Incredible. What a self-indictment. “Nothing dangerous is happening here.” Those men have already been taken out because they’ve swallowed the Enemy’s first line of attack: “I’m not here—this is all just you.” You can’t fight a battle you don’t think exists. This is right out of The Screwtape Letters, where Lewis has the old devil instruct his apprentice in this very matter:
My dear Wormwood, I wonder you should ask me whether it is essential to keep the patient in ignorance of your own existence. That question, at least for the present phase of the struggle, has been answered for us by the High Command. Our policy, for the moment, is to conceal ourselves.
As for those who want to be dangerous (cutting-edge), take a close look at 1 Peter 5:8–9: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
What is the Holy Spirit, through Peter, assuming about your life? That you are under spiritual attack. This is not a passage about nonbelievers; he’s talking about “your brethren.” Peter takes it for granted that every believer is under some sort of unseen assault. And what does he insist you do? Resist the devil. Fight back, take a stand.
(Wild At Heart , 159, 160)
How will you take a stand today? How will you fight back? How will you resist?
Write out a list of things you can do today to answer these questions!
Take control of your thoughts
Friday, October 24, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Step it up!
Proverbs 20:24
24 A man's steps are directed by the LORD.
How then can anyone understand his own way?
Do you know what is feels like to walk by faith and not by sight? When I was in twentyfourseven we had a lot of different experiences that allowed you to put your faith to the test; in God, yourself, and your team. One exercise required you to put on a blindfold and allow your teammates to direct you from one point to another through a maze of obstacles. As you can image, at first it is hard to trust your teammates as they tell you to move 3 steps to the right, 1 up, 2 over, all the while feeling that you are about to hit objects all around you. I remember one step that I didn’t trust them with and I moved the other direction right into a giant bush. However, as I placed my trust in my team that was directing me I found it was almost freeing to allow them to direct me to the finish line. Taking my blindfold off, I was impressed that they led me through so many obstacles and tight situations.
So what?
God sees our life like the obstacle course. He can see your start and finish and all the obstacles in-between. Whether we follow step by step as he directs us or we continually fall into bushes, he has a plan for us and wants us to live walking by faith and not by sight. Take 10 minutes today and ask God how you can follow him by faith; tell your friend about Jesus, walk the old lady across the street, or pay for someone’s lunch. Then follow through and walk it out at school, home, anywhere you are! Walking by faith may pull you out of your comfort zone but after you do it God will give you boldness and courage to continue walking as he directs you!
24 A man's steps are directed by the LORD.
How then can anyone understand his own way?
Do you know what is feels like to walk by faith and not by sight? When I was in twentyfourseven we had a lot of different experiences that allowed you to put your faith to the test; in God, yourself, and your team. One exercise required you to put on a blindfold and allow your teammates to direct you from one point to another through a maze of obstacles. As you can image, at first it is hard to trust your teammates as they tell you to move 3 steps to the right, 1 up, 2 over, all the while feeling that you are about to hit objects all around you. I remember one step that I didn’t trust them with and I moved the other direction right into a giant bush. However, as I placed my trust in my team that was directing me I found it was almost freeing to allow them to direct me to the finish line. Taking my blindfold off, I was impressed that they led me through so many obstacles and tight situations.
So what?
God sees our life like the obstacle course. He can see your start and finish and all the obstacles in-between. Whether we follow step by step as he directs us or we continually fall into bushes, he has a plan for us and wants us to live walking by faith and not by sight. Take 10 minutes today and ask God how you can follow him by faith; tell your friend about Jesus, walk the old lady across the street, or pay for someone’s lunch. Then follow through and walk it out at school, home, anywhere you are! Walking by faith may pull you out of your comfort zone but after you do it God will give you boldness and courage to continue walking as he directs you!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Proverbs 24:3 and 4
Proverbs 24: 3-4
By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.
Wisdom:
knowledge of what is true or right fused together with just judgment as to action; discernment
discernment: The act or process of exhibiting devoted insight and good judgment.
Just like building a house, God wants to build each of us into a temple- a house where he is the found. To build his house we have to make sure the foundation and the walls of the house are solid. That comes from wisdom, continuously knowing and getting to know God and listening to his voice and acting on it. As you grow in this wisdom you start to understand how to build your house sturdier and how to use it to help others and launch God’s purpose. Over time God gives you rare and beautiful treasures to fill the rooms of your heart through the knowledge of who God is and how he works in your life!
So what?
What is God’s building plan for you? Take time and think of ways that you can get to know God better so you can start building yourself up to be a house where God lives! Then start to think about the treasures that he has already started to give you to fill those rooms in your heart, your parents, the things you love to do, the purpose he has created you for, understanding an idea of who God is, etc.
By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.
Wisdom:
knowledge of what is true or right fused together with just judgment as to action; discernment
discernment: The act or process of exhibiting devoted insight and good judgment.
Just like building a house, God wants to build each of us into a temple- a house where he is the found. To build his house we have to make sure the foundation and the walls of the house are solid. That comes from wisdom, continuously knowing and getting to know God and listening to his voice and acting on it. As you grow in this wisdom you start to understand how to build your house sturdier and how to use it to help others and launch God’s purpose. Over time God gives you rare and beautiful treasures to fill the rooms of your heart through the knowledge of who God is and how he works in your life!
So what?
What is God’s building plan for you? Take time and think of ways that you can get to know God better so you can start building yourself up to be a house where God lives! Then start to think about the treasures that he has already started to give you to fill those rooms in your heart, your parents, the things you love to do, the purpose he has created you for, understanding an idea of who God is, etc.
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