#52  BATTLES OF LIFE
FYI:(Bring your coffee...this one's not short!) :-))

When there are numerous re-tweets on the topic of "Battles of Life" it makes me think many people are in a battle.  Yes, we are in a spiritual battle daily, yet it is not uncommon to think you are the 'only' one 'in' such a battle.  Realize the devil hates you whether you are a Christian or not.  That is his nature: HATE.  So if you think being lukewarm will get him off your back, NOT!  Where would we all be if Jesus had that kind of an attitude?  Besides, we are to be like Jesus so face the fact that you ARE in a spiritual battle.  Daily, 24/7, sometimes more intense than others; but so what?!!! (Eph.6:12)

The same Jesus that carries you.....whereby you see one set of footprints, changes not.  He said he would never leave you nor forsake you, (Heb. 13:5) and he does not lie.  So the first thing to remember when you are feeling the 'heat'....is that you are NOT alone.  Secondly, you have the Word of God through which the Holy Spirit will speak to your heart.  Thirdly, you have the blood of Jesus to cover yourself with, the full armor of God to protect, (Eph.6:11-18) and last but not least, 'Worship'.   

YOU... decide what to magnify: the problem....or the answer.  YOU choose your Focus.  A right decision is what results in your success.  The sooner you obey the instruction of the Holy Spirit, the better.  Otherwise you set yourself up for repercussions.  Why?  Because delayed obedience is disobedience.  Timing is important to God and should be to everyone.

Let's take one area of 'life problems' and zero in a bit.  Since I have had opportunities to pray with people recently regarding oppression, head aches, etc. I will address this.  My prayer is to have sharp discernment, and for the Holy Spirit to help me be sensitive to discern oppression quickly so I can take authority over it spiritually.  If I don't, the heaviness continues until it feels like someone has their foot on my neck, or like my head is being pushed to the floor.  That kind of activity is not from God.  BUT GOD gave us victory over this and we must use the weapons we have been given.  Not run to the medicine cabinet!  In fact, that might be a good place to place a small Bible as a reminder to go to God first in prayer...  just sayin... :-))

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 I pray: Father thank you that I am the head and not the tail, above and not beneath and by the stripes laid on Jesus Christ, I was healed.  I take authority over Satan and his advocates and rebuke them in the name of Jesus, I command all pain to cease, I rebuke oppression in the name of Jesus, and I go to the root of this and rebuke every ungodly unedifying word or thought that comes against me and send it back where it comes from 7 fold in the name of Jesus....with forgiveness.  Thank you Lord for honoring your Word.  It will not come back void.  It will accomplish what it is sent to do.  Hallelujah! (IS.55:11) 

I refuse to bite the bullet and be offended at anyone.  I choose to focus on you Lord, and praise you for setting me free from the darkness that is trying to come against me.  Every wrong word is like an arrow that my shield of faith stops and it becomes like a boomerang returning from whence it was sent.  Bottom line, people reap what they sow.  How others treat me... is how You, God... will treat them.  (When I learned this I was so uplifted and realized the battle is the Lords. (1Sam. 17:47).  Psalm 46:10 says...."Be still, and know that I am God."  'Be still', in another translation means to 'cease striving'...and I do.)

I turn the stumbling blocks into stepping stones and rise up higher....I refuse to get into the pig pen with carnal people who want to throw mud.  The greater the pressure the higher I soar, until I am worshiping the Lord freely, unhindered, as an eagle that soars above the storms of life into the area of tranquility. (IS.40:29-31)  A little prayer, from a fervent pure heart combined with the Word of God....a little praise, a little thanksgiving...all goes more than a 'little way'.  (James 5:16; PS.150:6; Phil.4:6)  Try it, because when your faith is in God and you are moving forward in Christ, there will be battles, yet we are not defenseless.  We are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ.  (Rom.8:37)

I heartily recommend that if you are trying to win the war by NOT...  entering into spiritual warfare; you are deceived, lazy, and headed for a downward spiral fast.  To be born again, even Spirit filled and NOT pray in your heavenly language, the perfect will of God; let alone NOT pray in English and take dominion over all evil with the promises of God, is to your detriment!  Do not rely on your parents, mate, family, friends, church, prayer partner to bail you out each time there is an attack.  You are accountable for your actions, or lack of.  What do you do with your Bible?  Are you one of the many people who leave it at church for months and haven't even personalized it by entering your name?  How you treat the Bible is how you treat God...  
  
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You are in God's army if you are a Christian and you are responsible to get with it.  When you got saved that was like  'Day One' of school.  This spiritual school will NEVER end, so get used to it....get used to growing spiritually, maturing daily.  In fact, yearn to do so.  To NOT do so, to NOT apply yourself accordingly, will hold you in bondage like  a chicken in a coup limited to  ground zero level.  There is no satisfaction in mediocrity!  


Look at it this way:  would you be happy laying an egg in a stinky chicken coup daily, or soaring like an eagle high above the storms of life enjoying the magnificence of the view not to mention the liberty?  The decision is yours, God gave everyone a free will.  We are not puppets.

There many who say they don't know how to pray effectively.  The answer is: Pray the Word of God!  Plus study to show yourself approved (2Tim.2:15)....take a class, pray with others, learn by praying, and trust the Holy Spirit to inspire you.  To not pray because you feel inadequate is sin.  People are going to hell every single day and for eternity.  YOU can help bring people as far as you have come.  Teach what you have learned thus far.  Step out in faith and let your light shine because God wants to use you...yes, YOU!  

Make yourself available to Him....be prayed up, in the Word, expectant, and go forth to blaze a trail because "with God all things are possible". (Mark 10:27)  First you learn to win over the attacks of oppression caused by gossip, slander, jealousy, intimidation, etc. THEN with the taste of Victory your desire is to help others.  Do it!  One by one by one and more.  Little is much when God is in it!

That is only one tiny example of the victories God has for you as you use the Sword of the Lord effectively.  Higher level, bigger devil but you will never run out of words of life when the Bible is your Source and your trust is in God.  He will not let you down.  Faithful...He IS!  God bless you as you also remember....we are on the winning side as 'In Christ" we abide! (John 15)  Glory to God!!!     

Written By: Linda Lou Jones
                     PS. 45:1..."My tongue is the pen
                     of a ready writer."  
                     Glory To God