“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.” ~ 2 Corinthians 10:4 NLT
How often do we lose heart, either because our efforts in ministry seem futile, or perhaps because we have been praying our heart out over someone or some circumstance and nothing seems to be changing. We don’t see fruit in the person we have been praying for, or we don’t see change in the circumstances…not a glimmer.
Perhaps we are all sleepwalking? Caught in the web of the world as the world would have us see it, rather than allowing God’s holiness to penetrate our minds, hearts and souls….to unveil HIS truth through HIS Word so that our hope and our joy would be realized!
We hang on to our efforts thinking that someday our efforts might make a difference. Do we get that? OUR efforts have become a stronghold in our life! When in the world are we finally going to get it! Let’s read the verse again. This my paraphrase: “EVERYTHING–and I do mean everything–that we need to arm ourselves to conquer the battles we face each day, can be found in God Himself! He is prepared to clothe us with His armor so that we can defeat the enemy of lies, of addictions, of purity, of sorrow, of a poor spirit….any and every stronghold that keeps us from living a life that would honor God. He has already defeated the enemy. He longs for us to call on Him through prayer, He longs for us to dig in to His holy Word for the answers to all that we wrestle with. He longs to reignite the passion in our hearts so deeply, with such strength, and so powerfully that nothing–and I mean nothing–would dare stand against us. The Holy of Holy has gone before us! He is the Almighty, the All Powerful, the Creator of the universe! The Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end!
So whatever the stronghold in your life may be–even the stronghold of our own effort–surrender it now…YES, at this very moment! If you are sleepwalking through life, fall to your knees and call on His Name! Allow His Spirit that is within you to raise you up from the ashes. Claim victory over your circumstance–by His power! But don’t stop there. Pick up the Word of God and clothe yourself with HIS armor! Come on…keep moving…do not delay….walk boldly in HIS promises! Walk in HIS truth! Rise from the ashes and walk!
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go straight into the presence of God with sincere hearts, fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” ~ Hebrews 10:19-25 NLT
If you and I claim that we believe in God and have received Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, then let us NOT shirk our responsibility! We have been called to be warriors for the Kingdom of God! Whether you just recently received Jesus as your Savior, or have been a Christian for some time now, remember…we are His chosen people! Let us live our lives today as if today is our last day. Let each of us behave in a way that if Christ was to knock on our door, we would be proud to invite Him into our home, into our bedroom, to use our computer, into our workplace….to see that we are living a life worthy of His calling!
“Papa God…You know that the enemy and his minions lurk in this fallen world, wanting nothing more than to steal, kill and destroy all that You have created! Satan discourages, but YOU encourage. Satan mocks us, but YOU rejoice in us. Satan hates us, but You call us Your beloved! You know us by name! So today…right now…we call on Your Holy Spirit that lives within us Father! Ignite a passion in our hearts! Breathe newness of LIFE back into our souls and give us a WANT to WANT You more than anything this world has to offer! Because we know that what is in this world is merely rubble compared to the beauty and majesty of our final destination…our eternity with YOU! But while we are on this planet, we long to live a life worthy of your calling Papa. Please spur us on with Your WORD. Help us to be bold in our prayers, and help us to not be lazy but to GET UP and start today ANEW with You! Help us take our responsibility to our families…the children you have entrusted to us, seriously…as if life or death depended on it…because it does! Help us to train our children up to be ready for the challenges they, too, will face. Dress us with Your armor…equipped with Your weapons…today! We want to live the rest of our lives prepared by You, and clothed in You! Hear our prayers Papa, as we seek you with all our heart, in Jesus’s holy name – Amen!”
Be blessed…IN HIS STRONG LOVE ~ rose
Rod & Rose 