The closer you try and draw to Jesus the more perceptive you become to the attacks of the enemy… And here is the thing, our walk with Christ is a lifetime of growing in Him. Learning, experiencing, understanding… And let me remind you – we ARE in the middle of a spiritual war that has been and is going on ALL around us. Ol’ Slewfoot knows his time is growing short and his goal is to take as many down with him as he can and if something worked on you in the past, you can bet he’ll try again at a later date in your life…
Even Paul said in Romans 7:15 tells us:
“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”
This sums up the struggle we endure… This life is not easy, but Jesus told us it wouldn’t be. John 16:33 He tells us:
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
I used to think that once I accepted Jesus as my Savior, made Him LORD OVER my life that life would be easier, simpler. What I didn’t realize was that in doing so I had greatly angered the devil. Why? Because he had lost the victory over yet another one of God’s children. He had lost the war for my soul and because I fell head over heels in love with Jesus and the Word of God and wanted the WHOLE world to know of Jesus’ love for us. It put me on the frontline of the battle and oh my goodness, did I learn that quickly! It has been 37 years since I made that decision to be a follower of Christ, one of God’s
Called Remnants” and while it hasn’t been easy and I have gone through a lot – EVERY time I have stood victorious because:
“GREATER IS HE WHO IS IN ME, THAN HE THAT IS WITHIN THE WORLD”
And I know the truth of :
“I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME.”
Oh, you can definitely expect battle wounds in the process! I’ve got quite a few of those! But those scars tell a story and here is the thing – when you are hard pressed you truly learn who it is you trust.
ARE YOU TRUSTING IN YOURSELF? OR ARE YOU TRUSTING GOD?
There are many times where you will find out in your walk with Jesus that you have messed up. You have fallen for the tricks of the enemy or given into the flesh – but remember that Holy Spirit is WITH you! That He is our Teacher, our Guide, our Comforter and this war we are in – we are NOT in alone!
GOD IS WITH US!
And if you mess up – recognize it! Repent and talk to God! Ask Him to strengthen you! Ask Him to help you! Ask Him to heal you! Ask Him to deliver you! Confess that you can’t get through this thing called “life” without Him! Ask for forgiveness and guidance and He WILL forgive you! He WILL wash you clean with the precious blood of the Savior! And then, having learned from your experience, you will be wiser and more aware of the areas within you that need to grow. Areas that you feel weak. You can more specific in prayer with the Father about asking for His help in making you feel strong where you feel weak.
AND HE WILL!
And then what you will be able to do – because Holy Spirit will give you divine appointments with others who may be struggling or going through the battle of what you once went through and He will use you to extend the right hand of fellowship behind you to use the wisdom you have to assist someone else so you He can use you to take what satan meant for evil for good.
I cannot tell you how MANY times Holy Spirit took my mess and turned it as a message for someone else… (Hence the words you are reading EVEN now).
I’m not going to say it doesn’t elevate the pain of what you are going through (or have gone through), but it certainly reminds us that it is TRULY nothing but God’s grace, His love, His forgiveness and His mercy that covers us DAILY and gives us yet another thing to praise and thank Him for. Truly:
“THERE GO I BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD.”
But it doesn’t stop there… Because ol’ slewfoot will try new tactics to try and trip you up. This is one reason why it is important to stay prayed up mighty much. We are dependent upon the Father, we must stay alert and aware because we are soldiers in this spiritual war and while the battle has already been won in Christ, it is not God’s will that ANY should perish and His grace and mercy continues on so that MORE people will come into the truth of God’s everlasting love and accept Jesus’ gift of salvation and redemption before Jesus returns to claim His bride (the church). 2 Peter 3:9 tells us:
“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
If you are still here, it is because the Father has a purpose for you. He has a calling on your life that is MORE fulfilling than ANYTHING the world could offer. Walking in the center of His will is where that “peace that passes ALL understanding comes from. An unspeakable joy that floods your soul EVERY time Holy Spirit reminds you of how VERY precious you are to the Father. He wants you to help people know of His love! He gives us the amazing job to share His gospel with others! Even if you don’t speak it – they SEE the light of Christ radiating from you! They see a difference. Allow them to! Don’t hide it! Don’t be afraid of walking boldly in His love! Jesus tells us in Luke 9:26:
“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”
And He also tells us in Matthew 10:28:
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
We aren’t to walk in fear; we are to walk in faith. And it isn’t always easy but with the help of the Holy Spirit and choosing to keep our eyes on Jesus – we CAN live for Christ. We are called to be “Christ’s Ambassadors” and we TRULY are in this day and time part of His “Called Remnant.” Make no mistake about it, Jesus IS coming back and sooner than we think! 1 Thessalonian 5:2 tells us:
“For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”
JESUS IS COMING BACK!
And our hearts can rejoice as we look to our Savior’s return. In the meantime, keep in mind that the devil often circles back and tries previous tricks that have tripped you up in the past, hoping to trip you up again. Be alert, be wise, bring to your remembrance how God has delivered you from situations in the past and determine within your heart that those SAME tricks that ol’ slewfoot used will NOT succeed against you again. Walk in the strength of Holy Spirit, asking for discernment, bringing EVERY need and request before the throne room of the Father, resting in the fact that Jesus sits on the right-hand of the Father interceding on YOUR behalf and there is NOTHING that we cannot get through with Jesus as our Guide. in Philippian’s 4:8 the Apostle Paul directs us:
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things”
Our strength dear Remnant is found IN Christ and Christ alone and knowing that we can get through ANYTHING because we are MORE than conquerors because of His love. We fight a battle that has already been won – hold on to that and walk in confidence that Jesus’ has got you and He’s NOT letting go.
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