Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”....
Daniel 3:14-18
Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”
Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
Daniel 3:24-30
Sometimes, to gain true freedom, we have to go through the fire. It is not pleasant. It doesn't feel good, but what does fire produce? What is it used for?
It is used for refining. According to Merriam-Webster, to refine is:
to remove the unwanted substances in (something)
transitive verb
1. to free (as metal, sugar, or oil) from impurities or unwanted material
2. to free from moral imperfection : elevate
3. to improve or perfect by pruning or polishing <refine a poetic style>
4. to reduce in vigor or intensity
5. to free from what is coarse, vulgar, or uncouth
intransitive verb
1. to become pure or perfected
2. to make improvement by introducing subtleties or distinctions
Refining separates impurities from precious metals, namely gold, elements that decrease the value and worth of the metal. Fire is needed to separate these impurities from the metal, removing the dross and leaving only pure gold behind.
This process is a metaphor for us, when we go through the fire of life. The fires of stress, illness, loss, rejection, death, or any pressure of daily living.
We all experience these things. But we know we are in the fire of trial and tribulation when these things are increased. In the story of Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego, the firey furnace was 7 times its normal heat. Incidentally, the biblical meaning of the number 7 is perfection and completion. By being thrown into a fire, seven times hotter than the norm, these three men were perfected and completed in their faith in God. They had no guarantee that they would be delivered, and yet they refused to compromise their faith and bow to a foreign and false god. They took a leap of faith, and God saw it, honored it, and jumped into the fire with them, to not only preserve them, but to deliver them, set them free, and promote them.
Though the fire may hurt and be unpleasant, you will not endure its flames alone. God will be right there with you. He will walk with you through the flames, he will shield you and guide you. Notice, that when Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego came forth from the fire, "that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them."
Though they entered the fire, it caused them no lasting harm and they didn't even smell of smoke! When God walks through the fire with you, this is exactly what will happen. You will enter the fire one way, perhaps broken or afraid or angry, or even by choice, but you will not exit the fire the same way you entered it. You will be transformed and made new, and the fire will not maim you or disfigure you, it will remove all the impurities and make you into something beautiful. And though you've endured the flames, the smell of smoke will not be on you. You will shine with the radiant light of heaven, and you will be stronger than you were before. You will lose that which harms you and keeps you captive, in your mind or emotions, and you will gain that which makes you stronger, a better version of you.
However, there is always a choice. God has given us free will. The three men in the above story had a choice. They could have chosen to save themselves and bowed to the king's golden image. They could have avoided the king's wrath and the resulting dump into the firey furnace altogether. But, what then, would have happened?
Aside from the ramifications of breaking Hebrew law, God's intercessory power would not have been made manifest and witnessed by King Nebuchadnezzar and countless others. Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego would have lost their favor with God, along with other serious consequences, and would not have been promoted, either by God or in the Babylonian kingdom.
This one act of faith, I believe, led to King Nebuchadnezzar's repentance and salvation and may have ultimately led to Israel's freedom from Babylonian captivity. It was not the first time God saved Daniel and his friends, but I believe it was the catalyst that set into motion a divine and miraculous chain of events. In the very next chapter, King Nebuchadnezzar is humbled, repents and makes this decree, before he shares his testimony:
"King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you!
It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.
How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his dominion endures from generation to generation."
Daniel 4:1-3
This king endured his own version of the fiery furnace, and he emerged from that experience a new and changed man, transformed and set free in a moment!:
"At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,
for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”
At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble."
Daniel 4:34-37
You can choose to bypass the fire altogether, or you can choose to let the fire burn you, warp you and maim you. Or, you can choose to endure the fire and allow it to purify, refine and perfect you. Choosing to enter the fire willingly and with an open and teachable heart and spirit, will ultimately lead to your healing and restoration. But not either as you have experienced before. You will be healed and restored in such a way that exceeds and surpasses all other experiences and that will equip you to endure any future storm that life throws your way.
