Under Our Foot

Do you ever think that your failures and shortcomings surprise God?! Do you think that He just gives up on you?! 

I've been thinking about that today. I know that God knows everything. Everything I am doing and everything I am going to do. 

I had one dream...so to speak...my whole life...

That God would decide that He loved me, that regardless of how I had been, He would somehow decide to accept me.

I didn't understand that it wasn't God that was keeping me from Himself. It was me because I was believing the lies that satan had been

feeding to me my whole life. So now when I struggle or fail I sometimes go back to that same type of mentality. I start believing that if I

could just be "strong enough" I wouldn't struggle with past issues. I wouldn't be so afraid that I was going to fail. And, I wouldn't think

that there is just "no way" that God could continue to love me because I am weak. Fear comes over me and I think nothing has really

changed.

How wrong is my thinking! Not knowing what to read today, I have been reading Psalms. I have been reminded of the many things

the Lord has done for me since "I accepted HIM!"...not since..."He accepted me." I have been reminded of  all the times I have struggled

and yes..."even failed!" God doesn't like it when we struggle and I'm sure He isn't pleased when we fail. However, He does "know" that

we are going to. What He wants is for us to turn to Him when this happens. For me that can be a real challenge. If my struggle is what

I perceive as something that could be "life altering" for me...I turn inward and start to panic. What I should do is "really seek Him" with

all the strength I have! Turn my struggle over to God and tell satan to get away from me. Unfortunately,

that isn't how my brain processes things!

I was also reminded that satan knows our weaknesses. He knows the temptations that are hardest for us. Things we have used in the past

to mask the pain we have felt. Sometimes things will come up that remind us of how things used to be...in our past. People will contact

you that will bring back memories...events will happen...things will just pop into your thoughts...whatever it is, satan will use it.

As someone told me...and illustrated...last night,

"Put satan under your foot, step on him and then grind him into the ground!" 

As I think about that today that is such a powerful illustration! Compared to GOD satan is so small. In our thoughts...especially when we

aren't feeling like a warrior...satan is like a giant Looming over us...at least that's how I feel at times. Then there is reality...satan is nothing

more than a little ant that GOD...the MIGHTY WARRIOR...has no problem blowing away with one minute breath...or smashing into the ground! GOD doesn't even

have to put any effort into blowing him away. We have to take the first initial "step" and tell satan where to go. Then to show him we mean

business...put him under our foot and go on! 

Last night I was also told..."Tomorrow is a new day." Yes it is. Everyday we get up is a "New 24" for us. What we do with it is up to us.

It's not up to anyone else or our circumstances. We make the choice in what we will do with our day...our thoughts...our actions. Most

importantly...Whom we will serve! 

There are many verses I read today that are so good. But...Today is a "new day"...and I am praying that it is for you as well!

Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT)

 ²² The faithful love of the Lord never ends!

      His mercies never cease.
²³ Great is his faithfulness;
      his mercies begin afresh each morning.