal with battling the flesh? How do you deal with spiritual warfare? 

Day 208 - Look Right Through Me

"The cry of my heart tonight is “Lord I need You!” Everywhere and in every way. May I not get puffed up with the praises of men or caught up in my own publicity. I humble myself and exalt Christ."

It almost seems counterproductive to post this section of my journal because it deals with humility. You can tell someone is not humble when they tell you they are. I am not tooting my own horn, I am revealing a very personal cry of my heart that I pray daily in hopes that it will help you. 

I battle pride. The Bible calls it a snare of the devil. I don't want to get caught up in it and have everything I have worked for end up in ruins. When we get into pride the Bible tells us we will actually have God opposing us. It is only in our humility that we will receive the grace of God we need to get the job done. 

I recently read a story of a man who was watching a goat ascend a small trail up the steep part of a mountain. On this narrow trail another goat came down and the two met face to face. At first they paused and then both stepped back a few paces. Then to the man's amazement he watched as the first goat knelt down and allowed the other goat to walk over it's back in order to get by. Then the first goat stood up and continued climbing the mountain. 

It is when we humble ourselves that we will be exalted. The way up is down. When we lower ourselves in humility and submit ourselves to God's will and way for our lives He Himself will lift us up to where He wants us to be. 

The cry of my heart is that people would look right through me and see God. It doesn't matter who knows my name. What matters is that they know the name of Jesus. 

How do you battle pride? What are some ways we can humble ourselves?