That's why James was all "Yaaay, we're going through horrible things! Let's celebrate! in James 1:2-4, because he understood that going through the fire and its various trials produces GOLD within us.
That's why Peter spoke about our inheritance and was all giddy about suffering in 1 Peter 1:3-9:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Though the fire may be hot, though it may sting, though it may lead you to feel weary, frustrated and unable to go on, this fire will refine you, remove that which only brings you harm, and will lead to your healing, restoration, and the salvation of your soul!
For how can we truly appreciate and experience freedom until we have been held captive? How can we truly appreciate the joy we have obtained until we have experienced heartache? How can we bask in glorious relief, if we not have endured, persevered and emerged from the fire of trial and tribulation as victorious and transformed?
Even Jesus had to endure persecution, betrayal, loss, heartache and crucifixion, to truly obtain the ultimate treasure, in his eyes: US.
Can we offer him anything less?
In Matthew 16:24-26, He implores us to take up our own cross and follow him. And promises that by doing so, and denying ourselves and surrendering our lives to him, we will not lose our lives, but find life and ourselves, through him.
Monday, April 27, 2015
Friday, September 12, 2014
Finding healing in surrender
But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. Malachi 4:2
We all need healing, at some point in our lives. Relationships end, loved ones die, we experience rejection and loss and heartache. But how do we heal?
The word healing is from the greek word marpay. The defintion of marpay is curative, a medicine, deliverance, placidity, remedy, yielding.
That last word is especially important when it comes to healing. Yielding. Yielding ourselves to God and his will. One of the Merriam-Webster definitions of the word yield is to give up and cease resistance or contention. To surrender or submit oneself to another.
It is easy, when we hurt and life throws things at us that we don't expect, to fight, to worry, to give in to our anxieties and fear. But God is asking us to yield ourselves to him. To quit resisting him, and fighting against our circumstances. He is asking us to surrender and submit ourselves to him and his will. (Proverbs 3:5-6) His will is always perfect, and is always for our good. When we surrender to him, and trust him, he will take every broken piece of your heart and life, and refashion it into something whole and beauiful. He will heal every wound (Psalm 147:3), dry every tear (Revelation 21:4), allay every fear and give you strength, when you feel like you have none (Isaiah 40:29). When we surrender, he will carry you, when you feel like you can't go on, and he will fill you with strength and purpose, when you feel as if you have nothing left to give.
When I felt so broken and so tired from all that had happened to me, I didn't want to submit at first. I wanted to give more to my beautiful savior, who had always given me his best, than broken pieces and broken dreams. But he did not look upon my brokenness with disdain. He did not view my shattered heart and dreams as worthless. He looked upon my brokenness and saw something that could be taken and turned into a beautiful masterpiece, that would bless me and glorify him.
He is Jehovah Rapha, the Lord our healer. He is El Roi, The God who sees. He is Jehovah Ezer, The Lord our helper. He is Jehovah Shalom, The Lord our peace. Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is there. He is a hiding place, when we need to run to a place of safety, when storms rage and threaten everything we once knew (Psalm 32:7). And in that place of hiding, he will come to you, he will draw near and hold you. And once you let go of all that is hurting you, and hold it out to him, just as a child holds out a broken toy, or a boo boo that needs kisses, he will take it from your hands and begin to heal it and mold it into something beautiful and priceless. And restore it, not just to its former glory, but to a level of glory not yet seen or experienced (Zechariah 9:12). He sees every intricate detail that needs repaired. And as he fashions and molds and heals, he will take an empty, broken vessel, and give it form and fill it with his peace, and love and joy.
I have lived it. My life turned upside down, over night. Everything I had once known had been stolen or broken. I was faced with challenges I had never before faced, and I didn't know how I was going to get through this, how I was ever going to heal. But when I came to the point that I just wanted to give up and quit, he came and led me to a place where giving up would mean totally surrendering to him and letting go of all that was hurting me. And once I let go and gave him all my broken pieces, he took them out of my hands and began repairing them as only he can. And as he did, he held me, as the storm continued to rage within me, and said to that storm "Peace, be still."
