Look Up for the Battle is Truly the Lord's

I've always heard "God gives His hardest battles to His strongest warriors".  I believe that is true.  I'm sure that some of those warriors would not agree.  In fact I don't think those warriors felt like they were strong at all.

Let me back up and explain something first, actually a couple of things:

#1  Not every battle we face is because of God or because of our faith.  We bring some of our battles on ourselves.  i.e. bad choices, bad company, rebellion, neglect are just a few of the things that can get us into trouble.

#2  Our sole purpose on this earth is not to grow rich, grow famous, get married, have kids, have a career, etc.  Whatever prosperity we have is solely blessings from God, not what we deserve.  Our purpose is to bring honor and glory to God, our creator.
Shock!!!...  Do they tell you that in church.  Probably not.  Modern day churches preach as if God owes us something, when in fact it is just the opposite. We owe God EVERYTHING, literally.

Let's take a look back in history at some of God's warriors.  (These aren't in any particular order or if they happen to be it is purely accidental.  I am just listing them as they come to mind.)  

First, Job, he was a man dearly loved by God.  Did he do anything to cause the battles he endured?  One thing, he loved God.  He believed God.  His battles drew him even closer to God.  No matter what happened, he would not turn on God.  In fact, he said in Job 19:25-26, "As for me, I know my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on this earth.  Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God."

Can you imagine?  Job lost his children, all his livestock, his home, everything dear to him.  He had boils covering his body and yet HE DID NOT DENY GOD.
People tried to get him to admit he had done something to cause the curses that came on him.  They thought surely he had to have done something.  Job knew he hadn't but he knew God and he believed God.  He was a warrior, chosen by God.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego being thrown into the fiery furnace, DID NOT DOUBT GOD.  They told the king even if God did not save them, He was still God and they would not bow to another.    Daniel 3:16-18, 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. 17“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18“But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

God's only son, Jesus, chosen by God Himself to be the one to die on the cross for us.  

Every instance of every warrior, their faith did not waiver.  When little David went up against the giant Goliath, he trusted God.  When Daniel was thrown into the lion's den, he trusted God.

That is why God gives His toughest battles to His strongest warriors because through the battle their faith remains.  There may be  lapses of weakness but their faith does not waiver.

The war is not against death, infirmities, cancer, aids, autism, etc.  The war is against the powers of darkness that would separate us from God if they could.   To name a few: the parents who have lost a child to sickness, disease or accident, keeping the faith that God will reunite them someday.  The person who has fought cancer or has a family member or loved one that fought or is fighting cancer, keeping the faith that if not cured in this life, they will be cured in eternity.  The person who stares down the barrel of a gun being told to deny God, that says, I will not deny my God even in the face of death.  The missionaries over seas who are killed, beheaded etc for their faith in God.   I doubt any of these warriors would tell you they were strong.  I am sure most of them would have said they could never make it through something like that.  But they have.  How do they fight?  What keeps them going?  God.  Their faith in God, their insistence that God will get the glory regardless, their belief that no matter what happens,  God is still God.

The next time you face a battle, remember that even when things are hardest God is right there with you.  

Philipians 4:13 says, " 13I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

Not some things, but all things.  God has promised to never leave us or forsake us.  

I wish I could say the battles would be easy but if they were we wouldn't lean so much on God and we would lean too much on ourselves.  What I can say, with certainty, is that God will never leave you or forsake you.  God does not lie, what He says in His word He means.

Ending with this:  Ephesians 6:10-17, " 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

How did they all fight those battles, look up!

God bless.

Did I Say That?

Did you ever try to talk to someone and give them encouragement only to end up saying some things that you really did not intend to say? Unfortunately I have. I end up letting "my thoughts" come out instead of what the Lord has directed me to say. James 3:10, out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren these things ought not to be so.

I will admit, (not proud of it), that I talk to much sometimes. When I get to talking I don't stop to "hear" what I'm saying, then later when I reflect back on the conversation I have to ask myself, "did I say that?" The words we speak can never be taken back, they vanish like vapour from the air but the scars they leave remains forever.

The Bible tells us that we speak life and death with our tongues Proverbs 18:21, Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

We are human and our lives do get busy but we constantly have to be on guard. Satan uses the tongue to divide people and pit them against each other. Idle words are damaging because they spread destruction quickly, and no one can stop the results once they are spoken. I can't be careless with my words, thinking I can apologize later because the damage is already done and the scars remain forever. Before you speak, remember that words are like fire - you cannot control nor reverse the damage they do.

The tongue gives us a picture of our basic human nature, of our hearts. What we see, what we listen to, what we participate in goes into our hearts and comes out our mouths. James 3:8, but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. (God can tame it). James 4:7, Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

We also need to remember that it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles us, it is what comes out of our mouths that defiles us. (Matthew 15:10). It is for this reason that we should all kneel and pray at the beginning of every day for God to help us guard our tongues and help us to speak life instead of cursing, it will make us more accountable for ourselves during the day. Proverbs 16:23, The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth and addeth learning to his lips. When we pray, we also need to pray for wisdom and knowledge. We cannot do anything of and by ourselves but God can accomplish all things that includes bridling our tongues.

Lord, help me today to keep watch diligently over my mouth. Create in me a pure heart so that I think before I speak and even when I don't nothing will come out that does not praise and edify. Help my words to be soothing and comforting to those who need it, not a sharp knife that cuts to the bone (soul) and leaves scars. Create in me a pure spirit to walk in your way, saying only what You would have me say. Help me not to participate in idle conversations, gossip and backbiting. Remind me that I am no better than anyone else and in talking about them, condemning them, judging them, I am bringing that judgement down on myself. Help me to lovingly steer the conversation away from gossip and backbiting and on to something good, wholesome and edifying. Live through me Lord, speak through me. Help me to remember your instructions and my parents teaching that "if I can't say anything good, not to say anything at all". Your word says "out of the same mouth proceeds blessings and cursings, let everything I say be blessings and praises to you for without you - I am nothing. Thank you Lord for your Grace and Mercy. In Jesus name, Amen.

I hope that what I've written has been encouraging and want to leave you with this:

Phillipians 4:7-9, And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9) Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

God bless

pray for the peace of Israel

in love, tawanab