We all need healing, at some point in our lives. Relationships end, loved ones die, we experience rejection and loss and heartache. But how do we heal?
The word healing is from the greek word marpay. The defintion of marpay is curative, a medicine, deliverance, placidity, remedy, yielding.
That last word is especially important when it comes to healing. Yielding. Yielding ourselves to God and his will. One of the Merriam-Webster definitions of the word yield is to give up and cease resistance or contention. To surrender or submit oneself to another.
It is easy, when we hurt and life throws things at us that we don't expect, to fight, to worry, to give in to our anxieties and fear. But God is asking us to yield ourselves to him. To quit resisting him, and fighting against our circumstances. He is asking us to surrender and submit ourselves to him and his will. (Proverbs 3:5-6) His will is always perfect, and is always for our good. When we surrender to him, and trust him, he will take every broken piece of your heart and life, and refashion it into something whole and beauiful. He will heal every wound (Psalm 147:3), dry every tear (Revelation 21:4), allay every fear and give you strength, when you feel like you have none (Isaiah 40:29). When we surrender, he will carry you, when you feel like you can't go on, and he will fill you with strength and purpose, when you feel as if you have nothing left to give.
When I felt so broken and so tired from all that had happened to me, I didn't want to submit at first. I wanted to give more to my beautiful savior, who had always given me his best, than broken pieces and broken dreams. But he did not look upon my brokenness with disdain. He did not view my shattered heart and dreams as worthless. He looked upon my brokenness and saw something that could be taken and turned into a beautiful masterpiece, that would bless me and glorify him.
He is Jehovah Rapha, the Lord our healer. He is El Roi, The God who sees. He is Jehovah Ezer, The Lord our helper. He is Jehovah Shalom, The Lord our peace. Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is there. He is a hiding place, when we need to run to a place of safety, when storms rage and threaten everything we once knew (Psalm 32:7). And in that place of hiding, he will come to you, he will draw near and hold you. And once you let go of all that is hurting you, and hold it out to him, just as a child holds out a broken toy, or a boo boo that needs kisses, he will take it from your hands and begin to heal it and mold it into something beautiful and priceless. And restore it, not just to its former glory, but to a level of glory not yet seen or experienced (Zechariah 9:12). He sees every intricate detail that needs repaired. And as he fashions and molds and heals, he will take an empty, broken vessel, and give it form and fill it with his peace, and love and joy.
I have lived it. My life turned upside down, over night. Everything I had once known had been stolen or broken. I was faced with challenges I had never before faced, and I didn't know how I was going to get through this, how I was ever going to heal. But when I came to the point that I just wanted to give up and quit, he came and led me to a place where giving up would mean totally surrendering to him and letting go of all that was hurting me. And once I let go and gave him all my broken pieces, he took them out of my hands and began repairing them as only he can. And as he did, he held me, as the storm continued to rage within me, and said to that storm "Peace, be still."
Friday, July 11, 2014
The promises of God: Something to hold onto when the storms of life rage
I am in the midst of a storm. Life as
I've known it has come crashing down around me. Things that have
been for so long have been torn apart and are seemingly broken beyond
repair. I feel broken and weary. Every day, I go through a myriad
of emotions. One minute I feel at peace, and assured that all will
be well. The next minute, I'm sobbing and crying out to God, and
feeling every single break in my heart.
I have been given promises, of healing
and restoration and glory. But some days, those promises are so hard
to keep in mind, when everything around me seems to contradict them.
It is so easy to take my eyes off my Savior, and look around at my
circumstances, and wonder if maybe things will remain broken.
But, even in this, there is a purpose,
a divine purpose for my good and His glory.
How can we hold on in the midst of a raging storm,
that breaks everything around us, and be assured that all WILL be
well?
Jesus himself was broken for a divine
purpose. He was betrayed by those he loved, ministered to and
healed. He was denied by one of his disciples. Lies were told about
who he was and his ministry. His body was physically broken, before
and as he hung on a cruel wooden cross. And the purpose of this was
so that we may be healed and live in wholeness.
But
he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our
iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and
with his wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5
Every
stripe on his back, the holes in his hands, the wound in his side.
It was all for our healing. He took on the heavy weight of the
world's sin and bore it on the cross, so that we wouldn't have to.
So that when we feel heavy and burdened, we can find rest and healing
in him. He left the glory of heaven, to become a man, destined to
die a horrible death, for our good and to bring glory to his father,
and to give us life more abundantly. (John 10:10)
And
he has given us promises to cling to, when the storm rages.
He
has promised never to leave us or forsake us.
Be
strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is
the Lord your
God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6
He
has promised shelter from the storm
He
who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow
of the Almighty.
Psalm
91:1
He
has promised restoration
And
after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has
called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore,
confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
1
Peter 5:10
He has promised that he is there for us and to strengthen us and be our help
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
He has promised rest
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
He has promised to supply all our needs
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians
4:19
He
has promised peace
Peace
I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I
give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be
afraid.
John
14:27
He
has promised deliverance
When
the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is
near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are
the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers
him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is
broken.
Psalm
34:17-20
He
has promised forgiveness
If
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9
And
he has promised his love
Whoever
has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who
loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest
myself to him.”
John
14:21
When
life hurts us and everything starts to fall apart, and it feels like
a mighty storm is raging, that will take everything from us and
obliterate it, we can be assured in the beautiful word of God, that
we are never alone, that he is always with us, and he never changes.
In the midst of uncertainty, he is the constant that will sustain us
and bring us through into light, and healing and glory.
These
promises belong to those that belong to the Lord. If you're not sure
you belong to him, or you're sure you don't and want to amend that, I
ask you to pray this prayer and step into his love, forgiveness, and
promises:
Lord,
I know I need you. I know I don't now belong to you, but I am coming
to you now, asking you to adopt me into your family, and to forgive
me of my sins and wash me clean. I believe you are the son of God, I
believe that you made the greatest sacrifice of all, when you sent
your son to die for me. I ask you to come and take up residence in
my heart, and be the savior of my life. I ask this in your name,
Amen.
If
this post ministered to you, or you prayed the prayer above, stop by
the facebook page (link in the sidebar) and leave a comment under one
of the posts, so others can benefit from and rejoice in your testimony.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Seated in heavenly places: Contentment through the storm
... for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any
and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty
and hunger, abundance and need. I can do
all things through him who strengthens me.
Philippians
4:11-13
It's hard to be
content, when money is tight and the bills are due, or we have a
million things to get done and our bodies decide it's time to be
sick, or when people reject us, relationships end, jobs are lost,
loved ones die, or the car gives up the ghost.
One of the
favorite things I've heard at my church is the phrase BUT...God. I
may not know where the money for the bills is going to come from BUT
God said in his word that he will supply all my needs according to
his riches in glory (Philippians 4:19), and God keeps his word. I
may be worried and anxious about my health or my current
circumstances BUT God said through his beloved son not to be anxious
for anything, but in all things come to him in prayer (Philippians
4:6), and seek his kingdom first, and everything I need and desire
will be added to me (Matthew 6:31-33). I may be facing heartache and
loss and my whole world may be turned upside down BUT God is near to
the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18), he heals them and binds up every
wound (Psalm 147:3). And when the cares of my heart are many, he
comes to reassure and console (Psalm 94:19).
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Burdens
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
Have
you ever had a burden so heavy on your heart that it feels like
there's a brick on your chest? Or that you're dragging yourselves
along? There is one who understands the weight of an exceedingly
heavy burden. He bore the burden of the cross, carrying it almost
half a mile to Golgotha. But even Jesus, being the divine Son of
God, needed help in carrying this burden. Simeon was selected to
help him on his arduous journey. The bible instructs us to bear each
other's burdens, and in so doing we fulfill the law.
And the greatest commandment of the law is to love one another. When
we bear the burden of others with love, we fulfill the foremost
calling that God has placed on our lives. Our primary calling isn't
linked to our gifts and talents. Our primary calling is linked to
God himself. And when we fulfill this calling, of aiding each other
with love, of suffering when others suffer, we fulfill another
calling, to emulate Jesus and his ways. (1 Peter 2:21)
See
how much the father loves us, that he encourages us to bear the
weight of each other's suffering, and then offers himself, to bear
the weight along with you and your circle of support. He surrounds
us in earthly comfort and support, and then gives himself as well.
He never desires you to bear the weight alone, and he understands
that the human capacity to help carry the weight is limited. So he
gives you a limitless strength, that can never be measured, and never
runs dry: His own. He daily takes up our burdens and carries them,
and gives us his strength, when we feel like we have none (Psalm
68:19). And when we feel like we're too weak to be co-laborers with
him, in bearing our burdens, he will give you rest and carry you AND
your burden, and he'll never complain or let you fall. Because his
strength is sufficient and in our weakness, his power is perfected in
us (2 Corinthians 12:9).
And
when we surrender all our burdens to him, and lay them down at his
feet, this also ensures our victory, in whatever we're facing.
(Psalm 55:22) When we surrender control to the Almighty, he will
lift you up, carry you in your weakness, fight the battle for you,
and lead you by the hand into victory and glory (1 Peter 5:6-7).
Dear
Lord, help us to place our burdens at your feet and leave them there,
so that you may work in our lives and repair what is broken. So that
your glory may shine brightly through our lives, and our trials
become our testimonies. For, we know that everything works together
for our good, for those that love you. And help us to remain
confident that we will indeed see your goodness, no matter how things
may look presently. Thank you, Lord, for daily taking up our burdens
and carrying them, and that when we are weak, you are strong. Amen.
The Brokenhearted
He
heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds
Psalms 147:3
Is
there anyone on this earth that hasn't experienced a broken heart?
Is there one person that hasn't been betrayed, lied to, cheated on,
abused, put down, or cast out?
In
the midst of our pain and tears, God is there to console us. He sees
and accounts for every tear drop (Psalm 56:8). He feels every ache
of our heart, and hears every prayer we pray. He knows every pain we
feel, because he bore all our pain on the cross. (Isaiah 53:3) He was
betrayed by his friends, he was lied about, beaten, bruised and
broken, and in the middle of his painful death, he still cried out to
his father in heaven, to forgive them. The first step to healing
from a broken heart is forgiveness. To say “Lord, I lay it all
down before you, and I forgive them. I release them from my mental
prison of hurt and anger, and now move forward into your blessing and
healing.” The bible tells us to forgive (Matthew 6:14) and pray
for those that have wronged us. It's not an easy thing to do, until
you consider that praying for our enemies and blessing them with our
forgiveness releases blessings over us. (Luke 6:36-38)
No
matter the reason for our broken heart, whether it was betrayal,
offense, or losing a loved one, we can take comfort in knowing that
our heavenly daddy is right there with us, holding us close, and
whispering “I am here, my child, and I know, for I feel every
heartache, and cry every tear. I won't let you go. Cling to me and
I will heal all your brokenness, and turn it into something
beautiful. I will give you joy for your mourning.” (Isaiah 61:3)
Lord,
I ask that you touch every person reading this that has suffered a
broken heart. I pray that you wrap your comfort and peace around
them, and send your ministering angels to guard them and encourage
them in their time of brokenness. I also pray that you would
surround them with the right people to offer them comfort and
support. In your name, I pray. Amen.
How to Put On The Whole Armor of God
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:10-18
The belt of truth: Be honest and forthcoming in all your dealings. Confess your sins to the Lord, even the ones you're afraid to admit, and he will forgive you and wash you clean. (1 John 1:9) He will tie around your waist, a belt of truth. It says in his word, that he is the way, THE TRUTH, and the life. (John 14:6) We achieve truth in our life when we come to him, we achieve relationship with God when we come to his son, and confess all our sins to him. When we bring our blemishes and uncleanness before The Son, He intercedes for us with the Father, (Romans 8:34) thereby making a way directly to the Father. Confessing our sins bridges the gap between us and God.
Breastplate of righteousness: Righteousness comes by faith. (Romans 3:22) Faith is defined in the bible as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) Our faith proclaims that Jesus is Lord and Savior, and the redeemer of our sins, he sits at the right hand of the Father. Our faith says that we are heirs to the kingdom of God. (Romans 8:17) We are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37), no matter what life throws at us, no matter our circumstances, our past, our weakness or our failings. We are sons and daughters of the King. We were bought at the price of Jesus' blood, and through his blood we are justified and made clean in God's sight.
Shoes of readiness given by the gospel of peace: Peter says to be ready always to give an answer for the reason of your faith. (1 Peter 3:15) We receive this readiness, when we hear the gospel. Why do we believe? Because we have faith. Why do we have faith in an unseen God? Because he is very much seen, working in our lives, when we have ears to hear, and eyes to see. When our hearts and minds are open to receive his word, and to receive his blessings and miracles. What is the gospel? Gospel means Good News. The good news is, that Jesus died on the cross, was broken and bruised and beaten and took on the heavy weight of the world's sin, so that we might live, not because of anything we did, but because he LOVED US before we even knew him (1 John 4:19), and his grace of forgiveness and redemption is a free gift to us, that Jesus paid the price for, so we wouldn't have to. (Ephesians 2:8-9) And not only live, but live in wholeness. Wholeness of mind, body, and spirit. The good news is, that when we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior of our lives, and surrender our lives to him, he will come in and start repairing all brokenness, he will restore all that's been lost, every year that darkness engulfed your life, he will restore to you. (Joel 2:25) Every thing the enemy tried to use to kill you, defeat you, or maim you, God will take and turn around to bless you, heal you, and to bless others. And as Jesus defeated death, hell, and the grave when he rose again, so he gave us authority over death, hell and the grave. (Matthew 10:1)The enemy is rendered powerless and defeated. No matter what he tries to throw at you, you can now stand boldly, and remind him of his future, and remind him of his defeat. You can stand and shout: “I am a daughter/son of the Lord strong and mighty, and you cannot wreak havoc in my life, because you are defeated, and in Jesus' name, you have to flee from me right now!” And he will trip over himself to get away from you.
Shield of Faith: When we have faith, believing in Jesus as our Savior and King, with full knowledge of our warrior status in Christ, and knowing that no weapon the enemy has in his arsenal can succeed in harming us (Isaiah 54:17), when we fully know that we CANNOT LOSE with Christ at our side, it becomes a shield that withstands every attack of the enemy, no matter how bad it may seem. Our victory is not based on our circumstances. Our victory is based on the fact that God is who he says he is, ALWAYS, and on the fact that WE are who Christ says we are.
Helmet of Salvation: There's a reason it's the helmet of salvation. It covers our mind. Knowledge of our salvation, that we are redeemed, justified, and washed clean of our sin by the precious blood of Jesus, guards our minds from the lies of the enemy. When he comes to whisper in your ear, that you're weak, that you can't do this, that you should just give up, when he whispers and tells you that God doesn't love you, or that you're disgusting and unworthy, we have only to look him straight in the face and say “I am not weak, because I am a child of the Lord, Strong and mighty, and he is able to do all things, and I am able to do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13) I will not give up, because, though a righteous man falls 7 times, he gets up and keeps going 7 times. (Proverbs 24:16) Or 50. Or 100. God DOES love me, because he sent his only, precious son to die a bloody death on a cross so that I might live, because he SO loved the world, that he made the greatest sacrifice possible (John 3:16), and I am worthy of his love, because all my sin, all my shame, all my failure has been nailed to the cross, washed clean, and eradicated by his blood. He sees me as clean, beautiful and precious.” Get that knowledge, deep down in your heart and it will transform your thinking.
Sword of the spirit: God's word, the bible. Every day, read it, study it, consume yourself in it, and it will seep into your thoughts, it will be written on your heart. (Jeremiah 31:33) So that no matter what the enemy tries to tell you, you can fight back with the word of God. He says you're weak, you remind him you're strong through Christ, he says you're defeated, you remind him you're a conqueror, he says that he's going to win, you remind him that HE is defeated, and that his future is to spend eternity in a bottomless pit, he says you're unloved, you remind him just why Christ died for you, he says you'll only ever be the person you were in the past, you remind that you are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Praying: We often forget that prayer is also a weapon. As the pastor at my church said, we do not pray as victims, we pray as victors. This doesn't mean we can't take all our pain, sorrow and anguish to God, but when we ask for him to act in our lives, and to help us, we pray from a strance of boldness and strength. “Lord, I feel defeated, like I can't go on, like the past will never let me move on, like I'll never heal, like I'll always be a failure, like I'm unworthy of love, like I'll never find love, etc....but your word says, that I am not defeated, but I'm a conqueror, that the past is no more, because it was washed away when you died on the cross, it says that you are greater and bigger than anything I might face, or any circumstance (Jeremiah 32:27) , so Lord, I come and ask you to help me to have a knowledge of who I am, through you. Help me to know, in my heart, without any doubt, that I am loved, I am worthy, I WILL heal, I will overcome, because you are Emmanuel, God is with us, and I am no longer alone, no matter how it may seem...”
It may seem I'm repeating a lot of the same things over and over again, but every piece of armor and every weapon works together, as a whole. Righteousness comes by faith, faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17), we use the word of God to counter the lies of the enemy, and in prayer, every weapon comes together to defeat the enemy.
The belt of truth: Be honest and forthcoming in all your dealings. Confess your sins to the Lord, even the ones you're afraid to admit, and he will forgive you and wash you clean. (1 John 1:9) He will tie around your waist, a belt of truth. It says in his word, that he is the way, THE TRUTH, and the life. (John 14:6) We achieve truth in our life when we come to him, we achieve relationship with God when we come to his son, and confess all our sins to him. When we bring our blemishes and uncleanness before The Son, He intercedes for us with the Father, (Romans 8:34) thereby making a way directly to the Father. Confessing our sins bridges the gap between us and God.
Breastplate of righteousness: Righteousness comes by faith. (Romans 3:22) Faith is defined in the bible as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) Our faith proclaims that Jesus is Lord and Savior, and the redeemer of our sins, he sits at the right hand of the Father. Our faith says that we are heirs to the kingdom of God. (Romans 8:17) We are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37), no matter what life throws at us, no matter our circumstances, our past, our weakness or our failings. We are sons and daughters of the King. We were bought at the price of Jesus' blood, and through his blood we are justified and made clean in God's sight.
Shoes of readiness given by the gospel of peace: Peter says to be ready always to give an answer for the reason of your faith. (1 Peter 3:15) We receive this readiness, when we hear the gospel. Why do we believe? Because we have faith. Why do we have faith in an unseen God? Because he is very much seen, working in our lives, when we have ears to hear, and eyes to see. When our hearts and minds are open to receive his word, and to receive his blessings and miracles. What is the gospel? Gospel means Good News. The good news is, that Jesus died on the cross, was broken and bruised and beaten and took on the heavy weight of the world's sin, so that we might live, not because of anything we did, but because he LOVED US before we even knew him (1 John 4:19), and his grace of forgiveness and redemption is a free gift to us, that Jesus paid the price for, so we wouldn't have to. (Ephesians 2:8-9) And not only live, but live in wholeness. Wholeness of mind, body, and spirit. The good news is, that when we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior of our lives, and surrender our lives to him, he will come in and start repairing all brokenness, he will restore all that's been lost, every year that darkness engulfed your life, he will restore to you. (Joel 2:25) Every thing the enemy tried to use to kill you, defeat you, or maim you, God will take and turn around to bless you, heal you, and to bless others. And as Jesus defeated death, hell, and the grave when he rose again, so he gave us authority over death, hell and the grave. (Matthew 10:1)The enemy is rendered powerless and defeated. No matter what he tries to throw at you, you can now stand boldly, and remind him of his future, and remind him of his defeat. You can stand and shout: “I am a daughter/son of the Lord strong and mighty, and you cannot wreak havoc in my life, because you are defeated, and in Jesus' name, you have to flee from me right now!” And he will trip over himself to get away from you.
Shield of Faith: When we have faith, believing in Jesus as our Savior and King, with full knowledge of our warrior status in Christ, and knowing that no weapon the enemy has in his arsenal can succeed in harming us (Isaiah 54:17), when we fully know that we CANNOT LOSE with Christ at our side, it becomes a shield that withstands every attack of the enemy, no matter how bad it may seem. Our victory is not based on our circumstances. Our victory is based on the fact that God is who he says he is, ALWAYS, and on the fact that WE are who Christ says we are.
Helmet of Salvation: There's a reason it's the helmet of salvation. It covers our mind. Knowledge of our salvation, that we are redeemed, justified, and washed clean of our sin by the precious blood of Jesus, guards our minds from the lies of the enemy. When he comes to whisper in your ear, that you're weak, that you can't do this, that you should just give up, when he whispers and tells you that God doesn't love you, or that you're disgusting and unworthy, we have only to look him straight in the face and say “I am not weak, because I am a child of the Lord, Strong and mighty, and he is able to do all things, and I am able to do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13) I will not give up, because, though a righteous man falls 7 times, he gets up and keeps going 7 times. (Proverbs 24:16) Or 50. Or 100. God DOES love me, because he sent his only, precious son to die a bloody death on a cross so that I might live, because he SO loved the world, that he made the greatest sacrifice possible (John 3:16), and I am worthy of his love, because all my sin, all my shame, all my failure has been nailed to the cross, washed clean, and eradicated by his blood. He sees me as clean, beautiful and precious.” Get that knowledge, deep down in your heart and it will transform your thinking.
Sword of the spirit: God's word, the bible. Every day, read it, study it, consume yourself in it, and it will seep into your thoughts, it will be written on your heart. (Jeremiah 31:33) So that no matter what the enemy tries to tell you, you can fight back with the word of God. He says you're weak, you remind him you're strong through Christ, he says you're defeated, you remind him you're a conqueror, he says that he's going to win, you remind him that HE is defeated, and that his future is to spend eternity in a bottomless pit, he says you're unloved, you remind him just why Christ died for you, he says you'll only ever be the person you were in the past, you remind that you are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Praying: We often forget that prayer is also a weapon. As the pastor at my church said, we do not pray as victims, we pray as victors. This doesn't mean we can't take all our pain, sorrow and anguish to God, but when we ask for him to act in our lives, and to help us, we pray from a strance of boldness and strength. “Lord, I feel defeated, like I can't go on, like the past will never let me move on, like I'll never heal, like I'll always be a failure, like I'm unworthy of love, like I'll never find love, etc....but your word says, that I am not defeated, but I'm a conqueror, that the past is no more, because it was washed away when you died on the cross, it says that you are greater and bigger than anything I might face, or any circumstance (Jeremiah 32:27) , so Lord, I come and ask you to help me to have a knowledge of who I am, through you. Help me to know, in my heart, without any doubt, that I am loved, I am worthy, I WILL heal, I will overcome, because you are Emmanuel, God is with us, and I am no longer alone, no matter how it may seem...”
It may seem I'm repeating a lot of the same things over and over again, but every piece of armor and every weapon works together, as a whole. Righteousness comes by faith, faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17), we use the word of God to counter the lies of the enemy, and in prayer, every weapon comes together to defeat the enemy.
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